What is monopoly

Control of the food supply is a critical national security issue. In South Dakota, where farming and cattle are key to the backbone of the state's economy, ...

"I believe there's good times ahead, this is just a cycle and it's up to us," Shaw said. We're seeing other countries heavily investing in our food processing systems that is dangerous for the people that live in the United States of America," Noem said. And so cattle producers are finding it difficult to market their cattle, even at a time when beef demand and beef exports are extremely high," Bullard said. During a Congressional hearing in April, the C.E.O.'s of the 4 packers denied any price fixing and blamed the rising beef prices on simple supply and demand. "This itself is anti-competitive and it has helped to purge competition from throughout the entire supply chain. We're going to lose, I don't know, untold number of cattle producers from the industry. "The Brazilians have a hold in this market, our country let foreign investment into this country," Shaw said. But cattle ranchers say the problem isn't getting the meat to your plate, it's that the meat packers are taking most of the profits. In South Dakota, where farming and cattle are key to the backbone of the state's economy, this issue is taking center stage, especially with cattle ranchers. Today, that's exploded to 85 percent of all meat packing in America. Cattle ranchers used to receive 62 cents for every consumer dollar spent on beef. The Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund is suing the four companies over accusations of manipulating prices. We do this because we love it," Shaw said.