The New York Times most popular podcast, The Daily, just released a one-hour episode exploring a century of family ranchers fighting the corporate manipulations of monopoly meatpackers. The episode, part of expanded coverage about our efforts to reform a rigged cattle market system, is framed within the family history of Northern Plains’ founding ranch family, the Charters. Steve, Annika, and Ressa, who run their multi-generation Shepherd ranch, describe how global conglomerates have hollowed out rural America and squeezed ranchers to the breaking point.
This in-depth episode explains how the exploits of the corporate robber barons led to needed antitrust reforms including the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921. As The New York Times points out, the problem of corporate meatpacking monopolies today is even worse than a century ago, which is why we must stand up for family ranchers when the USDA soon embarks on reforms to the Packers and Stockyards Act.
To hear the Charters’ story within this award-winning podcast with millions of daily downloads, click here, or find it wherever you listen to podcasts.
And click here to add your name to our letter to the USDA!