How Tyson Captured All The Pork You Eat (And Made Billions)

Iowa has lost 90% of its family farms in the past 40 years - 40,000 total farms, gone.
But hog industry profits have tripled.
All that profit just goes to 3 companies that now dominate every aspect of the pork industry.
-----
More Perfect Union’s mission is to build power for working people. Here’s what that means:
We report on the real struggles and challenges of the working class from a working-class perspective, and we attempt to connect those problems to potential solutions.
We report on the abuses and wrongdoing of corporate power, and we seek to hold accountable the ultra-rich who have too much power over America’s political and economic systems.
We're an independent, nonprofit newsroom. To support our work:
- Help fund our reporting: secure.actblue.com/donate/mpu...
- Substack: substack.perfectunion.us/
- TikTok: / moreperfectunion
- Twitter: / moreperfectus
- Facebook: / moreperfunion
- Instagram: / perfectunion
- Threads: www.threads.net/@perfectunion
- Website: www.perfectunion.us

[@TruthAndMoreTruth]

It's amazing how many problems can be traced back to a billionaire. I'm starting to think billionaires don't have society's best interest at heart.

[@peter5.056]

Best thing you can do, is quit giving them your money!

[@artemismorrison6240]

you just started thinking that?

[@sheldondrake8935]

every billionaire is a policy failure. Their newsbots tell everyone socialism is the boogeyman, meanwhile the vampires are winning.

[@misspatvandriverlady7555]

@@peter5.056How? They’ve made sure the only way we can be fed and housed (if we can even manage that anymore) is to give them our money. Surviving without enriching a billionaire somewhere is near-impossible; completely impossible, if you get sick or hurt and want to live! 😑

[@aishtaealatalniyranfialsaqie]

@@misspatvandriverlady7555 buy local

[@shadowsonicsilver6]

There should not be a monopoly on food

[@Bobo-ox7fj]

Then rear your own pigs. Monopolies can only form in sectors where the market is over-regulated to prevent competition.

[@BennettKunert]

Sadly it is. Only a handful of people controls 80% of our food supply.

[@Emmy-J]

We should not sell out to other countries

[@williamwilson6499]

No one has a monopoly on food.

[@williamwilson6499]

@@BennettKunertCould you cite your sources for that claim?

[@fusion9619]

How corruption destroyed literally everything in America...

[@j.joseph5353]

What corruption? Farmers sold their land to Tyson or other entity and/or agree to terms with a much larger company. All of this was done voluntarily and without coercion. I'm open to being wrong about that, so I welcome evidence to the contrary. Everyone blames corruption or corporate greed while ignoring the 'greed' (I truly despise that word) of the small farms who willingly sold out. We have only ourselves to blame, but it's easier to point fingers at others than it is to take responsibility and do what one can to remedy/alleviate the problems.

[@madewithscraps]

Created by Globalist & Philanthropist making the government program the people.

[@tuckerbugeater]

@@j.joseph5353 most of the inflation is in the stock market

[@masonieorzechowe7836]

@@j.joseph5353 So it is fault of the free market and capitalism.

[@j.joseph5353]

@@masonieorzechowe7836 Corporatism and lobbyists. I was incorrect earlier, there was coercion of a sort involved. More like lobbyist/corporate led extermination of small farms by imposing new laws/restrictions that only the larger farms could easily afford to comply with. Honestly, I'm still researching this but it was not as simple as I earlier thought. The 'free market' was once again corrupted by corporations, their lobbyist dogs, and corrupt lawmakers. Seems like more or less the same thing that cattle ranchers face(d). And independent gas stations. And I'm sure many others.

[@OKFrax-ys2op]

I’m putting my proactive $$$’s towards the real farmers. Thanks for exposing this corporate scam.

[@JohnSmith-uv4ox]

Then try "The Arrowhead Ranch" Birch Tree Mo for all your pork needs. "Happy pigs make good BBQ." They're raised in the forrest free, like God intended.

[@mymobilebuddy4392]

Tyson is the epitome of greed. I knew a lawyer that won a lawsuit in Tyson's favor. 50 million dollars. Tyson turned around and tried to sue the law firm that won them the judgement. The judge laughed them out of court.

[@damham5689]

You think Tyson is bad. ADM is worse and has been around long before Tysons.

[@matthorrocks6517]

You can sue everyone for everything without consequences. Our legal system is disgusting.

[@phoenix5054]

@@matthorrocks6517Would you like it better if there’s consequences for suing someone? Seems like this can be abused too.

[@matthorrocks6517]

@@phoenix5054 people make it their way of life. No one should be looking to take everything from someone else just because it's legal.

[@bartdoo5757]

What was the court case?

[@deemelody2396]

Why has the pork industry allowed to pollute Ohio's lakes & rivers, and the state tax funds are the ones paying to clean it up?

[@ramonalfaro3252]

Capitalism seems to always need Socialism to bail it out.

[@Bushman9]

That’s easy. A long time ago a politician decided it would be a good idea to let corporations donate to individual candidates. Then the politicians all got bought out. Then SCOTUS fell under the money spell and decided that corporations are really just people, so stop complaining that your politicians aren’t passing any laws that benefit you. And here we are.

[@Mecknificent]

They vote for the reps that allow this

[@zanebartlett8004]

@@Mecknificent Was about to say, because if you had asked these people who should be in office it's probably Kim Reynolds because while she completely fucks them sideways, she probably also isn't pro choice or is big on guns. I really do sometimes have a hard time watching these videos because you have all these "poor me" people who look like the exact kind of person that didn't want regulation, safety nets, job training programs, etc. Now that they're feeling the effects of that, they want to say it's not right, but can't actually think about how to solve the problem because they've been culturally trained to hate every solution. So instead they just fucking complain most of the time. That complaining part being what I see all the fucking time from my conservative side of my family. Can't think of a solution to save their lives, but they sure can bitch and moan about it. When you suggest something you can quickly tell they don't really want to have to consider nuance or be forced to think critically. My friend talks about the small town he's from dying and wondering when it won't be on the map, and I said I hope it's as fast as possible. 95% of those people vote for people that will fuck them and me over, don't want to think about how to make things better, and advocate for losing their own homes and having to options, so I'm not sad when that's exactly what happens to them. I care less about these farmers (statistically) than I do about the actual prices of food and the poor conditions the pigs are being put into. The farms had choices and voted in these people who directly assisting the people that are doing this to them. I and the pigs didn't have a choice since we don't live in that state....

[@who2u333]

Why? Money in politics.

[@aaronbecker5617]

My aunt's from Iowa and several years ago she fought against factory hog farming and earned herself the name "The Pig Lady" and people mocked her relentlessly, well the factories won and she was proven correct. Tyson has ruined so much.

[@kylebozell2891]

Im a chicken farmer and Tyson and Purdue ruined it for everyone.... Birds full of medicine and never see daylight in a cage they can't even turn around in !

[@MTBSPD]

"Efficiency" is just a term for throwing people out of work. In the '70's, we had enough efficiency in the US economy to support everybody at a decent quality of life. The gains since then have gone primarily to the owner class and things have actually declined, in real terms, for workers.

[@TheoriginalBMT]

Yeah, but it's also like the transition from buggy production to car production. Things change, jobs change. Sometimes for the better.

[@Hypnotically_Caucasian]

@theoriginalbmt nice gaslighting there

[@wildfirez5764]

@@TheoriginalBMTIt’s objectively worse.

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

Sadly, the wealthy ALWAYS win. Always. No exceptions. There is almost nothing anyone can do about it... ... unless they're RICH. 💪😎✌️ If you're loaded, you can put up a fight. But if not, brother, you are goin' DOWN, suckah! 😂 You have no chance. #copium

[@harrellt1405]

Capitalism is what got us there before and how it got us here today…it is how it is unfortunately

[@dvdv8197]

Greed is not the desire for more, it's the desire for more at the expense of others.

[@branchingoutnurseries4403]

so per this video and your definition, the Tyson family is not greedy. agreed.

[@arasb3258]

And the control of the supply, thereby controlling power.

[@presence5426]

Tyson foods should be broken up by the federal government.

[@5400bowen]

I call that gluttony to distinguish it.

[@johnsteel5347]

Such as billionaires

[@kvang84]

destroy land, pollute water, eliminate local farms, pay off govt.. way to go Tyson.

[@user-cz1iq8ih9l]

Tyson closed a local processing plant. Left all their chicken farmers to deal with their mortgages to pay. The mortgages Tysons wanted them to take out….

[@TheJohnbjunior]

Boycott Tyson

[@ramonalfaro3252]

#GeneralStrike

[@Emmy-J]

I have been since it was taken over by China

[@Hypnotically_Caucasian]

I've been boycotting them since 2021

[@ChickenMcThiccken]

this isn't boycotting anymore. its just "unaffordable". were not forming marches or holding rallys to walk into tyson corporate. LOL. we can't even afford that. corporations fail to realize this. company will cut jobs to offset the loss and claim that they "made" money. they keep cutting jobs until there are no more employees. what do they cut next? LOL.

[@HandyMan657]

With Keurig, Carhartt, Nike, M&Ms, Bud lite, etc etc etc. Who again is the cancel culture?

[@penguin32383]

Industrial livestock farming is evil. If every American had to visit one of these farms, meat consumption would plummet overnight.

[@charlesgair8608]

What Do you Expect.What Animal Is More Evil Than HUMANS.? None.

[@charlesgair8608]

THE OVERALL WELFAIR OF THE ANIMALS. Lmao.

[@charlesgair8608]

The CHINESE Bought A Lot Of The PIGS.

[@joeldavis5815]

Americans eat too much god-damned meat anyways. No wonder constipation medicine takes up like an entire aisle in some grocery stores. 😅

[@Spock_Rogers]

I don't eat any meat and I'm leaner and more energetic than ever. I also don't have the guilt of contributing to unnecessary animal suffering and slaughter.

[@RichardJames101]

A friend of mine is a meat cutter for a chain grocery store. I built him a building so he can process our meat. Since we started we have been joined by other like minded people and from start to finish our pork ,beef and chicken costs us .43 cents a pound. 🎉

[@Denise-ie2mp]

over a hundred countries refuse to import US pork because of safety and quality issues. let that sink in

[@andrewgoodbody2121]

We here in Europe allow no animal products from the US and there is extremely tight control on everything else

[@wirefly1000]

Tyson is a monster they’ve run out so many small farmers out of grocery stores threatening the grocery store that if they didn’t get rid of them Tyson would pull their products they also control a huge portion of meat packing and meat processing

[@user-sq5sl4uz3c]

I don’t like eating meat because I don’t like killing a sentient being for my taste buds. But that Tyson does is beyond evil and I hope that the corporate people at Tyson face really severe consequences for what they’ve done to these animals because at least family farms are more humane to the animals. Factory farms treat these animals like meat.

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

Rich gotta rich, poor gotta serve, suffer, and *submit*. 💪😎✌️ If you ain't rich, then you ain't sheet. That's just how mankind has arranged itself over thousands of years. Ain't ne'er gonna change. #copium

[@1voluntaryist]

@@Novastar.SaberCombat "Mankind" is indoctrinated to think just like you do. Your support is their strength! You are a political zombie.

[@user-iy1vo2jf2q]

Playing devils advocate, there's 8 BILLION and counting in the world. These small farmers grow a superior product and healthier, but when it comes to feeding MASSES of people small farms cant produce the supply needed for the demand, think about that.

[@qjtvaddict]

@@user-sq5sl4uz3claughing in lab grown meat

[@jamespricesc1092]

I can explain what's going on very simply. My father was the second in charge of the 11 western states for the government back in the 60's and 70's for meat and poultry. What was happening was that small meat producers could sell their local produced meats for cheaper than the large companies. That's due to the small farmer not having the same transportation costs as these bigger companies. Not to mention a higher quality of meats. These big companies went to Washington DC and got the government to do their dirty work for them by increasing the rules concerning the manufacture of meat products. All these new rules were very costly to incur and most any small farmer couldn't possibly afford them. Thus, they went out of business. Leaving no competition to the large companies. This is not unlike the large oil companies that also went to D.C. and got the EPA to come down on all the independent gas station owners with new costly burdens which resulted in them also going out of business. In the case of the station owners the EPA forced them to change out the gas tanks that held the fuel at the station. At about 500k a tank they couldn't afford to do it. This has been happening in all sectors of our economy for 50 plus years.

[@marycatherinebello]

I have been watching this happen to my beloved country.

[@serafinacosta7118]

Yiu have a compelling point. Just short of one thing. ….. Hit the space bar every now and then. Write as you would be speaking with someone, and wanted their attention.

[@TheoriginalBMT]

Grew up on a farm. But have business in the restaurant industry. It's the same thing. Consolidation of power. It's sad and funny at the same time. Consumers think they are sticking it to the big corps by demanding XYZ to apply to industry. But the smaller companies are the least capable to adjust. All that is left is then the big players. We do this to ourselves

[@takethesquid]

A small business owner i worked for was dreaming of attempting a similar stunt in education, he wanted to sell to the state as "think of the children!", but in reality he just wanted to raise the cost of competing with his pioneer business

[@marklen2322]

I have news for you your statement is true for all forms of farming.

[@loveofit6498]

We need more of this kind of journalism. Keep up the good work

[@LimitedState]

I am a Cali transplant to Iowa since '97 and when I came here it was mostly small family farms and every small town had that wholesome feel. Now all of that is gone and dead, it has been replaced with an empty shell of industry instead of community.

[@Denny-ok5dj]

Its a crime what they do to those Hogs

[@peter5.056]

The crime, is the fact that people keep buying their products. The CONSUMER is doing it to the hogs!

[@AMcGrath82]

@@peter5.056 Not if we could get them elsewhere. Tyson literally drove them out of business.

[@peter5.056]

@@AMcGrath82 The consumer can't pass the buck.

[@d1j16]

What they do to the animals, the environment, and the people, should all be criminal but US politicians are surprising inexpensive to buy off.

[@wsams]

@@peter5.056 This is a sound argument but it's never the buyers fault. This argument is used by giant corporations in all sectors. Namely OIL. ❤

[@stevec404]

There is everything wrong with this ultra concentration of business power. The societal bottom line is less about efficiency and profit...and more about the destruction of the way of life that sustained us for generations.

[@Intranetusa]

The corporate bottom line is still about efficiency and profit. This profit just happens to also involve destroying the way of life that has sustained most people for generations.

[@presence5426]

Voters don't understand that govt intervention in the economy is essential to stopping monopoly.

[@goodbro7846]

Well safe guards weren't enforced. It's to late. Basically America dream worked for a season but the experiment is over. Enjoy what's left ..

[@ryanbeard1119]

Oh yea, it's satanic abuse of everything to ruin life, based on economics that just happen to go that way. It's all rigged

[@actually5004]

@@presence5426 Voters in America can't tell you how they'd feel if they hadn't eaten breakfast that morning.

[@JessterKing]

It’s amazing that you guys are showing what’s behind the curtain of the filthy corporations, this makes me so mad, I don’t even live there

[@funki22]

More perfect union videos often make me cry. I thought i wasnt gonna cry in this one till they started showing all the pigs at the end

[@jamesbooth3360]

Tyson converted farmers into sharecroppers.

[@kungfukenny1540]

🎯

[@RJ1999x]

Farmers did it to themselves

[@sunnyskye213]

NADA!!!

[@anntrope491]

Small, family farms protect biodiversity … corporate farms destroy biodiversity … that should be the impetus for the government to support sustainable farming… but greed makes them support corporate farming !!

[@cliffontheroad]

politicians are not going to listen to farmers any more than individuals. Their door is open to lobbiyists of big business/farms. eddit; the gvmt gives $ to some farm owners. One farm had 52 owners, including city dwellers. Unfair IMO, but the pgm exists. Loohole / oversight / shrewd?

[@chrismatteson2337]

Look up RFKJR'S policies. He's huge on supporting small agriculture.

[@cliffontheroad]

@@chrismatteson2337 I do not cast doubt, yet, the audience dictates every stance by those seeking the job of overlord.

[@chrismatteson2337]

@cliffontheroad your right. But, his biggest stance is getting Americans healthy again and keeping corps out of it. Small family farms does both. It would be hard, but at least he truly wants it.

[@anntrope491]

@@chrismatteson2337 unfortunately he also supports fascist Zionism…

[@markwhite6836]

I’m proud of you and your family Ron!… I support you all the way!👍🏻

[@RajA-0202]

Amazing coverage 🎉😊

[@annepettit3855]

I wish the other part of this was linked somewhere here. These monopolies will be the death of us all, animals and humans

[@madewithscraps]

So true; but the Globalist & Philanthropists included in the monopolies fail to realize when people, especially middle class are eliminated; the monopolies will collapse with nothing in their possession.

[@dont.ripfuller6587]

I boycotted Tyson and their affiliates long ago. Sara Lee, Hillshire Bros, Jimmy Dean, Wunderbread, there's like 20 more, at least.

[@user-wv5fq8di2m]

Excellent video - Thanks!

[@presence5426]

Rural voters bought into the Libertarian Right's talking points. In reality, government exists to defend the interests of The People against corporate greed. Anti-trust laws are key.

[@LuciaBeans]

💯

[@HolliGenett]

My family's farm in Missouri stopped raising hogs in the 90s when I was 10 exactly because of this. It was awful.

[@user-qt7nq5xl1m]

The meat industry in America is absolutely revolting.... I may not be a vegetarian but my meat consumption has dropped to the local butcher shop and very little consumption. I really wish I didn't know about it

[@chriss3404]

Completely agree. I still consume some packaged meat, but I eat a tiny fraction of what I did before. The meat industry demands so much human and animal suffering. It's just not worth it. Especially for meat from large animals (eg. cows, pigs). I try to eat that sort of meat as rarely as possible and just supplement for my vitamin and protein needs.

[@greygryphon6881]

We've gotten to this weird place where we think that having meat every day, in almost every meal, is normal. For most of history, it wasn't.

[@shayalynn]

@@greygryphon6881 I believe for the most part, animals were eaten in religious sacrificial contexts. That was the norm. Now people eat them regardless and in whatever way without taking thought. An animal that was sacrificed was supposed to be treated right and die humanely for it to be a victim “that absorbed sins.” It died on the behalf of someone else - that sort of thinking

[@JohnSmith-uv4ox]

I buy all my pork from "The Arrowhead Ranch" Located in Birch Tree Mo. They raise 'em in start to finish in the forrest, free to graze as they wish and fed grain daily. Their motto is "Happy pigs make good BBQ." So, forget the rest support the best. The Arrowhead Ranch.

[@2Afreedom513]

We need to share this everywhere

[@sbueck9011]

Tyson is evil.

[@menotyou8369]

Corporations are evil, Tyson is just one of them.

[@hankbonner9718]

Yep they're factorys are horrendous so are Cargill's

[@escapetherace1943]

don't worry his hot seat is ready for him down below, there's always a cost to our evils

[@Cloverjay555]

Cattle farmer here - From Iowa. Might wanna do a deep dive on how the FDA was started and how little subsidies were given to small farmers during C-19’er. (hint: look at a certain president from out past) Also if you were looking for a reason why beef has doubled in price in the last 5 years I can provide insight on that as well.

[@eeassa]

Unfortunately I've traveled all over the country and seen the same thing. Tyson is not the only one doing this.

[@jonmarkherrscher7315]

Once, i was on a trip and stopped off in Iowa. I don't want to sound condescending, but the worst water i ever tasted was in Iowa, that was about 15 years ago.

[@serafinacosta7118]

Notice these folks at More Perfect Union do no employ stock footage in their edited videos. They are really commited to the message they craft.

[@MartinD9999]

That’s true. They drive out to the sites and stay there recording, interviewing and researching. All that work and the average person still doesn’t do anything about their exposures. Pitiful.

[@ramonalfaro3252]

Pretty much every problem can be traced back to someone lifting themselves up, with other people's bootstraps.

[@07wrxtr1]

Breakup of the family and god = $$$$. That’s the problem

[@MartinD9999]

@07wrxtr1 God?! 😂🤦🏽‍♂️ God=Abuse, corruption and excuses for hate and violence. You keep that superstition/religion garbage to yourself. (Snort! Spit!).

[@jeffb321]

My dad raised hogs in central iowa from the day he could walk till the mid 1990s when the corporate takeover began! I can remember sorting and loading hogs with him. Back then, there was a family owned processor we would sell them to. Like the video said, that business model has been replaced by corporations.

[@user-ow3xu3go1g]

I can remember going through Iowa for vacations and it was farms everywhere, so sad!

[@bennyrogers64]

Thank you farmer Ron! Glad I can support you and other farmers by buying Niman Ranch!

[@kittywalker2944]

I never buy that brand - never will.

[@waynecampbell9426]

Unfortunately it's really hard to avoid, given how many brands they own and how much of their meat is used in other products.

[@Ghostofachance-iw8pr]

Smithfield is a huge pork "producer" owned by China. We are so screw!

[@BettieBoo]

I don’t buy it either!

[@lewtube1]

Just learned Aidells is owned by Tyson. 😮

[@ruthannmarie7119]

​@@BettieBoonot that we know of, right . Awful

[@jameystrickland]

Photography is very well done. Really helps bring home the organic impact on real rural Americans.

[@suzannecastello4380]

thank you for this. My husband and I raise pigs outside. All of this is true. Thank you for drawing the connections between the corporate consolidation in the pork industry and dying small towns and polluted waterways. There are other connections as well, but this was excellent.

[@EhrenLoudermilk]

You are underselling how bad this is in some areas. I am an apprentice butcher in a small town. All of the chicken everybody in this town eats be it fresh, frozen, or already cooked in the deli it all comes from Tyson.

[@susanblackley7065]

Great reporting. Tyson Sucks. Thanks to Ron and the other small farmers for doing it right.

[@adventureswithmarsh]

Terrible reporting that they fail to mention what foreign country owns Tyson

[@dldave1978]

Great video!

[@user-xq2jz2pt8d]

Thanks Brooks , those little piglet at the end looked so happy and carefree

[@jamieandthemore]

I live in a town near Austin that is essentially a glorified subdivision. What you have said about agriculture similarly applies to real estate. In and around Austin land is strip mined for real estate. Keep in mind that corporations are run by likely narcissistic people

[@07wrxtr1]

And Narcissists are a creation of broken homes. Every social issue goes back to the breakup of the family and people wanting to play god… You never want weak losers in charge of running a company because they are easily beholden to money greed etc - not - doing what is right They love to hide behind “bro we’re just building shareholder value maaaan”

[@TheWizardGamez]

real estate is problem of austins(and the rest of the US) shit zoning laws. abolish zoning laws and youll get actual urbanization instead of the never ending urban sprawl

[@abbynever4992]

I hope Iowa’s voters are holding their governor accountable along with everyone else enabling this monopoly!

[@hankbonner9718]

Iowa ppl are profiting from all this aswell. It goes both ways. They ain't gonna take they're own jobs away

[@kakumee]

We used to get meat from our local meetlockers,food from local farms,and this is in ks, in farm country. Ues the big coepret farms are buying out the small farm and the family farm. Some people have small farms but mostly to sustain themselves. I do love B4 farms out of Sharon springs ks(i think). I love them! They sell fresh food to the community and even donate extra to food banks and even drop off some at the lower income housing. I can't say how much I appreciate B4 farms!! Thank you all so much!! One thing I like about Colorado is you can have back yard chickens in some places. Iv helped rase back yard chickens in KS. We never crowded them in like that. They run the yard, sometimes get out and into the numbers, wed get them back in the yard. During the winter or bad weather they stay in there outdoor/indoor pen. We feed them co op chicken feed as well as sourdough mash, oyster shells, or in a pinch old egg shells (helps the eggshells get harder). They also eat grasses and bus too. I like it but moved and with my changing heath couldn't do it independently like I did in a different small town. I agree big farm is a thing and we need to brake up the monopoly!!

[@ronnyt101]

Please spread awareness. Great video.

[@toneyeye]

When sharecropping was practiced in the south, people in Iowa thought it was someone else's problem. It has caught up with them; but they do not even recognize it for what it is. Imbalance of economic power between two "consenting" business partners is a straight road to dependency and serfdom.

[@damham5689]

Smithfield is owned by the Chinese government. Smithfield also owns brands like Hormel, Ekrich, Farmland, Kretshmar, Cooks, Nathans, Armour, and many more brands.

[@NipponAsahi]

Wrong! They owned by American not Chinese. Stop blaming your shitty country issues to others. 😂

[@thecook8964]

China quietly infiltrating US. Very smart, Don't waste $ on war. Very smart. Everything is for sale

[@mpls1982]

They don't own hormel

[@madewithscraps]

True & Horrible! Such a shame that sleeping sheep fail to realize that Everything from China is Chronic Poison. How much of that poison is the intention of CCP to complete their quest-to win the war without a shot fired?

[@timf6916]

Good information

[@capristyles9565]

To the farmers who were interviewed i send best wishes to your farms .May the both of you grow and prosper despite the odds.Hold on

[@sawyer4981]

I try to buy as much of my meat & eggs from local farmers as I can. Sadly, it's getting harder and harder to find anything within a reasonable driving distance these days. I suspect that's exactly what the food industry wants.

[@07wrxtr1]

You mean the beta males running corporate “america”

[@peter5.056]

If you're outraged by this, ask yourself. "Why do I keep giving them my money?" These companies are nothing without a willing consumer to fund their practices.

[@kthearcher3357]

What's even worse.... they are just part of another bigger umbrella. Last product map I saw had some like 5 or 6 umbrellas with all the things. Its all a lie.

[@BrickGriff]

the short answer is "incentives". we don't want to see our fellow workers destitute because we decided to boycott over the outrageous behavior of their bosses. the slightly longer answer is "marketing". there's a reason small businesses are dying and it's not because capitalists love competition... it's literally the opposite. you have it backwards. it's as if you think the owners of commercial buildings only make money by collecting rents from businesses that want to use the office space.

[@BrickGriff]

long story short, real capitalists do not get into business to "make money"; they get into business to employ the massive wealth they already have to secure a dominant position in an industry and use it the way ordinary people use retirement/pension accounts... or at least the way ordinary people used to use those accounts. if you're getting into business to make money you don't yet have, then you've already lost to the monopolists. remember: workers can't own and owners don't work.

[@peter5.056]

@@BrickGriff With my dollar, I incentivize farmers to grow the food I eat: lentils, potatoes, wheat, corn, vegetables.....

[@BrickGriff]

@@peter5.056 you grant subsidies?

[@HexOptimal]

Please don't stop pushing out stellar content

[@matthewortiz7223]

I stopped buy Tyson produce since I started watching your podcast farmers have been this country backbone

[@Kittymancer78]

Break up the monopolies! I grew up in this country understanding that monopolies are wrong. They are not fair play. This idea was drummed in to us. What the he'll happened?? Wait, let me guess? Reagan? Cuz weren't the anti trust laws supposed to prevent monopolies?

[@presence5426]

Reagan, the Movement Conservatives, Tea Party, Koch Network, etc. And the Democratic Party Neolib takeover.

[@tloof2370]

It would be nice if they had a cooperative that we could order from and help support them and insuring us a better quality.

[@DShoe]

Niman farms

[@kthearcher3357]

Butcher box. Local farmers markets.

[@nathanielharris5613]

Local farmers markets and if there is a private owned meat locker nearby they are a great resource, lots of farmers switching to farm-to-table model through local lockers

[@joerambo4977]

Millions of people are boycotting Tyson but most of us dont know how many brands are under Tyson

[@brusso456]

just stop buying pork. the price is too high and quality is too low. I can go the rest of my life without eating pork.

[@joerambo4977]

@brusso456 I hate eating pork bit I eat a lot of poultry but my family won't give up pork

[@popradcan]

God Bless our farmers,support small local farmers !!!

[@johnwright9372]

The same thing happened in the UK. Corporations own it all. They squeeze the farmers at one end and the consumer at the other. If pollution standards were enforced the lobbyists would go to the politicians to get welfare while the ordinary taxpayer foots the bill and struggles to get by.

[@shekharmoona544]

We need to limit businessman and attorneys in Congress and the senate. Ds and R's don't want to hear that.

[@jonathanjones3126]

No, we need to pass a constitutional amendment restricting one person from having more then term in political office for their lifetime and restricting bureaucrats to 5 to 10 years of working for the government per life. Military excluded. And no retirement for government workers or politicians. And you cannot work for governments or run for office once you hit the age of 55

[@genesickler7717]

If you listen to RFKJR he is fighting against such farming practices

[@mattkrumm8141]

In B.C, Canada he would do great, we have laws that help farmers. Locally raised can go to local sales.

[@shaneapplegate1975]

Good share 😁👍🔨

[@aenima2012]

I'd argue that corporate consolidation has put profit above all else, not efficiency. Efficiency is another tool they can use to drive profits.

[@oliviao2238]

Farmers have been voicing their complaints for decades. At what point will they fight back? If they don't, they may never farm again.

[@usa-ev]

What do you mean by fighting back?

[@Hypnotically_Caucasian]

Once corporations rule over us like tyrants, we should treat them as such.

[@oliviao2238]

@@usa-ev By systematically voting and cutting off the supply chain. Worked in the 70's and 80's

[@Charger-ob8yl]

Most all farmers gladly vote against their own interests.

[@mrnelsonius5631]

I’ve traveled the United States extensively, been everywhere, and Iowa is a beautiful place. It makes me sad to see the communities, families and businesses there strangled by outside greed. The natural beauty I’ve marveled at will also be destroyed. Sending my love to the farmers out there all the way from Los Angeles.

[@kierancarter8369]

Growing up in Iowa and agriculture...this breaks my heart.

[@lowwastehighmelanin]

This is heartbreaking. Hog farmers are so important. It takes a special kind of care to raise them properly. Pigs are smart. This is cruel to everyone involved, especially so the pigs. Super grateful I can get locally produced, small farm meats but that's not the norm anymore...

[@SamuraiMujuru]

Fun bonus, after the Kim Reaper and her goons weaseled their way into re-opening the Tysons plants and such early in the plague some of the Tysons management were running literal deadpools.

[@Ghostofachance-iw8pr]

Tyson was smuggling cocaine in his boxed chicken, pork, etc.

[@nathanielharris5613]

Yes, heaven forbid Iowa kept supplying food to people in the midst of a plague

[@michaelrichard1320]

I grew up in Iowa and wrote a paper on this issue in college 18 years ago. I also would help build these high buildings in the summers during college which inspired me to write about this whole mess

[@user-qi3qk5ss7p]

We all need to support smaller family farms like homestead’s and local farmers. If we did more people would produce meat cheaper and better. But most small farms charge double and call it organic or free range but in reality it’s just normally raised as it used to be.

[@Denny-ok5dj]

Pigs are so intelligent they make good pets

[@dancarlton7973]

They're also clean animals. 🐖🐖 🐓

[@jonathanjones3126]

Their also quite tasty when cooked right

[@okigi-wo5zm]

​@@jonathanjones3126colon rectal cancer.

[@DIYDSP]

​@@jonathanjones3126people are also tasty

[@johnwright9372]

They are highly intelligent, but their smell is too strong to be pets. You don't want one in the house.

[@tezcanibrahim]

Most farmers are against unions and are voting against their interests.

[@serafinacosta7118]

Unions are not the major force amongst the farming community. They are almost non existing due to automatization. Coops are big amongst farmers.

[@Hypnotically_Caucasian]

Unions eventually get taken over subtly by the corporations they're trying to control

[@inezjackson2244]

U nailed it the Republicans have brain washed them for years

[@gizzyguzzi]

You elitists think you know what is best for everyone. I bet you've never made anything in your life.

[@bobbritch9555]

stay strong independent farmers..you are the backbone of the country

[@joannevenere3552]

Shared!

[@StephenSternGoth]

I stopped eating Tyson foods 10 years ago when Vice came out with a report

[@haggielady]

The State of Iowa is totally to blame. They are in the pockets of big business. Anything that the big businesses want, they get.

[@Charger-ob8yl]

No, the voters in Iowa are to blame.

[@hankbonner9718]

Yep puppets have been the downfall of America

[@Hornets-Panthers-Knights92]

nice upload

[@c.d.porter9366]

Suggest that Ron find a way to market consumer direct pasture pork or chemical free pork. Youll br amazzed at how large the demand is for non-corporate agriculture.

[@shekharmoona544]

We have factory pig farms all over NC. Some them have been fined due to waste water leaching into water ways and causing ammonia gas in the local community.

[@MRosati5000]

and the poor animal's god put us in charge of..

[@davelassiter392]

@@shekharmoona544 The hog farms in the Carolina’s are primarily owned by Smithfield a company owned by China.

[@frequentlycynical642]

In 1975 my ex and I took a long trip all over America except west of Colorado. We were Easterners, never had been in the midwest other than cities. I vividly remember driving down highways and being able to smell the hog farms a mile before we got to them. We couldn't believe the stench as we came upon the first farm. I don't know how the farmers deal with the smell, but I am sure grateful for them!

[@presence5426]

Anybody remember when Jerry Brown went after Bill Clinton for his connections to Tyson?

[@candid1377]

Maybe the small Iowa farmers should get together and invite Joel Salatin from "POLYFACE FARMS" to explain the way he does it. His operation seems to be very successful despite the government regulations.

[@Praisethesunson]

Love videos on the meat monopoly. All American meat except beef(for now) have turned into glorified debt peonage for the farmers doing the animal husbandry.

[@fishmonger7020]

Why is beef different?

[@Praisethesunson]

@@fishmonger7020 beef production took longer to vertically integrate. Cattle ranchers still have an open bidding process for cattle. Which helps keep them slightly independent. They are falling though. I give it another decade before they are forced into the same rigged tournament that chicken farmers are trapped under.

[@eringo-bragh4243]

Don't expect SCOTUS to help you

[@reidflemingworldstoughestm1394]

You'd need someone more like Bernie or AOC if you wanted real help.

[@Hypnotically_Caucasian]

>aoc will stop this HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA "We must stop global warming by putting corks up cow's asses and having a state enforced vegan diet based on microplastics!"

[@chrismatteson2337]

Look up RFKJR'S plan for small farms. He's the only one that wants reform.

[@quintile9705]

@@chrismatteson2337I would if he was normal in other aspects. I like some of what he calls for but the conspiracy aspect of his personality and Covid stuff really puts me off from him

[@peterbathum2775]

they are owned bought and paid for by the same billionaires that fund the Federalist and Heritage Societies; both are experts at finding obscure old texts to use out of context to justify stealing our rights. next thing is stealing our right to vote.

[@johnbrady3307]

This has to be stopped ruining your health and community

[@harrylewis7536]

I have watched a couple travel videos of different states and they mention it as a blight and when you see some of the decline of the farm communities this makes sense.Too much farming under one roof could be catastrophic thru close shop get bought out disease etc

[@lalah9481]

We don’t even buy meat at the grocery stores anymore. Butcher Box only sources from independent farmers (free/open range, no antibiotics, no growth hormones etc). They process their own meats and deliver to our door as often as we want. It tastes so much better, I’ll never go back.

[@jeffb321]

Sounds like a much better option for consumers who can afford it in this ungodly expensive world

[@lalah9481]

@@jeffb321 just fyi, it’s a subscription and we set the dates as well as size of order. We are a fam of 4, two teenagers. Our order is usually every three months for $150-200. I think it’s cheaper than Costco.

[@bhough410]

@@jeffb321 Most people in the US have a butcher within a reasonable driving distance at least for now until the topic of this video is fully implemented. Buying directly from a butcher sources healthier local raised meat and is only slightly more expensive than buying from a grocery store. Anyone not living in a tiny NYC apartment could likely figure out a way to have a deep freezer full of locally sourced meat for less than they spent on their last smart phone or less than they spend buying things they don't need over the course of a month or 2 on amazon.

[@jturtle5318]

I'm getting beef from a local small grass-fed operation. You need a chest freezer for that.

[@leov9488]

There is only one problem: how many Americans can afford the meat prices of Butcher Box?

[@rustyschackleford5800]

It's a publicly traded company. The only thing that matters to them is the share price.

[@presence5426]

Not only the share price. Also profitability and many other corporate interests.

[@Hojjiifp]

Absolutely correct...we need local organic food providers.

[@margaretadekunle4017]

Remember when we used to go shopping before Amazon made a lot of retail outlets closed. There most be some thing that can be done to save the small family farms.