More on the Big Four: JBS, Tyson, Cargill, and National Beef
posted on
November 7, 2025
🧩 “Who Controls Your Beef?”
🥩 The Big Four: 85% of America’s Beef Controlled by 4 Companies
💬 “When just four companies process most of the beef in our country, we don’t just lose competition — we lose connection.” — Liz Cunningham
Panel 1: The Players
| Processor | Ownership | % of Market | Known For |
|---|---|---|---|
| JBS USA | Brazil (JBS S.A.) | ~25% | Largest meat processor in the world; ransomware attack 2021 shut down 20% of U.S. meat supply |
| Tyson Foods | U.S. | ~22% | COVID shutdowns led to mass cattle backlogs; ongoing price-fixing litigation |
| Cargill Meat Solutions | U.S. | ~22% | Commodity-driven global agribusiness; joint settlements for antitrust violations |
| National Beef (Marfrig Global Foods) | Brazil | ~18% | Foreign-owned; major importer/exporter balancing U.S. beef and South American supply |
📊 Together: 85–87% of all beef processed in the United States
Panel 2: The Hidden Costs
💵 Price Control:
Coordinated market behavior drives rancher profits down and retail prices up.
🥩 Supply Risk:
When one major plant shuts down — like JBS in 2021 — U.S. beef supply can drop 20% overnight.
🌎 Foreign Influence:
Two of the four are Brazilian-owned, meaning U.S. beef production decisions are made overseas.
🐄 Lost Independence:
Family ranchers can’t compete with massive volume pricing. Processing access becomes bottlenecked.
Panel 3: The COVID Reality Check
🚫 Plant shutdowns → millions of pounds of cattle euthanized
🍽️ Empty grocery shelves → record-high prices
🤝 Small processors couldn’t expand due to USDA red tape
“It’s not the cow. It’s the how. Our food system isn’t broken — it’s bottlenecked.” — Liz Cunningham
Panel 4: What We’re Doing Differently
At Cunningham Ranch & Northwest Premium Meats:
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Locally processed beef from Jordan Valley, Oregon/Treasure Valley, Idaho
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USDA inspected, small-batch handled
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Full traceability from pasture to plate
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Dollars stay local — supporting Northwest families - Cliff's Country Market is now the home of Cunningham Pastured Meats
💚 Food You Can Trust — From Families Who Care
Panel 5: What You Can Do
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🛒 Buy Local Beef — direct from ranchers and small butchers and locally owned family markets like Cliff's Country Market in Caldwell, ID
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🗣️ Ask Questions — know who raised and processed your meat
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🤝 Support Legislation — like the PRIME Act that gives small processors freedom
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🍽️ Share the Story — because change starts around the dinner table
📍 Learn More at CunninghamPasturedMeats.com
