BEEF

New Dietary Guidelines Move Food Pyramid Closer to the Farm

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 20:43:25 GMT

The White House delivered a simple but clear message to Americans today: Eat real food.

“We are finally putting real food back at the center of the American diet. Real food that nourishes the body, restores health, fuels energy and builds strength,” says Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. “This pivot also leans into the abundant, affordable and healthy food supply already available from America’s incredible farmers and ranchers. By making milk, raising cattle and growing wholesome fruits, vegetables and grains, they hold the key to solving our national health crisis.”

In the “most significant reset of federal nutrition policy in decades,” the White House released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030 . The updated pyramid inverts the 1992 USDA version by prioritizing:

Protein (1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, an increase from 0.8 grams)
Dairy and healthy fats as the foundation
Vegetables (3 servings per day)
Fruits (2 servings per day)

Unlike the old pyramid’s grain-heavy base and processed carbs, new recommendations limit whole grains to 2 to 4 servings per day and added sugars and highly processed oils should be avoided entirely.

Eat More Protein

Rollins says the previous dietary guidelines demonized protein in favor of carbohydrates.

“These guidelines reflect gold standard science by prioritizing high-quality, nutrient-dense protein foods in every meal,” Rollins says. “This includes a variety of animal sources, including eggs, poultry, seafood, and red meat, in addition to plant-sourced protein foods such as beans, peas, lentils, legumes, nuts, seeds and soy.”

To put the new protein recommendations into perspective, Sigrid Johannes, executive director of government affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, says for folks who should be consuming 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight that’s a 100% increase in recommended daily protein intake.

Dairy’s Seat at the Table

Dairy emerged in a strong position under the new dietary guidelines, with federal nutrition guidance supporting dairy at all fat levels for the first time.

“One of the key messages they’re telling consumers is eat dairy and eat dairy at all fat levels — that’s whole milk, cheese and butter,” says Matt Herrick of the International Dairy Foods Association. He calls it “a significant watershed moment,” reflecting how many families currently eat and shop today.

Echoing Herrick’s perspective, National Milk Producers Federation President and CEO Gregg Doud adds by better recognizing both fat and protein, the guidelines give a fuller picture of dairy’s nutritional value.

“Not all fats are created equal, and because the guidelines acknowledge this, dairy’s benefits are better reflected in this iteration of the guidelines,” Doud says.

When it comes to protein, consumer demand is reshaping the category, with cottage cheese at its highest level since the 1980s because of the high-protein trend, Herrick notes.

“Consumers are looking at labels more than ever and trying to find cleaner, less processed foods. Dairy fits that bill. Most products have just a handful of ingredients, and they’re all high in protein. People are turning to protein for growth, energy and overall health, and we’re going to continue to see consumers look to dairy to fulfill their protein and healthy fats needs,” Herrick says.

The processing sector has grown alongside the rising demand for dairy, reflecting both increased production and changing consumer preferences. Roughly $8 billion has been invested in new processing facilities from 2022 to 2025, with another $11 billion expected through 2028.

“We’re going to continue to see investments in processing facilities — new plants, updated lines and more capacity — to meet growing consumer demand for dairy protein and healthy fats,” Herrick notes.

Eat More Meat and Poultry

When it comes to meat and poultry, Julie Anna Potts, Meat Institute President and CEO, says Secretary Rollins and Secretary Kennedy’s leadership have simplified the dietary guidelines making it clear meat is a protein powerhouse.

“Robust scientific evidence demonstrates that meat is a rich source of high-quality protein, essential vitamins and highly bioavailable minerals that support human health throughout the lifespan,” Potts says.

Kansas beef producer Marisa Kleysteuber describes the new “commonsense” dietary guidelines as “exciting and refreshing.”

“As beef producers we are blessed to work with a ruminant animal that can utilize Mother Nature’s production of cellulose from rain and sunshine and then convert it to one of the most nutrient rich proteins there is,” she says. “Whether the consumer is desiring an organic, grass fed or corn fed beef product, there are cattlemen and women all over the U.S. who put their heart into raising these cattle to produce a nutritious and delicious product that we have always believed in and now our leaders are standing behind the ranchers and farmers of America.”

Quintessentially American foods such as burgers, steaks, pork chops and Easter hams can remain a staple of American households, and the guidelines go so far as to recommend parents introduce nutrient-dense foods, including meat, early and continue focusing on “nutrient-dense foods such as protein foods” throughout childhood.

“America’s pork producers appreciate the 2025 dietary guidelines putting pork front and center on the plate. They took note of producer concerns and rightly gave pork and other high-protein, nutrient-dense and delicious meats their due when it comes to Americans’ health and dietary habits,” says Rob Brenneman , National Pork Producers Council president-elect and pork producer from Washington, Iowa.

Maddie Hokanson , a Minnesota pork producer and mother of two, says the new dietary guidelines’ strong emphasis on protein is a positive for the pork industry. She believes the new guidelines, paired with pork’s quality nutrition and versatility, bring together the perfect opportunity to increase pork consumption and demand in the U.S.

“As pig farmers, we are proud to produce a meat product that is packed with high-quality protein, while also being nutrient-dense with many essential vitamins and minerals,” Hokanson says. “As a parent to young children, I see both the physical and cognitive benefits of prioritizing protein in the diet at all ages, and I’m excited to see what the short- and long-term effects of this recommendation will be.”

Three Servings of Veggies and Two Servings of Fruit

Dairy and meat weren’t the only items at the top of the new dietary pyramid. Fresh fruits and vegetables were also given top billing.

“Diets rich in vegetables and fruits reduce disease risk more effectively than many drugs,” says Robert F Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health.

The new dietary guidelines recommend three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit per day. Like past editions of the dietary guidelines , the new guidelines recommend Americans eat “a variety of colorful, nutrient-dense vegetables and fruits” and advises whole produce items be eaten “in their original form.” Though not explicitly stated, the updated guidelines also call out “frozen, dried, or canned vegetables or fruits with no or very limited added sugars” as good options.

“Today’s dietary guidelines reinforce the critical role fruits and vegetables play in overall health,” says Mollie Van Lieu, International Fresh Produce Association vice president of nutrition and health, in the group’s response. “Scientific evidence consistently shows that fruits and vegetables should make up the majority of what people eat. The Administration’s focus on whole foods is an opportunity to increase fruit and vegetable intake, as they are the most nutrient-dense foods available.”

Rollins Teases Plan to Expand Real Food Retail Accessibility

There was more than the new dietary guidelines announced at the press event. Rollins mentioned upcoming changes at retail she says would increase the accessibility of whole, healthy foods to those in food deserts.

“Soon, USDA will finalize our stocking standards,” she says, explaining retailers that take SNAP benefits are bound by the stocking standards. “Very soon we will be finalizing that rule that will mandate all 250,000 retailers in America to double the type of staple foods they provide for America’s SNAP households. This means healthier options will be in reach for all American families, regardless of circumstance, at levels never seen before in our country.”

Grains and Oilseed Industry Focuses on Positives

In terms of grains, in its guidance USDA recommends Americans “focus on whole grains, while sharply reducing refined carbohydrates.” The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) shared mixed reactions to the changes.

“We appreciate the continued recognition of whole grains as an essential part of Americans’ diets,” said a spokesperson with NAWG in a statement to Farm Journal. “However, we are concerned that some portions of the new guidelines around grains and wheat are unintentionally confusing. Wheat, wheat flour, and foods made from wheat have been nutrient-rich, life-sustaining staples for tens of thousands of years and deserve clear, continued support as a central part of our nation’s diet.”

The American Soybean Association (ASA) focuses on the positives saying it highlights the importance of increased protein consumption, including plant-based proteins, such as soy-based foods. They also emphasize prioritizing healthy fats, including oils rich in essential fatty acids like soybean oil.

ASA says an addendum continues to call into question the process of soybean oil extraction, which it says is scientifically proven to be safe for human health.

“Soybean oil and soy protein play a critical role in the health and nutrition of Americans,” says Scott Metzger, ASA president and Ohio farmer, in a press release. “We remain deeply concerned by the rhetoric and selectively cited studies regarding the health and safety of soybean oil in DGA supporting material.”

Metzger says soybean growers will continue to work with the administration and educate MAHA commission leadership on the health benefits of soy-based foods and soybean oil.

The National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) echoed those concern: “Vegetable oils, or “seed oils” as they’re sometimes referred to, are a significant provider of essential fatty acids and remain a safe and cost-effective source of dietary fats in the American diet, as they are globally,” said a NOPA press release. “However, some appendices rely on a narrow evidence base with limited citations, which is concerning given the administration’s rhetoric questioning the safety of certain vegetable oils despite an established scientific consensus.”

NOPA also argues oilseeds support the production of affordable meat, dairy and eggs as meal produced from oilseeds are a key component of livestock diets.

Beef Producers React to USDA's Plan to Fortify Industry and Trump's Social Media Comments

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 16:03:10 GMT

In an effort to strengthen the American beef industry and reinforce and prioritize the rancher’s critical role in national security, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and other cabinet members announced a suite of actions on Wednesday.

Since 2017, the U.S. has lost over 17% of family farms — more than 100,000 operations over the last decade. The national herd is at a 75-year low while consumer demand for beef has grown 9% over the past decade. Because increasing the size of the domestic herd takes time, USDA says it is investing now to make these markets less volatile for ranchers over the long term and more affordable for consumers.

“America’s food supply chain is a national security priority for the Trump Administration. We are committed to ensuring the American people have an affordable source of protein and that America’s ranchers have a strong economic environment where they can continue to operate for generations to come,” Rollins says in a press release . “At USDA we are protecting our beef industry and incentivizing new ranchers to take up the noble vocation of ranching. Today, USDA will immediately expedite deregulatory reforms, boost processing capacity, including getting more locally raised beef into schools, and working across the government to fix longstanding common-sense barriers for ranchers like outdated grazing restrictions.”

The plan includes three coordinated priorities:

Protecting and improving the business of ranching
- Strengthening the foundation of U.S. cattle production through endangered species reforms, enhanced disaster relief, increased grazing access (approximately 5 million acres), increased access to capital, and affordable risk management tools.
Expanding processing, consumer transparency and market access.
- Lowering long-term costs by cutting inspection costs by up to 75% for small processors, increasing marketing options for consumers with Product of USA labeling and ensuring consumers have clear, truthful information about American beef.
Building demand alongside domestic supply
- Growing the domestic herd while boosting domestic and international demand so that ranchers are not trapped in the boom/bust cycle that has defined past cattle markets. This strategy includes boosting long-term demand to reduce prices for consumers while growing markets for ranchers through significant farm-to-school grans and protein-focused dietary guidelines.

The plan is available through the USDA website.

Trump Takes to Social on Beef

President Donald Trump shared his perspective on beef industry success on X.

“The Cattle Ranchers, who I love, don’t understand that the only reason they are doing so well, for the first time in decades, is because I put Tariffs on cattle coming into the United States, including a 50% tariff on Brazil,” Trump posted.

Following the post, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) made a post on Facebook in response and also released a statement on the president’s steps to undercut U.S. cattle producers:

“In a misguided effort to lower the price of beef in grocery stores, President Trump said he plans to increase the volume of beef being imported from Argentina. Efforts to manipulate markets only risk damaging the livelihoods of American cattlemen and women, while doing little to impact the price consumers are paying at the grocery store.”

“The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and its members cannot stand behind the President while he undercuts the future of family farmers and ranchers by importing Argentinian beef in an attempt to influence prices,” said NCBA CEO Colin Woodall. “It is imperative that President Trump and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins let the cattle markets work.”

”The U.S. already faces a deep trade imbalance with Argentina, one that is made worse by the President’s plan. During the past five years, Argentina has shipped beef valued at more than $800 million to the U.S., while purchasing only $7 million of U.S. beef. Furthermore, Argentina is a nation with a long history of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), and USDA has not completed the necessary steps to ensure Argentina can guarantee the safety of the products being shipped here, further endangering America’s cattle herd.

“If President Trump is truly an ally of America’s cattle producers, we call on him to abandon this effort to manipulate markets and focus instead on the promised New World Screwworm facilities in Texas; making additional investments that protect the domestic cattle herd from foreign animal diseases such as FMD; and addressing regulatory burdens, such as delisting of the gray wolf and addressing the scourge of black vultures,” Woodall said, concluding the statement.

Your Next Read: Is Argentina Beef the Answer to Lowering Beef Prices?

Why Aren't High Beef Prices Causing Sticker Shock With Consumers?

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 19:37:01 GMT

Gound beef prices across the U.S. continue to reach new highs. Retail prices for ground beef hit its highest level in history in June climbing above $6 per pound, while steaks were up 8% at $11.49 per pound.

(Bureau of Labor Statistics )

“The record high retail beef price reported by the most recent Consumer Price Index (CPI) has prompted a lot of calls about why prices are record high and whether there is any relief in sight,” says David Anderson, Texas A&M Extension economist for livestock and food product marketing. “While we often write about the great cattle prices for producers who are selling, there is a flip side, and that is consumers who are buying beef.”

Anderson explains reduced slaughter and beef production, especially in the second quarter of the year, cut supplies just as grilling season heated up for seasonal beef demand. The combination led to a spike in wholesale prices and retail beef prices.

Don Close, Terrain senior animal protein analyst, says: “What we have seen so far is consumers have been incredibly loyal to protein collectively, but they have been especially loyal to beef, and beef is actually continuing to gain market there, even at the current prices at the expense of the other protein.”

Wages Are Keeping Pace With Beef Prices

Close says when he correlates the monthly all fresh beef price to hourly wages he found they are in lock step.

“Yes, beef prices have escalated, but beef prices have not risen any faster than the improvement in overall hourly wage,” he explains. “So from the consumer’s perspective, their share of their paycheck committed to beef is essentially the same as it’s been on a comparative basis for years.”

(Don Close, Terrain )

Other contributing factors to beef demand include consumers’ craze for protein and the impact of GLP-1 diets on protein consumption.

Scott Varilek, Kooima Kooima Varilek, says: “I think beef demand has just proven time and time again — hey, consumers want it. It’s a great healthy protein, and I think it’s got a lot of good traction here over the last year of being a good quality source of food.”

High Quality Attracts Consumer Spending

Plus, with 82% to 84% of the beef produced grading Choice or better, the high quality of beef is pushing demand.

“I don’t see any weakness really in the consumers or their spending habits,” says Mike Minor, professional ag marketing. “We actually are eating more Prime meat today than Choice for the first time ever. So, people like their expensive meat still.”

How Long Will High Cattle and Beef Prices Last?

Last week USDA reported average fed cash cattle prices hit the second-highest level in history at $237.78, up 57¢ from the average the prior week.

The high cattle and beef prices continue to be driven by tight cattle numbers, the Mexican boarder closing due to New World screwworm and looming import challenges.

Yet, Close says the role of strong demand can’t be ignored and is likely to continue.

“I think it’s certainly through 2026 and really more realistic somewhere deep into 2027,” he adds.

Anderson explains normal seasonal production and demand would suggest prices falling from recent highs. Evidence from the wholesale beef market over the last couple of weeks indicates lower prices.

“Seasonal price patterns would suggest that there is a chance for a little bit of relief from record high beef prices,” Anderson says. “But, only if we compare to the peak price this summer. Wholesale beef prices are already declining.”

He adds there is a time lag from lower wholesale prices showing up at retail, but lower wholesale prices combined with normal seasonality of various cut prices should lead to the expectation of falling prices in the coming months.

“But, it’s not likely that prices will decline below year-ago levels,” Anderson emphasizes.

Inventory Reports Release on July 25

Close says more will be known about supply levels after the USDA Cattle on Feed and Cattle Inventory reports on Friday.

“While market analysts expect lower placements, marketings and cattle in feedyards than a year ago, the really interesting number will be the number of heifers on feed on July 1,” Anderson summarizes. “The heifers on feed will provide some insight into heifer retention. Also, look for placements in Texas due to the ban on Mexican feeder cattle. The lack of spayed heifers coming from Mexico is important in evaluating the number of heifers on feed.”

Your Next Read: What Americans Won’t Give Up in 2025: Spending Priorities Revealed

Ghost Cattle: $650M Ponzi Rocks Livestock Industry, Money Still Missing

Wed, 21 May 2025 18:37:01 GMT

How does a $650 million cattle con crash? Under the creaking weight of a mere 26 cows.

From 2017-2019, a motley trio of Ponzi scammers—Illinois cowboy, Midwest matron, and polished Georgia fixer—hoodwinked investors and burned through $140 million per month at peak mayhem. New money paid old money.

The stunning scam was a madhouse of blind wire transfers, bogus promissory notes, hearty handshakes, and monopoly money. Three prison sentences later, questions linger over who was behind the curtain and where the booty is buried.

Helluva Tale
Built like a brick house and every inch the central Texas cattleman, plain-talking Roye Stephens was not a man to burn. In September 2017, Stephens dialed Marvin Wills and reported the theft of 26 cows.

Special Ranger Wills , long-time veteran of the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association , listened as Stephens dropped a “helluva tale,” centered on the escapades of sketchy businessman touting interests in show cattle and legal marijuana: Mark David Ray.

Roye Stephens, the Texas rancher who put the spotlight on Mark Ray.

(Photo by Facebook)

“At first, I thought Roye Stephens was just talking about Mark Ray doing something local, but I could tell something was off—way different than most anything I’d ever heard at the ground level,” Wills says. “Stephens was describing what would become one of the biggest cattle scams of all time.”

“There was a history of cattle dealings between Stephens and Ray, and those dealings weren’t always fruitful, but Stephens kept going back because every deal was almost too good to be true,” Wills continues. “Ray always had a sweetener.”

Stephens paid Ray $75,000 for half-interest in 52 head of Lampasas County cattle which had been trucked to an Oklahoma feed lot. In a nutshell, the 52 cows did not exist—whether in Oklahoma, Texas, or Timbuktu. The transaction was an inventory fantasy. Stephens had been skinned—and his call for justice would be the key that picked the lock on a buck-wild $650 million shell game.

In tandem with Lampasas County detective David Thorpe, Wills began tracing Ray’s tracks across the livestock industry. “The story was wild,” Wills says. “A real cluster. Ray had investors and connections all over the place, and he’d even gone to Russia with the supposed intention to open a packing plant. He was big-time, except nobody really knew what was real and what was fake about him.”

Wills was certain: Ray was up to his neck in crime. “We knew he sold the exact same number of cattle at the exact same weight to packing plants. Impossible. Week to week on the rail with precisely the same numbers? No way.”

In March 2018, after robbing Stephens, Ray was indicted in Lampasas County for “false statement to obtain property” and “theft by deception.” Specifically, the indictment included a damning text sent by Ray, asking Stephens to pay “for cows with calves on them with eggs put in but of course no confirmed. Cows are at Pawhuska Oklahoma. $2,265 per pair plus freight 52 pair.”

A plea? Settlement? Slap on the wrist? Fine?

Rather, an explosion. Ray, 57, arrived for his bond hearing in Lampasas County by flying in on a luxury Beechcraft King Air—over 26 cattle in rural Texas.

“He showed up in a million-dollar airplane,” Wills recalls. “Basically, he may as well have set off a bomb. That’s when we absolutely knew this was much deeper than a handful of cattle. Who was this guy? Who?”

In short time, Wills and Thorpe were seated in an Austin FBI office, spilling their giant cup of tea.

“We started this, and the feds ended it,” Wills exclaims. “To this day, it boggles my mind. The money; the marijuana; the cattle. Still doesn’t all add up.”

Hometown Dust
The man grew money.

Mark David Ray, at least as far back as the early 2000s, wrangled golden cattle deals. A son of Knox County, in west-central Illinois, he loved flash and the fibrous feel of a thick knot of crisp bills.

“We started this, and the feds ended it,” says Special Ranger Marvin Wills. “To this day, it boggles my mind.”

(Photo by TSCRA)

His scheme? Ray, as president of Berwick Black Cattle Company and director of Source of Champions, offered bang-bang cattle investments with promises of pronto payback plus high interest—sometimes 25% in months.

Operating out of Abingdon, Ill., things were rosy out of the gate. On Jan. 13, 2002, according to a subsequent Illinois State Securities Department investigation, Ray sold a $150,000 “investment contract” to an Illinois cattleman, and 14 days later paid back the $150,000, plus $3,000. On Nov. 7, he sold another “investment contract” for $122,500 and paid back the principal, along with an extra $5,000.17, 21 days later.

A blitz of similar transactions and bigger returns followed, stretching until 2005, when the wheels came off and the investor payments stopped boomeranging. In a nutshell, Ray got pinched and was barred from doing business: “The Respondents (Ray) shall be permanently prohibited from offering and selling securities in the State of Illinois.”

No matter. Ray, an investment prophet, shook off the hometown dust and made tracks for the West.

With no criminal charges filed in Illinois, the Berwick Black Ponzi was a learning lesson. The next go-around, Ray swung for the fences.

Make It Rain
He talked the talk. He played and preyed. He wore boots and jeans.

“Mark Ray knew how to use his background in agriculture and gain trust,” says Joshua Mayes, former Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) senior trial counsel, Enforcement Division, who spearheaded a subsequent investigation uncovering Ray’s scam. “He would go to cattle shows, compete for awards, and rub shoulders with people who thought he was legit. Salt-of-the-earth farmers, ranchers, business people, and average joes—he fooled them all with a handshake.”

Ray claimed to have mastered the cattle flip, fattening cows in feed lots for crazy money: Give me $500,000 today. I’ll give you $600,000 in eight weeks.

“He was so good at speaking the lingo and moving fast,” Mayes continues. “Literally, within months of meeting people, he’d have them wiring him hundreds of thousands of dollars without so much as a napkin scrawl promising payback—sometimes with no financial statements, no deal transaction firm, and no proof. Just his word.”

Based in Denver, Colo., Ray put a foot in both agriculture and legal marijuana, founding three companies: Custom Consulting, Universal Herbs and MR Cattle. To bolster his phenomenal sleight-of-hand skills, he needed team players: Someone to haul in whales and another to grease the financial skids. Enter old friends Ron Throgmartin and Reva Stachniw.

Throgmartin, living in Buford, Ga., was CEO of Diego Pellicer, a legal marijuana business. He had been in the trenches during Ray’s Illinois cattle Ponzi. Throgmartin became Ray’s general consultant and appeared the part, presenting a credible business front.

Stachniw, who looked like a cross between a PTA grandmother and Sunday school teacher, was an Illinois crony from Knox County. A retired nurse, she knew the cattle industry and was owner and manager of RM Farm and Sunshine Enterprises.

Ray, Throgmartin, and Stachniw steered investors toward high-speed returns on cattle flips, straight business loans, and marijuana investments, typically in the 10-20% range.

What a threesome. They made it rain—as in, $140 million per month at the height of the scam.

“People With Money”
How did the money machine work?

First, Ray’s engine required prodigious amounts of fuel—a tall order considering he essentially had no cattle. Like a Ponzi politician, Ray needed to raise massive amounts of money, steadily sucking in new investors to pay off old investors.

Ron Throgmartin served as Ray’s business face, keeping track of major investors and drafting emails, texts, and promissory notes to bolster the scheme.

(Photo by Facebook)

“He had to constantly make deals,” Mayes describes. “The whole train stops if he doesn’t consistently fool new victims. Once he got rolling and got his victims comfortable, he convinced some to let their investments ride: ‘Right now I owe you 124,000, but I have another deal coming up, and you can make it $150,000 if you give me another 3 months.’”

Throgmartin served as Ray’s legitimate business face, keeping track of major investors and drafting emails, texts, and promissory notes to boost the scheme.

Stachniw handled the bank accounts. She ensured Ray avoided bank detection by keeping his name out of transactions. She maintained accounts in the names of RM Farm and Sunshine Enterprises, signed promissory notes, signed stacks of blank checks for use by Ray as needed, and transferred tens of millions as requested by Ray.

According to federal prosecutors, Stachniw “advised Ray and Throgmartin, generally via text message, telephone call, or email, on a near-daily basis, how much money the co-conspirators needed to raise from victim-investors to avoid overdrawing the various bank accounts the co-conspirators used, and exposing the scheme. At times, Stachniw expressed surprise that Ray was able to find victim-investors willing to continue to invest, for example, writing to Ray on or about August 7, 2018, “I can’t believe you are able to find people with money.”

As the Ponzi pyramid climbed, investors unknowingly were wiring other investors. Literally, victim to victim per Ray’s lies. From the SEC report: Ray would instruct Victim A to wire funds to Victim B, telling Victim A that the funds were for the purchase of cattle from Victim B. Ray would tell Victim B, however, that the funds received from Victim A were payment for another cattle trade in which Victim B had previously invested.

“The investors were lulled to sleep,” Mayes explains. “One ranch gets a wire transfer from a second ranch in another state. The first rancher with the incoming money makes an assumption: The money must have come from a cattle deal.”

From late 2017 and continuing through in or around early 2019, Ray, Throgmartin, and Stachniw raised approximately $650 million from victim-investors.

Translated: The Big 3 tapped hundreds of investors for two-thirds of a billion dollars in a mere 17 months.

Lifesavings, Gone
As Ponzi structures reach skyward, they inevitably creak and collapse. No different with Ray’s Jenga tower.

Reva Stachniw, a retired nurse, knew the cattle industry and was owner and manager of RM Farm and Sunshine Enterprises.

(Photo by Facebook)

Ray had too many irons in the fire. When Roye Stephens called the law over stolen Lampasas County cattle, what first appeared as a tiny fissure turned into a gaping hole of access for the SEC and federal prosecutors. The SEC filed against Ray, Stachniw, and Throgmartin on Sept. 30, 2019. Federal prosecutors filed an indictment against Ray on Feb 20, 2020, and against Stachniw and Throgmartin On April 22, 2021.

“When we busted them,” Mayes says, “they were moving over $100 million per month, but that’s far from what sticks in my mind. I just remember the victims. At first, the victims didn’t believe it was all a scam. Then their disbelief changed to panic. Lifesavings, gone.”

“When the public thinks of Ponzis, they think of Bernie Madoff and his sophisticated victims. Therefore, the public thinks of a Ponzi as stealing from the rich. That’s not true most of the time, and by no means in this case. These were mainly middle-class victims in agriculture that worked for a lifetime to make a nest egg to invest. Just normal people lured by a high return. And they wind up on the brink of suicide because a good day, maybe the best day, is getting back 25 cents on the dollar.”

Pulling Levers?
Ray took a plea deal and admitted to bank fraud and wire fraud, throwing Throgmartin and Stachniw under the bus, agreeing to testify against both. Throgmartin and Stachniw claimed innocence as victims of Ray’s duplicity. They were found guilty in a jury trial in 2022.

The trio was sentenced in 2023. Ray, 50 months and $23,374,664 in restitution. Stachniw, 72 months, $14,597,335 in restitution and forfeiture of $6,013,370. Throgmartin, 72 months, $14,597,335 in restitution and forfeiture of $1,004,904. The mastermind, Ray, got the least amount of prison time.

“Stachniw and Throgmartin were convicted of being knowing participants,” Mayes says. “Their defense was, ‘We didn’t know it was a Ponzi. We didn’t know what Mark Ray was truly doing.’ The evidence says otherwise.”

(For more on Throgmartin’s defense and his claims about Ray, see his May 2023 YouTube interview.)

What was Ray’s long-term plan? What was next if the scheme hadn’t crashed?

“I don’t think he had a plan at all,” Mayes contends. “I think he just compartmentalized in the moment and kept going. I also suspect he believed that if things got bad, he could just declare bankruptcy, ride it out, and face no charges. It certainly worked the first time in Illinois.”

Sticky-fingered Mark David Ray used new money to pay old money in a $650M heist.

(Photo by Facebook)

And where did the money go? The feds tracked a portion: “Despite putting little to none of their own money into the scheme, the co-conspirators transferred substantial amounts of the proceeds of their conspiracy and scheme to themselves for their personal benefit. For example, between in or around 2017 and in or around 2018 alone, Stachniw transferred approximately $9,000,000 traceable to victim-investors to her personal investment accounts, including approximately $1,000,000 in or around August 2018. Throgmartin received more than approximately $3,000,000 over the course of the conspiracy, including at least approximately $800,000 from Stachniw in or around August 2018.”

But what of Ray’s loot? Was it laundered, flipped into the marijuana business, buried in a hole? Was there another figure behind Ray pulling levers?

“He was playing the high life with jets and travel, and there were reports of gambling, and he had to pump lots into the lower parts of the pyramid,” Mayes concludes, “but where the rest of the money really went is unclear to this day.”

While Ray robbed Peter to pay Paul, there was a mountain of cash left over. The SEC report still echoes: Tens of millions of dollars’ worth of investor money is missing and unaccounted for.

For more from Chris Bennett (@ChrisBennettMS or cbennett@farmjournal.com or 662-592-1106), see:

Game of Horns: Iowa Poacher’s Antler Addiction Leads to Historic Bust

How a Nazi-Fighting Oklahoman Rejected NFL Draft and Went Home to Farm

Sisters of Farm Fraud: How 4 Siblings Fleeced USDA for $10M

Tractor Terrorist: How a Forgotten Farmer Attacked Washington with Fertilizer Bombs

Farmer Unearths Lost Treasure, Solves WW2 Mystery

How The Deep State Tried, And Failed, To Crush An American Farmer

Organic Implosion: How Two Grifters Cooked $50M In Fake Fertilizer and Rocked Agriculture

Corn and Cocaine: Roger Reaves and the Most Incredible Farm Story Never Told

China's Exports Surge Amid Weak Domestic Economy, Raising Global Concerns

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 15:30:14 GMT

China’s soybean imports reached a record high in August 2024, reflecting significant growth in the country’s demand for the oilseed, but meat imports declined.

China’s overall exports surged in the wake of a weakening domestic economy. However, the ag trade picture is mixed. While China is importing a record amount of soybeans, meat imports have seen a rapid decline.

In August, China’s exports surged by nearly 9%, reaching $309 billion, the highest since September 2022, while imports remained stagnant at 0.5%. The strong export growth provided a rare boost to China’s economy, which has been struggling with deflation and a housing slump. The trade surplus for the month was $91 billion.

Despite the positive export figures, the influx of cheaper Chinese goods has sparked concerns in the U.S., South America, and Europe, leading to tariffs on certain products like electric cars and steel. With exports to almost every market growing — particularly to the EU, India, and Brazil — questions remain about the sustainability of China’s growth strategy as global trade tensions rise. Analysts warn that China’s weak domestic demand, coupled with global economic uncertainty, poses risks to its overall economic recovery.

China’s strong export pace

(Bloomberg)

Taiwan’s exports reached a record $43.6 billion in August, driven by surging demand for semiconductor equipment fueled by the artificial intelligence boom. Exports to the U.S. rose 79% to a record $11.9 billion, surpassing shipments to China and highlighting a significant shift in Asian supply chains. Taiwan’s finance ministry expects exports to continue growing in the second half of the year, supported by the peak export season and ongoing AI-related demand.

China’s Soybean Imports Reach Record Levels

China’s soybean imports reached a record high in August 2024, reflecting significant growth in the country’s demand for the oilseed. China imported a record 12.14 million metric tons (MMT) of soybeans in August 2024. This represents a substantial increase of 29% compared to August 2023, when imports totaled 9.43 MMT.

Several factors contributed to this record-breaking import volume:

• Lower prices. Traders took advantage of lower soybean prices in the global market to stock up on supplies.
• Potential tariffs. Concerns about possible tariffs that could be implemented if former President Donald Trump wins the November election may have prompted increased imports.
• Customs clearance:.Ships that had been held up were cleared by customs, contributing to the higher import figures.

For the period of January to August 2024, China’s soybean imports reached 70.48 MMT, marking a 2.8% increase compared to the same period in the previous year.

USDA forecasts China’s soybean imports for the 2024-25 marketing year to reach 103 million metric tons. Increased soybean meal inclusion rates in animal feed, stable demand in the poultry sector, and growing demand in aquaculture are expected to support imports. But weaker demand in the swine sector due to declining production may partially offset the growth in other areas.

Chinese Meat Imports Decline

Chinese meat imports have declined significantly compared to previous years. Through the first eight months of 2024, China imported 4.40 million metric tons (MMT) of meat products, down 13.9% from the same period in 2023. In August 2024, China imported 565,000 MT of meat, which was 9.9% lower than August 2023. Beef imports have been particularly affected, with volumes down 27% year-over-year in July 2024.

Several factors are contributing to lower Chinese meat imports in 2024:

• Economic headwinds are impacting consumption of both pork and beef.
• China has ample domestic meat supplies after building up stocks in 2023.
• Pork production in China remains high, reducing import needs.
• Chinese consumers are seeking cheaper protein options due to economic slowdown.
• Import bans on some U.S. meat facilities have restricted supply.

Pork
• Pork imports may grow marginally to offset a forecasted 3% decline in domestic production.
• China’s pork output fell 0.4% year-over-year in Q1 2024, the first quarterly decline in nearly 4 years.

Beef
• Beef imports are expected to decline in 2024 due to high year-end inventory and flat demand.
• China’s share of global beef imports is forecast to be 5% below 2023 levels.

Poultry
• Poultry meat imports accounted for $282 million in July 2024, resulting in a negative trade balance.

Impact on global trade:
• The U.S. has seen a fall in meat exports as China scales back imports.
• Brazil has increased beef exports to China, up 10.2% in the first half of 2024.
• Australia has shifted more beef exports to the U.S. and Japan as Chinese demand weakens.

Bottom Line

While there have been some month-to-month fluctuations, overall Chinese meat imports remain well below 2023 levels as domestic production remains high and economic factors dampen demand. This has led to shifts in global meat trade flows, with exporters like the U.S., Brazil and Australia adjusting to changing Chinese import patterns.

Oregon Ranchers Are Continuing to Battle Grueling Wildfires as Financial Losses Mount

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 17:11:49 GMT

As of Friday, more than 1.1 million acres has burned in Oregon. Lightning continues to spark new fires and with the flames still not under control, it will go down as one of the most devastating wildfire fires in the state’s history.

Clint Sexson ranches in eastern Oregon. He says between cattle lost and grazing areas burned, it’s been a grueling summer. The exact livestock losses are unknown at this time.

“I don’t even want to speculate,” Sexson says. “I mean, the one that’s pretty public is that the 300 head in the Durkee Fire that were lost,” Sexson says. “I know one producer who has lost probably hundreds.”

That particular fire, the Durkee Fire, has been a monster. At 86% contained, it’s already scorched 295,000 acres.

Plenty of Fuel for Fires

Just this week, lightning sparked more fires. Sexson says the reason the fires have been so bad is the amount of grass available to fuel the fires.

“There’s more fuel on the ground,” Sexson says. “Some of these areas have burned before. There hasn’t necessarily been a clean up after a burn, so there’s just a lot of fuel.”

A Devastating Loss of Grass to Graze

The livestock losses are heartbreaking and severe, but the amount of grass burned is causing concern in the state. As the fires rage, the losses of valuable grazing ground are mounting, which impacts livestock producers across the state.

“This part of the world is different,” Sexson says. “A lot of people don’t feed cows, but maybe 30, 60 days a year. The rest of the year, we are grazing cattle. It’s a budgetary thing and a management thing that they will have to work through. Emotionally, it’s tough on those people, especially those generational ranches.”

Sexson was fortunate. On July 20, as the fires raged and closed in on his land, he was able to get cattle out thanks to fellow ranchers who showed up with trucks and trailers.

“I work for Select Sires and every one of those trucks that showed up, they were all customers,” he says, as his voice cracks and tears fill his eyes. “We got the cattle out and right back to a customer’s feedlot. They were ready for them, and we were pretty fortunate.”

An Emotional Sale of Support

That emotion was felt late last week as Superior Livestock Auction sold special benefit lots as part of their video sale in Winnemucca, Nev. This was an example of ranchers helping ranchers. That money went to the Oregon Fire Relief Fund, which will help those producers in need.

“These are primarily purebred breeders who have made donations in sale credit or semen credit,” Sexson says. “They’re not directly focused on their customers alone. They’re just focused on the general beef industry in Oregon and the devastation some of these people are dealing with. I know two or three people who had their entire ranches burned by the fires. They may not have lost a cow, but it burnt all their private grazing ground.”

The special sale was a touching gesture, as the ranching community comes together at a time of need and the fires continue to burn. Emotions are high, losses are mounting and cattle producers impacted are feeling the financial pain.

Boone Pickens’ Ranch Listed For $250 Million

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 02:43:43 GMT

Legendary oilman T. Boone Pickens died Wednesday at age 91, which brought renewed interest in his Mesa Vista Ranch first listed for sale in 2017.

The 65,000-acre ranch near Pampa, Tex., has an asking price of $250 million.

Pickens built the ranch from a 3,000-acre parcel of land he first acquired in the 1970s. He expanded it over time to include his two favorite pastimes: hunting and golf. When his health began to fail two years ago, he listed the property hoping to find the right buyer would make sure the property is preserved.

The ranch has marshes and nesting areas created to form some of the best quail hunting in the world, and the ranch also has a two-story stone kennel, that can house 40 bird dogs.

Spread over 100 square miles in the Texas Panhandle, the main lodge at Mesa Vista Ranch is over 30,000 square feet and has carved-wood paneling shimmering chandeliers and walls covered in American art. The dining room seats 40, and the 30-seat home theater has its own separate popcorn-making room.

The property has its own airport with a 6,000-foot runway and small terminal with housing for pilots.

The sale of the Mesa Vista Ranch is basically “turnkey,” including all rolling stock, equipment, pickup trucks, hunting vehicles, farming equipment, furnishings, bird dogs, etc. The only exclusions are Boone’s personal effects, livestock, and his vast art collection. The livestock is available to be purchased separately, as is most of the art collection.

The Mesa Vista Ranch is offered by Hall & Hall jointly and exclusively with Chas. S. Middleton and Son.

Steps to Improve Implementation of Endangered Species Act

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 02:32:36 GMT

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new method for conducting biological evaluations under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to assure that pesticide registration review actions under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) do not jeopardize endangered species. The updated method ensures that—when available—the agency will use high-quality historical data that reflects where and how certain pesticides are used.

“Responsible pesticide use is an essential tool for managing America’s farmland,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “EPA’s improved methodology will better protect and promote the recovery of endangered species while ensuring pesticide registration review decisions are conducted in a timely, transparent manner and are based on the best available science. I want to thank our federal partners for working together to implement the 2018 Farm Bill and for helping EPA bring our pesticide assessment process into the 21st Century.”

ESA is a proven and critical tool for ensuring the recovery and protection of the nation’s most vulnerable species and habitats. However, for decades EPA’s approach for assessing pesticides risks to endangered species resulted in costly, time-consuming litigation and delays in pesticide registration decision-making.

EPA’s new “Revised Method for National Level Listed Species Biological Evaluations of Conventional Pesticides” (Revised Method) will better protect and promote the recovery of endangered species while ensuring pesticide registration review decisions are conducted in a timely, transparent manner and based on the best available science. With this action, EPA is fulfilling its commitment under the 2018 Farm Bill to ensure that pesticides can continue to be used safely with minimal impacts to threatened and endangered species.

“The required review of crop protection chemicals under the Endangered Species Act is an issue that has frustrated America’s farmers, ranchers, and producers for far too long. Under President Trump’s leadership, we are cutting the red tape to unleash the full potential of American agriculture,” said U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. “I am proud to join forces with my colleagues as we move forward on a protocol to allow the tools farmers need to feed, fuel, and clothe this nation and the world to reach market while also ensuring our environment is protected.”

“The Revised Method is an improved framework for Endangered Species Act pesticide consultations,” said U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary David Bernhardt. “By incorporating actual pesticide usage data into these assessments, they will be accurate and legally defensible. We look forward to working with the EPA to apply this framework and review public comment on the draft carbaryl and methomyl biological evaluations.”

“As EPA’s finalized method of conducting evaluations demonstrates, the whole-of-government approach to regulatory reform is bearing fruit,” said U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. “Actual use of pesticides is an important factor to consider as we work to protect endangered species. The Department looks forward to working closely with our public and private partners to ensure that the rules are good for both our economy and our environment.”

“Under President Trump’s leadership, the Administration is committed to supporting agricultural communities and environmental protection,” said CEQ Chairman Mary B. Neumayr. “Since 2017, CEQ has worked collaboratively with EPA, DOI, USDA, and DOC to improve the ESA pesticide consultation process and today’s announcement reflects the Federal government’s commitment to a process that promotes timely and effective decision making and advances rural prosperity.”

The final Revised Method incorporates high-quality pesticide usage data into the agency’s biological evaluation (BE) process for the first time and was informed by input from a wide range of stakeholders, including states, tribes, environmental NGOs, and agricultural stakeholders.

In conjunction with today’s announcement, EPA is also releasing for public comment draft BEs for the insecticides carbaryl and methomyl which were conducted using the final Revised Method. EPA will accept public comment on the draft BEs for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. After carefully considering public comments, EPA will finalize the BEs. If the agency determines a pesticide may affect a listed species or its critical habitat, the agency will consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service (the Services). The Services will then issue a biological opinion to determine if the population of a species would be adversely impacted and, if so, propose ways to reduce risks.

To view the draft BEs for carbaryl and methomyl, final Revised Method document and learn more about how EPA protects endangered species from pesticides, visit: https://www.epa.gov/endangered-species

Consumer Group: Fake Meat is Factory Food

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:51:47 GMT

The Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) is running a full-page ad in USA Today exposing the highly processed nature of fake, “plant-based” bacon. Roughly one-third of consumers believe “plant-based” is equivalent to “minimally processed.” The ingredient list of “plant-based” bacon, which can include tertiary butylhydroquinone and disodium inosinate, reveals this is far from true.

According to the NOVA classification system, ultra-processed foods are “formulations of ingredients, mostly of exclusive industrial use, typically created by series of industrial techniques and processes.” A recent National Institutes of Health study found that ultra-processed foods cause weight gain.

This ad is the latest in an educational campaign to demystify the “plant-based” craze. CCF has previously placed ads on fake meat in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post. In addition to the ads, CleanFoodFacts.com provides consumers with a transparent look at fake meat as well as informational blog posts and other helpful tools.

The full-page ad can be found here .

CCF managing director Will Coggin commented: “Consumers should be aware that ‘plant-based’ is a euphemism for ‘ultra-processed.’ Fake meat doesn’t grow on vines—it’s made in factories.”

When the Title Match is Big Ag vs. Hobby Farms, PETA Wins, Page 2

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:49:48 GMT

On the other hand, there are those of us (cough, me) who relish the ability to eat strawberries, green beans, ice cream and bacon year-round, courtesy of the local Wal-Mart. I appreciate the availability of easy access to all foods, year-round due to our robust and complex U.S. food system, which includes trade with other agriculture-rich countries. Except rhubarb, I can never find that stuff out of season.

Incidentally, many of us are commodity producers AND hobby farmers/ranchers. How so? I’ll use my husband and myself as examples to highlight how labeling each other does no good.

We operate a seedstock Gelbvieh and Balancer ranch and our herd, according to the 2017 Ag Census, is larger than the national average. However, we are small according to other size measurements such as number of employees and acres owned, plus we both have full-time, non-ranch employment. So, technically we could be classified as hobby ranchers since it’s not our main income. However, when we have bulls that don’t make the seedstock cut (technically, they are getting “the cut”), they are marketed through the commodity beef supply via auction market, backgrounder and feedyard; which technically makes us part of “big beef.” How many labels can be thrown on one farmer or rancher before things get tedious and confusing?

The gist of the issue is that when we label things — people, food, industries, etc. — we lose focus of the main goal, which should be to produce healthy food in an ethical, profitable and sustainable way. That’s the big picture, and all farmers and ranchers — small and large — are fully capable of achieving that goal. Honestly, we’d probably all reach the goal more quickly if we’d work together instead of hurling insults at each other. The world needs all kind of farmers and ranchers, of all sizes, shapes and backgrounds, to fulfill our food needs.

Does anyone else feel like labels are further segregating us while PETA just watches, licking their vegetables? As we tear each other down, we weaken the ag sector and make ourselves tremendously vulnerable to outside perils. I can confidently say that what qualifies as a large farm or small farm should be of no consequence and we ought to be eyeballing a very real threat - one that presents itself in the shape of a hockey puck and is made of pea protein.

Brandi Buzzard Frobose is a rancher, ranch wife, mama, agriculture advocate, calf roper and the director of communications for the Red Angus Association of America.

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Cows Being Used to Produce COVID Vaccine

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 03:07:00 GMT

The fight against COVID-19 continues throughout the U.S. A biotechnology company in South Dakota is using cows to produce human antibodies to fight SARS-CoV-2. Clinical trials using the antibodies will begin this summer.

“This is promising,” Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease physician at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security told ScienceMag.org. “We want to have as many countermeasures as we can.”

The approach to producer antibodies being used by SAb Biotherapeutics was developed by researchers 20 years ago. According to ScieneMag.org, the company genetically alters dairy cows so that certain immune cells carry the DNA that allows people to make antibodies. The change allows the animals to manufacture large quantities of human antibodies against a pathogen protein injected into them.

Cows are a good choice for producing antibodies because they have a lot of blood and their blood can contain twice as many antibodies per milliliter as human blood, said Eddie Sullivan, SAb Biotherapeutics’s president and CEO.

Read more from ScienceMag.org.

Reopening of East and Gulf Ports Brings Relief to U.S. Pork and Beef Industry

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) released a joint statement Thursday evening announcing an end – at least temporarily – to the work stoppage that shut down the East and Gulf Coast ports earlier this week. ILA and USMX have agreed to extend the current Master Contract until Jan. 15, 2025, and to reopen all affected ports while negotiations continue on outstanding contract issues.

The end of the strike is terrific news for U.S. livestock producers and exporters who ship more than $100 million of U.S. pork and beef through those ports each week, says U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) president and CEO Dan Halstrom.

“Getting people back to work, starting cargo moving again out of the Gulf and East Coast is essential to our business. From that standpoint, we’re very excited about these developments. I think the importance of this is that we have a reputation globally as being a very reliable supplier to our customers all over the world,” Halstrom says.

It’s a difficult situation for everyone involved, he adds, but especially for some of the smaller companies.

“This is really good news as we go forward,” Halstrom says.

USMEF says it is appreciative of the efforts of all of those involved, including the longshore union, container terminal operators and government officials, for bringing a quick resolution to the work stoppage.

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