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“The money and political power of Wall Street has stolen America’s food system, bankrupted our farmers and ranchers, mined our soils, polluted our environment, wasted our precious water, and left us with expensive industrially produced food that makes us sick.” – Occupy Wall Street Food Day, December 2011 -
Industrial Agriculture and Urban Sprawl – A model of growth that’s made to fail. -
Ranching Reboot Episode 4, Mike Callicrate “It’s time for a third revolution against monopolies”
Above: Ranching Reboot – Episode 4 – Mike Callicrate, owner of Ranch Foods Direct, sat down with us to talk about all manner of things from cattle markets, to public food spaces, the Bander, his feedlot and the pathway he built to market.
He shares valuable lessons learned from fighting against the commodity production system and how he’s built his own pathway to the consumer.
We talk about small community slaughter plants and public meat spaces and what that could look like going in to the future. We discuss environmental challenges, the food police and what it means when a Dollar General comes to town.
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- This Cattleman's Got A Beef
Photo: Sean Cayton - 2003People producing good food from happy animals, while improving the environment, shouldn’t have to fear the government.
Photo above featured in a 2003 article: This cattleman's got a beef, Mike Callicrate and Ranch Foods Direct take on the big meat packersby Kathryn Eastburn
Author Archives: Mike Callicrate
What is a Living Wage?
Thanks to NFU Historian, Tom Giessel
Grassroots cattlemen aren’t smart enough to protect their own livelihood, says NCBA.
January 31, 2000 Long held elitist philosophy finally exposed at National Cattlemen’s Beef Association convention By Mike Callicrate Cattlemen attendees at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) convention were aghast at hearing the statement of Jon Ferguson, newly elected chairman … Continue reading
The Four Recommendations of the Federal Trade Commission Regarding the Meat Packing Industry
1: That the Government acquire through the Railroad Administration all rolling stock used for the transportation of meat animals and that such ownership be declared a government monopoly. 2: That the Government acquire through the Railroad Administration the principal and … Continue reading
Meatpacker Monopoly Sinks Cattle Industry – A Look Back
The following was written after the 1996 South Dakota Governors Beef Conference. IBP President and CEO, Bob Peterson, and I had a heated exchange. Written January 1, 1997 “It’s unfortunate that the barter system has driven a wedge between the … Continue reading
LIBERTY FROM ALL MASTERS: The New American Autocracy vs. The Will of the People
Monopolies control everything from what we grow and eat, to how and when we travel, to what we read. Wealth and power have never been more concentrated or a greater threat to our society. Years ago, when I first met … Continue reading
