Here are a few thoughts he’d like to share in response to the subjects addressed in Leonard’s book. Michael Dicks is a Professor Emeritus in Agricultural Economics from Oklahoma State University (go Pokes!) and a long time member of the ag economics field, being involved in teaching, research, and extension roles with international reach. Today, I’m fortunate to be able to share a few thoughts on the issues raised in The Meat Racket. As one dairy farmer asked in recent weeks, “ What is it we want to go back to?“ in 1982” as he described recently in a Bloomberg interview. Leonard’s idea of how the meat industry should look reverts to a vision of the “U.S. Leonard focuses on the poultry industry, but also takes a look at beef and pork, and suggests vertical integration has had a very negative impact on producer relationships with packers. Changes are occurring and making progress toward transparency, and I think they’re for the better, but living in the past isn’t always for the better.Ĭhris Leonard, former Associated Press agribusiness reporter, released a book, “ The Meat Racket: The Secret Takeover of America’s Food Business”, that takes a look at the impact the largest four packers have on the meat industry and how that consolidation has affected farmers and ranchers. I’ve shared information about these conversations in the past, including the “ glass walls project” with a transparent look at the process of animal slaughter and even other nostalgic looks at the industry with the book Gaining Ground. This time it’s another book with a critical eye on the meat and poultry industries in the United States. Earlier this month, the efforts continued to look at food and meat production with a nostalgic yearning for yesterday.

Christopher leonard the meat racket