Latest / CattleUSA Daily / 324: Inside the DOJ Briefing on Foreign Control of the Cattle Industry with John Campbell

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324: Inside the DOJ Briefing on Foreign Control of the Cattle Industry with John Campbell · CattleUSA Daily

0:00
In today's episode with John Campbell, we are bringing a
0:03
conversation today to you guys that is really unique.
0:07
John had the privilege of sitting in on a briefing with
0:12
the DOJ as far as foreign entities go in our food supply,
0:17
as far as securing our US food supply and the ways that we need
0:22
to go about that. John just was able to sit on a
0:26
really wonderful conversation this past week and was asked to
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go to DC and to sit in on this and have some really great
0:32
conversations with Brooke Rollins and some other people.
0:35
And John brings all of that information to us today.
0:38
He gives us the rundown on what's going on, what is going
0:41
to happen and some of his candid thoughts and insights on to that
0:44
conversation as well. Before all of that, we do our
0:47
weekly thing where we're covering the markets and
0:49
everything that we're seeing in the markets.
0:51
As of Thursday morning, you guys are seeing this on Friday.
0:54
So as of Thursday morning, we're covering everything we're seeing
0:56
in the market. So what we've seen in the past
0:58
week and everything else, but before we get into this podcast
1:02
episode with John, if you're watching on YouTube, make sure
1:04
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Thank you so much for being here.
1:42
And without further ado, let's go ahead and hear from Mr. John
1:45
Campbell. Welcome to the Cattle USA Daily
1:50
podcast, your go to source for the latest livestock markets,
1:54
industry insights and the updates shaping agriculture
1:56
today. I'm your host, Lauren Moylan, a
1:59
passionate advocate for agriculture here to keep you
2:01
informed and connected. Now let's dive into today's
2:05
episode. John, welcome back to the
2:12
podcast once again. What is that thing, John?
2:19
Welcome back, John, how are you and how is life in lovely color?
2:27
Tell you don't even know where the hell I'm from.
2:29
You're you let. No, I was going to say lovely
2:32
Lohana, but then I was like, wait after.
2:34
Y'all jacked up plus they hit some high spots through there or
2:37
something. I I don't know what the world's
2:39
going on. I was going to say lovely
2:41
Lojana, but then I was like, wait, I was supposed to come up
2:43
with something new this week and I forgot.
2:45
To Oh well, you get up, you get a pass on that.
2:48
It rained here. Pained.
2:50
Yeah, I know it. Praise the Lord.
2:53
I know it, I know it. There was about 3 local
2:55
elementary schools that now not the 4th graders but from 3rd
2:59
grade down let them out of school.
3:01
Helps. First time they ever seen it in
3:03
their life. Well, it was quite an experience
3:05
for I'm pretty emotional, you know, I mean.
3:07
Jess and tears, yeah. So, but yes, like 110, I think
3:11
it was day before yesterday, Tuesday and then Wednesday.
3:16
Listen to this three to four tents.
3:19
That's right. Wow and got do you guys feel
3:22
like you're living in a swamp? Snow in the mountains and you
3:26
know, it's got to start somewhere regardless how small
3:28
it is, but so maybe feel. Like you're living in a swamp
3:31
right now, John. Maybe we've turned the corner.
3:33
No, it is. It is not dusty.
3:36
So that's about as scream as I'm getting.
3:39
But it's it's a start. It's we don't have to have a
3:42
bunch, but you know, you got to have that first one.
3:47
Very true. We are there.
3:50
You are there. I love it, Love to hear it.
3:53
It's wonderful news. Wonderful news.
3:55
Well, what have we been seeing in the markets this week, John?
3:58
You know, pretty light here in Lana because of the big
4:00
rainstorm. Got a 10th on Tuesday.
4:03
So that shut things down really. I mean seasonally we're, we're
4:06
going into lighter times. I, I think we had about 800
4:10
cattle to 170 some and our deal kind of hit and miss, not making
4:15
excuses it, it was a little softer I thought on the cabs
4:19
and, and the light cabs and the big cabs, not quite the runaway
4:22
we saw. So you know 3 weights steers is
4:24
still up to 650 and five weight steers up against $5 and 670 LB
4:32
steers at 398. We had a little better go on the
4:36
Appers, a 340, weighed heifers at 570, had some Red Angus
4:40
heifers weighing 460 that brought 517.
4:45
But I thought our cows were steady, still selling awfully
4:50
good and had some 2 year old bears, smaller heifers with
4:54
little cabs on them bring like 45 and 1/4 and the old bear deal
4:58
still kind of 36 to 3900. So everybody marching right
5:05
along. We've got we'll have more cattle
5:07
next week kind of our last green grass special here in a lot of
5:12
we'll have a couple 1000 next week.
5:13
But then we're with the moisture around, honestly, we're we're
5:17
probably kind of it'll just be clean up now through the summer,
5:21
thank goodness. Sell them in the fall.
5:23
That's what we want to do. Yeah, absolutely.
5:25
I could not agree more. Any other highlights on the
5:28
market or the region what we need to head on?
5:30
Well, we haven't talked since King of the Ring and I saw a lot
5:34
of people back there. Great to see so many people out.
5:38
700 in Dodge on Saturday, I think they had 1700 yesterday.
5:43
But you know, places that had some loads and some numbers, and
5:47
I'm talking Dodge and Celina, you know, they all call their
5:52
feeder cattle 1520 bucks better today, Thursday as we speak,
5:58
there's $2.60 fat cattle being traded and even being passed in
6:05
western Kansas and Nebraska holding out for 262 all time
6:09
record high on on, on the Fed cattle as as we speak.
6:13
And like I said, their numbers on the feeders that transcribed
6:17
into a sharply higher feeder market in in those locales that
6:21
had some numbers. Yeah, it is a wild, wild time in
6:25
the cattle market right now, that's for sure.
6:27
And it's such a blessing that you guys were able to get some
6:30
rain and hopefully the mountains were able to get plenty of snow
6:32
and rain and people aren't sending nearly as many cattle to
6:35
town as they were initially planning on.
6:38
And that, I mean, seeing fats at that number is pretty crazy
6:42
right now, but part of the crazy market that we are in.
6:46
And John, you have some other very interesting things that you
6:50
were up to this past week. I got a got a very interesting
6:53
text message with some photos from you earlier this week.
6:56
And I was like, hold, hold on, wait a second.
6:58
Whose hand are you shaking in that photo?
7:01
What are you up to? It was one of those things that
7:03
you're always wondering what Lauren's up to and like she's
7:05
always on the road. She's always doing something
7:07
new. And I was like, it's John's turn
7:08
to be off in Timbuktu doing something new.
7:11
So you want to give us the rundown on the wonderful
7:14
briefing that you got to sit in on?
7:16
Well, I, I, I had a great opportunity just this, just this
7:20
Monday, Ed Sullivan, who was a friend of mine, I've talked to
7:24
him about him before. He's got the Lonesome Land
7:27
podcast and just, you know, good friend, great guy.
7:31
But anyway, he invited me to Monday's Department of Justice
7:35
announcement about the Packer antitrust and anti competitive
7:40
activity that's going on and where they were standing as far
7:45
as the Department of Agriculture working with the Department of
7:48
Justice in Washington, DC. And I have to qualify this a
7:53
little bit. I found out about Thursday and
7:56
you know, I had to go through a background security check last
8:01
Thursday and went on into Friday.
8:03
But luckily I, I use my wife's blood and her fingerprint and
8:11
retina scan and then we left directly from Dodge City from
8:15
the sale. So I, I was able to use some
8:19
Highlander hair follicles and roadkill rabbit stool sample.
8:24
And so, you know, just it, it, it, it, it pays to know people
8:29
and, and be associated in the right place.
8:31
I cleared the security background check no problem, but
8:36
they did indicate that maybe I ought to look into the severe
8:39
lice and internal parasite problem that they found anyway.
8:44
But I just knew. I knew had to go Incognito and I
8:49
would have literally failed any one of those.
8:52
Tests. It's a very good thing that you
8:53
are a very well connected man, John, that has all the right
8:57
tools and all the right areas so that you were able to collect
9:00
the specific specimens that you. Needed to within reach within.
9:04
Yes, exactly. And a very willing wife, it
9:06
sounds like as well. Well, you know, I, I had to
9:10
settle for the retina scan and the blood work because she's a
9:14
little touchy about that stool sample anyway.
9:16
But no, it was really, it was great to meet the Department of
9:20
Justice head Todd Blanch, who, you know, was, yeah, he's really
9:25
encouraging people to endorse the whistleblower program.
9:30
And I I just kind of basically go over everything that was sad.
9:33
And what what I gathered from not only the briefing, but
9:37
one-on-one conversation with three pretty influential people.
9:42
And, and, and, you know, I appreciate everything they
9:45
shared with me, but you know, I, I would reiterate that anyone
9:51
who has experienced price fixing, bid rigging, cattle
9:55
procurement fraud, he stated. And, and, and you can go to it,
9:59
they're, that they're eligible for up to 30% of, of the
10:03
settlement. Anything over 1,000,000 bucks,
10:05
if you're instrumental, confidential wise, you can get
10:09
up to 30% of, of the settlement. And you know, I was really able
10:14
to have very good conversation with Brooke Rollins in my under,
10:20
in my opinion, rather understands really I think
10:24
what's happening in the cattle industry.
10:26
And, and there's no question in my mind, she is passionate,
10:30
she's motivated about fixing it. And she sincerely understands
10:35
that, you know, aside from the competition problem.
10:38
And she stated that both privately and publicly that we
10:42
cannot allow two foreign Brazilian companies to be that
10:47
much in control of the US food supply.
10:50
They're a direct threat to solventry, national security.
10:54
And she even made mention it in her speech that she knows
10:58
they're corrupt. She acknowledged the, you know,
11:01
that consolidation has been going on for decades.
11:05
And I think the thing that's really important that I got out
11:08
of it. She said the ultimate goal was
11:11
absolute food security and the ability to feed ourselves from
11:17
within the US. And you think about it, that's a
11:20
pretty easy sell. And it was just refreshing for
11:24
me to hear or her statement about, you know, how we ended up
11:27
where we're at. She said, you know, the left
11:29
wing over regulation and, and really their war on cattle,
11:34
which I think we can all agree on.
11:36
You know, they're using this climate alarmism and the carbon
11:40
footprint to take people off the land and especially kicking
11:44
producers off government grazing.
11:46
And she touched on animal ID as being part of the problem and,
11:50
and especially concentration. You know, she really talked in
11:54
length about things that we've talked about forever.
11:58
You know, it reduces options for producers.
12:01
It weakens the negotiating power of the people and involvement
12:05
and really forces reliance. I'm one single buyer and and all
12:10
things that we've known and talked about forever and ever.
12:13
And it was great to hear her acknowledge that and talk about
12:17
it. Then she introduced a guy named
12:19
Peter Navarro, who is Trump's director of trade and who is by
12:25
trade an antitrust lawyer. This guy went into an unscripted
12:31
rant that, you know, had me taking notes on how to be a hard
12:35
ass. I mean, it was fangs and claws
12:37
out with this cat. And, you know, he just sat up
12:40
there and said we're taking no prisoners.
12:43
And the facts show that 60% consolidation and you have
12:49
collusion. And he said we're at 85%.
12:53
And he said the JBS Brazilians have a beef lobby and they hand
12:58
out 1,000,000 millions to special interest and the
13:03
political system. And a rate of return, he said,
13:06
is better than any hedge fund. From a quote from him influence
13:10
of foreigners on our supply chain will not be tolerated and
13:17
I believe him. You know, but at the end of the
13:20
day, I I fought the biggest absolutely the biggest non
13:24
verbal statement of the day and and really a a huge message to
13:30
busting up the status quo was in a conversation.
13:33
I personally add with Brooke Rollins.
13:36
Here's a drum roll. She absolutely refuses to meet
13:41
with paid lobbyists and trade association hired guns instead.
13:47
You know, she's one that lies on independent producers and
13:50
businesses for information about how these regulations, policy
13:55
and the business climate affect commerce and the day-to-day real
14:00
life. I mean, that's who she seeks out
14:03
for her reference and her importance.
14:05
Not to say that those people don't have biases, but at least
14:09
they're actively involved in the regulatory process that they're
14:14
handing down and how it affects commerce in the working persons
14:18
perspective and proof in that. What why why do you think she
14:21
selected Shad Sullivan as spokesman and not the check off
14:27
funded NC beef association as spokesman for industry?
14:32
She bypasses them guys. She wants to go to the boots on
14:36
the ground guys. And if you wonder why she didn't
14:40
select any of those people, just follow the money and and you'll
14:44
find out why. And, and just a personal, I was
14:47
really proud to to be selected as one of what she called the
14:51
three hats in the room. It just, you know, and I'll let
14:55
them tell their own story. But but I think there's some
14:57
momentum going here. But you know, the cattle feeders
15:00
have kind of had a belly full of all this as well.
15:04
And something that all of us know, you know, as land owners
15:07
that run cattle. And we're about the last lone
15:11
survivors of the US animal protein business.
15:15
We're we're kind of AG's last chance, if you think about it
15:20
that way. You know, the pigs, the
15:21
chickens, the turkeys, they've all been busted, shot, shit on
15:26
and buried. You know, and as as I've
15:31
mentioned in in prior podcast, you know, there has been a lot
15:35
of tremendous work that that's gone into this and we'll see if
15:39
it pays off. But you know, I'm really
15:42
convinced after my meeting with all of those people that we have
15:46
the right people and the right administration on board.
15:50
So it was, it was pretty enlightening.
15:52
And I'd always kind of thought that, but when you could see the
15:56
sincerity in those people's voice and forget about the
16:00
competition and I trust Sherman Act what whatever you want to
16:04
talk. They're a basic premise and and
16:06
and they qualified all those things as well.
16:09
But we want to be US independent and, and self-serving in terms
16:16
of our food supply. We do not want to farm out to
16:20
foreign entities, whoever they may be.
16:22
And they made very well known it's JBS and it's the Brazilian.
16:27
We do not, absolutely do not want to look to them for
16:31
security in in our nation's food supply.
16:34
And that Pete Navarro you mentioned, you know that.
16:36
Yeah, they, you know, they, they started to play hardball a
16:40
little bit with the Brazilians. They loaded all their toys and
16:43
all their beef up and sold it to China.
16:45
And so the writing's all on the wall about those guys, you know,
16:49
now. Now whether or not they they can
16:52
maneuver through the process and get something done is a whole
16:55
nother question and we'll see. But if I got anything from it,
16:59
that's the focal point. You know, it's hard to find the
17:02
silver bullet that this is it and we're going to shoot that
17:05
guy. It's the cumulative everything
17:08
that that, that that's associated with it that has put
17:11
us into this position. And, and, and, and that is we're
17:15
depending on a foreign entity for our food supply and that is
17:20
paramount. And I think everybody believes
17:23
that from from a national security issue.
17:26
We can't remain in that posture. And, and it's going to be hard
17:30
to prove, you know, the Sherman antitrust all, and we all have
17:34
examples and all of that. But the thing that I took the
17:38
greatest confidence in, the number one factor that they're
17:42
looking at is a national security and food security issue
17:47
that we've sold out to a foreign entity.
17:50
And that's what they're wanting to fight and pretty easy to
17:53
believe, especially when you talk to them.
17:56
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It is really encouraging that they're finally addressing the
18:57
writing on the wall that has been there for years.
19:01
We have been talking about this for years, that it is a national
19:04
security issue that we do not control our own food supply here
19:08
in the United States. Like we have been talking about
19:11
it. It's been set on this podcast
19:12
alone multiple times. And I find it hilarious that
19:16
even Brazil hates JBS. Like the Brazilians when I was
19:20
talking to the Brazilian beef producers when I was down there
19:22
a couple months ago, even they hate JBS.
19:25
And so I think everyone's kind of on the same front of like,
19:28
yes, there's a lot of corruption.
19:30
There's a lot of just like antitrust issues.
19:34
There's there's all the things, right?
19:35
Like we've got a laundry list that we have started to
19:39
accumulate of issues and situations and things.
19:43
But at the same time, it is just going back to the fundamentals
19:46
of like scratch all of that. It's a national security issue.
19:50
Like we have got to protect Americans, Americans farmers,
19:54
American food supply first and foremost.
19:57
Yes, we're going to be involved in World Trade.
19:58
We're going to be involved in world economics and stability in
20:02
other countries and things like that.
20:03
But first and foremost, we have to look here at home and make
20:06
sure that before we go and do anything else and before we use
20:09
the cattle industry as a plane ship, that we are protecting the
20:13
US cattle industry first and foremost.
20:16
Right, right, right. All those things are true.
20:18
But when it gets to the point where we're a net importer of
20:21
food. Yes.
20:23
That's, and that has just happened.
20:25
That's where we crossed the line where we're depending on more
20:29
foreign countries to feed this nation and we've impregnated
20:34
this nation with foreign countries that now have a
20:37
monopoly and control over, you know, our system.
20:41
You just can't tolerate that. And, and, and I I really believe
20:45
they've come to grasp with that. And as a matter of fact, Trump
20:49
is meeting with JBS and the Brazilian President as we speak.
20:53
So gonna be interesting to see what comes out of that.
20:56
But, but based on what his guns told me Monday, I, I don't, I
21:03
don't think he's going to be open to making any great big
21:05
deal with him, you know, or if it is, it's going to be
21:08
self-serving the United States. And they were, and I'm repeating
21:12
myself, but they were pretty adamant about that.
21:15
And so anyway, we'll, we'll see what happens.
21:18
But it, it, it, it was great to meet those people with
21:22
one-on-one. And, and, and I can, I could
21:24
really see the sincerity in, in, in their pursuit of what they
21:28
were. And they had been directed by
21:30
Trump that this is Job 1. And so, but they work for him,
21:34
you know, so, and our track record is, is not good.
21:38
And so it's hard for us to get all on board and all all ready
21:42
to go. But to their defense, a lot of
21:45
that was prior administration, like she said.
21:48
And the hell, they had an agenda against beef, you know, from
21:52
carbon credit to, you know, the, the methane deal to getting, you
21:57
know, we're, we're, we're sacrificing rewilding at the
22:01
expense of the cattle people and you name it.
22:04
Well, they were all on board for that.
22:06
I'm convinced there, at least with the Department of
22:08
Agriculture, there's a complete shift away from that.
22:11
And we're, and, and she even made note of it.
22:13
She, she said, you know, they're, they're worried more
22:15
about what the hell bathroom you're going to go in and be
22:19
able to use. And we need to get back to the
22:21
nuts and bolts of who the Hell's feeding this country and move
22:25
away from all that other bullshit.
22:27
I could not agree more and I it's really encouraging to see
22:32
some real change hopefully start to happen from this.
22:36
Like at least the conversations are being had, The people are in
22:40
the room that need to be in the room.
22:42
People are being invited to these conversations that should
22:45
be there that are truly independent cattle producers
22:48
that are really in a sense representing more of the
22:51
industry and some some situations and scenarios than
22:54
maybe some other organizations have the ability to.
22:57
And it's just really encouraging that the conversations are being
23:00
had. And hopefully the domino, the
23:02
first domino is able to fall and we're able to just start to see
23:06
that cascade of these organizations and the Department
23:09
of AG or whatever it may be, really start to focus on making
23:14
US agriculture self-sufficient, not dependent on other
23:19
countries. And really take out as much of
23:21
this corruption as we can continue to get out of this
23:24
system because it's a great day to be a capital producer.
23:27
Like we've, we're seeing really great markets.
23:29
It's really encouraging out there.
23:31
But we want to continue to see positive uptrends and continue
23:35
to have a reason to be a part of the agriculture, a part of the
23:38
cattle industry. And unfortunately for us, a lot
23:41
of that also is dependent on something that is very
23:44
uncontrollable to us. And that is what our government
23:46
decides to do and what regulations they decide to have
23:49
and then how they decide to enforce them.
23:51
And so it's just really encouraging.
23:53
Hopefully this is going to be the first domino to fall and
23:56
we're going to start to see some change in the last few years of
23:58
this administration. Yeah, you hope so.
24:01
And it's tough times. And I mean that in terms of
24:05
everybody's making money, you know, and they're kind of
24:08
thinking, man, I'm liking this, you know?
24:10
And that's a great motivator. And they think, boy, is now the
24:13
right time to, you know, cut the head off the golden goose.
24:17
We still got to sell these Sava bucks to somebody, and they're
24:20
the only buyer we got. I might want to be careful about
24:24
shitting in that guy's nest because I don't know if the
24:27
government is going to jump on board and make me whole because
24:31
they don't have a very good track record of doing it.
24:34
And I'm not trying to be a downer on the whole deal.
24:37
But that's the only problem that I can see from the whistleblower
24:41
standpoint is, you know, how do you dangle the chance of maybe
24:47
making some money off turning these guys in at the meantime,
24:51
sacrifice your livelihood, you know, your entire business by by
24:56
selling somebody out that you know, blatantly has done you
24:59
wrong. But in the same sense, man, I, I
25:03
got fresh strawberries and tomatoes to sell back here and I
25:07
can't eat them all. I got to sell them to somebody.
25:09
So here you go, Mr. Government, Here's all the information you
25:12
need. Now you, you take care of me.
25:15
And I, I think that's the biggest question or I would say
25:19
that's the biggest concern of the people that I know that have
25:23
the dope on the Packers to talk. Yeah, yeah.
25:27
It definitely come forward because we're in times of plenty
25:31
now. But Lauren, you don't have to
25:33
look back that many years and you're getting your ass handed
25:37
to you and you're getting your ass with pretty good.
25:40
When we had a $450 cut out and fat cattle were worth 80 bucks.
25:44
You know it, it's out there. It's pretty obvious what what
25:47
happened. But you know, we're so consumed
25:50
by it because we have this person product that we got to
25:53
keep turning over, keep turning. We can't set and hold it and set
25:57
on it. We got to do something with
25:59
them. And assurances from the
26:01
government that will make and keep you whole for generations
26:05
to come is a hell of a promise for the government to make.
26:09
So I, I think a few of them are a little reluctant to upset the
26:13
apple cart, but you think in terms of sovereignty and, and,
26:17
and the next generation and what are we going to provide for
26:20
them? It, it becomes an easier answer
26:24
to the question. But the people that have
26:26
survived and are still functioning at this point in
26:30
time have done it because they're shrewd operators.
26:33
They're smart, they know how to work the system as it exists.
26:37
And boy, it's almost like you're asking them to give up all the
26:41
advances that they have made as an industry to try to make it
26:46
right. Hopefully they will, but that's
26:49
where the government has to step in.
26:52
If not us, then who? And you got to have the biggest
26:56
Edison buck on the block cover your ass while you're kind of
27:01
rock along trying to make a living and and hope they have
27:04
some success without kicking your livelihood in the head.
27:09
Yeah, you don't want to kick the hornet's nest too hard and end
27:12
up getting stung in the meantime.
27:15
Even though we know they killed us dead on this terrible
27:19
occasion and it's just through tenacity and and and management
27:23
and solid practices that we ever and financial backing that we
27:27
got through it. Most of them did not make it.
27:30
That's why we've lost 100 and some 1000 cattle feeders.
27:34
They fell off the side of the road because they weren't
27:37
substantial enough to compete. And a lot of the guys have
27:42
shared with me that I was that guy.
27:45
Now I'm not I'm able to compete and I've gotten big enough and
27:49
smart enough and strong enough that that I can ride through
27:52
some of this stuff. But I also remember that I was
27:55
that guy that couldn't sell my fat cattle that was taken
27:59
advantage of, dealt with Packers that I've dealt with for 40
28:02
years. And they show up one day and say
28:04
we can't buy them kind anymore or we don't want them or if
28:08
we're killing all of our AMA cattle and our own cattle.
28:12
So I'm sorry we don't have time for you this week.
28:14
They remember all of that. So it's asking a lot for them to
28:18
jump in. But I just really think that's
28:20
where the Department of Justice needs to take control and to say
28:24
you're answering to us now and and leave these producers out of
28:28
it. We're going to act on their
28:30
behalf and hopefully they can and will, but time will tell.
28:33
Time will tell indeed, and it'll be really interesting to see how
28:38
this whole chess board gets put together, how all the pieces
28:42
start to get arranged and how it all just starts to fall fall
28:46
into place. It's definitely something we'll
28:48
be keeping our eye on in the coming weeks and months as the
28:51
hornet's nest starts to get kicked a little bit and see what
28:54
starts to happen there. So definitely something and so
28:58
grateful that you got to sit in the room and be be a part of
29:01
that conversation and really get to have kind of the insider
29:05
scoop on what is going on and really have those candid
29:08
conversations with all of the officials that are really
29:11
involved in the decision making and in what is going to be
29:14
happening in the future. So it's a blessing.
29:16
Anything else we need to cover today?
29:19
I think we got it. I really like Rollins and
29:23
Blanche's play on. We've moved on past these
29:27
lobbyists and these hired guns and these paid people that are
29:30
supposedly supposed to be the spokesperson for the masses.
29:35
And not to say that they don't have some good points and not to
29:39
say, like I said, that individuals aren't aren't
29:41
biased. I had my Little Axe to grind
29:44
too, you know, with the livestock auction business.
29:47
But at least they're talking to some somebody that is actively
29:52
involved in all of this policy, all of this regulation.
29:57
And and we went back there on our own dime and no one back
30:03
there representing anybody. You know, nobody paid my way.
30:06
I paid my own way. But you get a different view
30:10
from somebody that is involved in the commerce of cattle, in
30:15
the trade, in open competition, whether it's right or wrong, at
30:19
least they're acknowledging that, hey, these guys, they have
30:23
an opinion and they shine a light on the deal where as in
30:26
past administrations. Oh hell.
30:29
So we're going to listen to where all the NCBA, the Farm
30:33
Bureau, the da da da da da and didn't even consider the you
30:38
know, one conversation that I had with Brooke Rawls.
30:40
I said, I I've been here for 45 years and not ever not once has
30:44
anybody not that I'm special, but approached me about we're
30:49
handing down this policy or we're setting up this regulation
30:53
or would do and it is directly affecting you, but you have
30:57
absolutely no say. We are not allowing you even the
31:01
opportunity to come to the table and discuss how it might affect
31:06
hundreds and hundreds of producers that you deal with
31:09
every day. Not to mention the commerce and
31:12
moving catalyst cross state lines, da da da, da da grazing,
31:15
whatever it is. Let's talk the people that are
31:18
actually doing it and at least you're being recognized and gift
31:22
to put in some input. Whether they take it or whether
31:25
they don't, they're going to the source now and rather than up at
31:30
the top that supposedly is representing all of us.
31:35
And we all know that's not true. And like I said, just follow the
31:38
money and you'll find out who they're representing.
31:41
And it's pretty hard to kick somebody in the head that is
31:44
giving you 70% of your budget check.
31:47
On mic drop right there. That's all John has to say.
31:50
No, no, you made. I mean, it's obvious.
31:53
Hell yeah and and and I'm not right about everything I say,
31:58
but it's nice to get considered once in a while.
32:00
Not me personally, but as an entity that has to enforce all
32:05
of this bullshit they hand down and is directly affected by it.
32:09
And we have to affect all of our producers that we work for, the
32:13
individual people, the people that don't qualify, that aren't
32:17
in a vertically integrated deal, the 1520 thirty head guy that
32:22
they're picking on, you either qualify or you're out.
32:25
But those are still where the masses are and they're
32:28
recognizing that. And it's wholesome and it helps
32:31
communities and, and and it helps helps the whole wheel turn
32:36
way more so than some, you know, beef on dairy thing that the son
32:43
of a bitch is already dead and sold by the time he's a day old.
32:47
Yeah, absolutely. I couldn't agree more.
32:49
Well, it's just really encouraging to see the
32:52
conversations are being had, see that hopefully everything is
32:56
starting to line out and that they're really able to get
32:59
something done. And hopefully this is something
33:03
we're some true action starts to happen and we are able to
33:07
continue to follow along and not just a bunch of chatter.
33:10
Because I think that's another concern of a lot of cattle
33:12
producers is sometimes the government sets their eyes on
33:15
something and they're like, we're doing this and we're going
33:17
after it and then it just kind of slides off, right?
33:21
So hopefully this is really something that we are able to
33:23
keep our eyes focused on and really make true impact in
33:27
because like you said, John, at the beginning of the podcast, it
33:29
is a national security issue, point blank period.
33:32
And it's something we really we need to start figuring out as we
33:35
could need to look at protecting the US cattle producer and just
33:38
protecting the US population in general and really focusing our
33:42
eyes back here at home. Exactly.
33:45
Absolutely. Well, this podcast has been a
33:47
wonderful. I am so glad that we got to hear
33:50
your inside thoughts on the briefing that you're able to be
33:53
present for and all the things. Once again, John, thank you for
33:56
your time today. And to all of you listeners out
33:58
there, if you want to watch the briefing that John was able to
34:00
sit in on, make sure you check out the show notes down below.
34:03
I have the link for it down there and all of the other
34:05
information that you guys could possibly need as audience
34:08
members. Thanks for listening to another
34:09
episode of the Cattle USA Daily Podcast.
34:11
We will see you all next time.