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R-CALF USA urges administration to block sale of National Beef

R-CALF USA is urging the Trump Administration to block the sale of one of the nation’s largest beef packers to a Brazilian owned company.

In a letter to the US Attorney General and the US Treasury Secretary, the organization alleges Marfrig’s proposed purchase of National Beef Packing Company is an attempt to gain control over US fed cattle marketing outlets and the US live cattle supply chain.

JBS, the world’s largest beef packer, attempted to purchase National Beef Packing Company a decade ago.  The purchase was blocked by the antitrust enforcement action filed in US federal district court by 17 state attorneys general and the US Department of Justice.

R-CALF says both JBS and Marfrig are state-controlled enterprises that have histories of being bad actors and are working to exploit both cattle producers and consumers.

If the sale is approved, the two Brazilian firms would control more than 35 percent of the US fed cattle market.