In Texas cattle country, one rancher welcomes Trump’s focus on decades of thin margins

Rancher welcomes Trump's focus on beef industry margins. The president recently signed an executive order to establish food supply chain security task forces, including investigations into anti-competitive behavior by major meatpacking companies.

In the Hill Country of Texas, a region known for its cattle ranches and vast pastures, Cole Bolton is breathing a sigh of relief. As the owner of K& C Cattle Company, he's been dealing with thin margins in the beef industry for decades. "Ranchers have dealt with such thin margins of profitability for the last 20 years," Bolton said.

Bolton believes that President Trump's executive order could be a game-changer for the industry. The president has accused major meatpacking companies, including Tyson, JBS, Cargill, and National Beef, of driving up beef prices through illicit collusion, price fixing, and price manipulation.

Beef prices have climbed to record highs in recent months, with the average price of beef in grocery stores increasing by nearly 9% over the past year. Despite this rise, demand for beef remains strong. Bolton attributes this to a lack of competition in the industry, which has led to higher prices for consumers.

The problem facing ranchers like Bolton is that they're operating on razor-thin margins. Years of drought, rising costs, and an aging workforce have thinned herds across the country. Rebuilding will take years, and beef prices aren't likely to ease anytime soon.

Bolton warned consumers to be patient and urged them to support ranchers who are working hard to rebuild their herds. "I think it's going to take a while to fix this crisis that we're in with the cattle shortage," he said. "My message to consumers is simple: Folks, be patient. We've got to build back our herds."

The Trump administration's executive order is seen as a positive development for ranchers like Bolton, who are struggling to make ends meet. As the industry continues to grapple with its own set of challenges, Bolton remains optimistic that the president's efforts will help to restore balance to the beef market.

For Bolton and other ranchers, it's a welcome change in pace from years of uncertainty and competition. "The real issue is the price differential between the big four packers and what they're paying us for the product," he explained.

With prices at record highs and demand still strong, it's clear that the beef industry will be facing significant challenges in the coming months. However, with the Trump administration's support, there's hope that ranchers like Bolton can begin to rebuild their herds and restore balance to the market.

The beef industry is a perfect example of how corporate power can disrupt local economies. Those big four packers, Tyson, JBS, Cargill, and National Beef, have been accused of price fixing and collusion, which has led to record high prices at the grocery store. But what's really interesting is that these companies are also major players in the ranching industry, buying up land and cattle from small farmers like Cole Bolton.

It's a vicious cycle - when they raise prices too high, it hurts consumers, but it also leads to higher profits for the big packers. Meanwhile, small ranchers like Bolton are struggling to make ends meet because they can't compete with the big guys on price. The problem is that these companies have too much power and control over the market.

The good news is that President Trump's executive order could potentially disrupt this cycle by investigating anti-competitive behavior and promoting more competition in the industry. But it's going to take time, patience, and support from consumers to build back up the herds and restore balance to the market. We need to keep an eye on how this plays out and hold these companies accountable for their actions.

One thing that strikes me is how this issue affects not just farmers but also rural communities. Ranching is a way of life in many parts of America, and when the industry struggles, it can have far-reaching consequences for local economies. It's heartening to see Cole Bolton advocating for support from consumers, but we also need to push for policy changes that will help level the playing field for small ranchers.

Overall, this is a complex issue with no easy answers, but I'm hopeful that President Trump's executive order is a step in the right direction. We just need to keep pushing for change and supporting those who are working hard to rebuild their herds.

I gotta say, this whole thing feels super suspicious to me . I mean, what's really going on here? The president just so happens to sign an executive order that benefits a specific industry, the beef industry. What about all the other industries that are struggling? It seems like Trump is only looking out for his buddies in the meatpacking game . And what about the drought and aging workforce? That's not something you can just "fix" overnight. I'm sure it's all just a coincidence that this executive order came along when beef prices were at record highs . Give me a break!

omg u no how hard its 2 b a rancher rn beef prices r insane! been goin thru thin margins 4eva & it feels like theres no end in sight cole bolton tho is lowkey my hero he gets it, the big four packers are killin us & now trumps comin thru w/ executive order & its all about makin balance finally someone's listenin 2 our cryz but i think we need 2 be patient fam rebuildin herdz takes time & beef prices r prob still goin up anyway, let's just say i'm hyped 4 the potential

I think this is a good start but we gotta make sure everyone gets a fair shot at the beef market. Those big meatpacking companies have a lot of power and it's hard for smaller ranchers like Cole Bolton to compete. We need to make sure they're playing by the rules and not squeezing out the competition.

The Trump administration's executive order is a step in the right direction, but we gotta keep an eye on things. If these task forces can really root out anti-competitive behavior, that'll help get prices back under control. But at the same time, we don't wanna create too much chaos in the market either. We need some balance here.

It's also worth noting that ranchers like Bolton are facing a lot of challenges beyond just price fixing. They're dealing with droughts, rising costs, and an aging workforce. So while this executive order is important, it's not gonna fix everything on its own. We gotta keep working together to support these folks and make sure they've got the resources they need to rebuild their herds.

Overall, I think we're making progress here, but we've still gotta stay vigilant and keep pushing for better outcomes for everyone in the beef industry

I mean think about it - beef prices are thru the roof and we're told to just be patient? Like, I get it, cowboys have been dealing with thin margins for years, but 9% in one year is crazy ! And now Trump's all like "Hey, let's break up these big meatpacking companies" . I'm not saying he's gonna fix everything overnight, but it's a start . Maybe we'll finally see some real competition in the beef industry and prices will come back down to earth . And honestly, who doesn't love a good beef sandwich on a tight budget?

I'm low-key freaking out about this ! The fact that President Trump signed an executive order to tackle anti-competitive behavior in the meatpacking industry is a total game-changer for ranchers like Cole Bolton. It's been a tough road for these farmers, dealing with super thin margins and record-high beef prices. I feel bad for them, you know? They're already struggling to keep up due to years of drought and rising costs.

I'm all about supporting our nation's farmers and ranchers, and this executive order is a major step in the right direction. It's like, finally, someone's listening to their concerns and taking action. The big four packers need to be held accountable for price fixing and whatnot. We should see some real changes in the industry soon.

Bolton makes a solid point about consumers being patient and supporting ranchers who are working hard to rebuild their herds. It won't be easy, but with this executive order, there's hope that things can turn around. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for these farmers!

This is awesome news for Cole Bolton and all the ranchers out there! I've been seeing prices rising on beef for ages, and it's not just about the cost, but also the lack of competition. It's like they're controlling the whole market, you know? Anyway, with this new executive order, maybe we'll start to see some real change. The fact that Bolton is urging consumers to be patient but still support the ranchers is really inspiring . Let's hope it all works out and beef prices don't just go through the roof again soon

this is a good move by trump, farmers have been struggling for years and it's about time someone listened beef prices are killing ranchers but at least now they got some help cole bolton is a real man, he's not afraid to speak his mind gotta support the little guy in this situation

The good news for ranchers is that President Trump's executive order might finally address those thin margins they've been struggling with for years... but it's still gonna be a tough road ahead . I mean, rebuilding herds takes time, especially after all the droughts and workforce issues you guys are dealing with. And let's be real, those big four packers aren't exactly known for being super competitive, so there's definitely some work to be done to even out the playing field.

Still, it's a step in the right direction, and I'm all for supporting ranchers who are trying to rebuild their herds. Just don't expect prices to drop too quickly – we're still looking at record highs here... but maybe that's not entirely bad? As long as consumers keep being patient (no pressure, right?) and support those hardworking ranchers, there's hope for a more balanced beef market in the future

I think it's awesome that Rancher Cole Bolton is super stoked about President Trump's focus on beef industry margins . Thin margins have been a major problem for ranchers like him for ages, and it's great that someone is finally giving them attention . I mean, who doesn't love a good ol' fashioned price war to bring down costs?

I feel for Cole Bolton and other ranchers who are struggling to make ends meet . It's not just about the thin margins, it's also about the lack of competition in the industry. I mean, have you seen the prices of beef lately? It's crazy! And the fact that major meatpacking companies are accused of price fixing and anti-competitive behavior is just ridiculous .

As a parent, it's hard not to worry about where my kids' meals are coming from. Are they getting fresh, healthy food or is their beef coming from some questionable source? I hope the Trump administration's executive order brings some much-needed transparency to the industry. It's time for these big companies to be held accountable .

And Cole Bolton's right, folks need to be patient and support ranchers who are working hard to rebuild their herds . It won't happen overnight, but with a little bit of help from the government, we can get this industry back on track .

I'm seeing a lot of people rejoicing over President Trump signing an executive order to crack down on major meatpacking companies . While it's good news for ranchers like Cole Bolton who've been struggling with thin margins, I think we need to consider the bigger picture here .

Firstly, I'm not convinced that these big four packers are as guilty of anti-competitive behavior as President Trump claims . We need more concrete evidence before making such accusations. And what about the impact on smaller meatpacking companies and local butchers who might struggle to compete with the giants?

Additionally, I'm curious to know how this executive order will actually benefit ranchers like Bolton who are working hard to rebuild their herds . Will it help them access more affordable feed or equipment? Or is it just a case of "stick it to the man" and let the market sort itself out?

It's also worth noting that beef prices have been rising for years, long before President Trump took office . Is this executive order really going to make a significant difference in restoring balance to the market? Or is it just a Band-Aid solution for a more complex problem?

I'm literally freaking out about this executive order ... I mean, I think it's going to make a huge difference for ranchers like Cole Bolton and help them finally make some real money from their cattle. But at the same time, I'm also worried that it's just going to be another way for the big meatpacking companies to manipulate the market and increase prices even more ... I mean, have you seen how much beef is flying off the shelves lately? It's crazy! And what about all the other factors affecting the industry, like climate change and disease outbreaks in herds? Are we really just going to ignore those problems while we're trying to fix the margins issue? ... I guess only time will tell if this executive order is going to be a game-changer or just another attempt at fixing a symptom rather than the root cause of the problem .