R-CALF Asks Justice to Prevent National Beef from Buying Iowa Premium

R-CALF USA has called on the U.S. Department of Justice to block the proposed acquisition of Iowa Premium by National Beef, a division of Brazil’s Marfrig. The group made a formal request to Attorney General William Barr this week, arguing that the deal will substantially reduce competition for fed cattle regionally as well as nationally, harming independent U.S. cattle producers. The group says the takeover of Iowa Premium will also likely substantially reduce competition for boxed beef, which will harm American consumers. R-CALF contends National Beef is a member of the “Big 4” beef packers, calling those packers a "cartel" due to their control of cattle supplies in the U.S. The group claims that National Beef, Tyson and Cargill all limit access to the marketplace unless producers become certified under the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program.