NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — U.S. beef markets entered new territory Friday after President Donald Trump directed the Department of Justice to immediately investigate major meat-packing companies for alleged collusion and price manipulation. The order came as retail beef costs sit near record highs and cattle supplies remain among the tightest in decades.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed within minutes that the investigation had officially begun, signaling one of the most aggressive federal antitrust actions targeting the packing sector in years.
The probe focuses on whether dominant processors — which handle roughly 80% of U.S. grain-fed cattle — coordinated to influence wholesale and retail beef prices at a time when ranchers continue to struggle with limited packer capacity and historically low herd numbers.
While the administration argues that illicit pricing practices are inflating beef prices for consumers, packers maintain that drought-driven herd declines, high feed costs, and plant-level labor pressures are responsible for today’s elevated prices. The DOJ is expected to work closely with USDA as subpoenas, document requests, and depositions begin shaping the scope of the case.
For cattle producers, the stakes are significant. Any disruption to packer operations could affect cash bids, basis levels, grid premiums, and overall throughput — particularly as feedyards operate below capacity and seek to stabilize margins. Retailers and food-service buyers are watching closely as well, given that federal intervention in beef pricing may influence flows across both domestic and export channels. A ruling or settlement could set new precedents for oversight of consolidation across livestock markets.
Farm-Level Takeaway: The DOJ’s new antitrust probe could reshape beef-packer behavior, with potential impacts on fed-cattle prices, processor margins, and long-term competition across the supply chain.
Tony St. James, RFD-TV Markets Specialist
President Donald Trump says a deal is nearly done on lowering beef prices, but he has not released details.
October 17, 2025 11:31 AM
·
Farm CPA Paul Neiffer outlines how producers should navigate evolving Farm Bill provisions and prepare their operations for the next crop year.
October 16, 2025 04:14 PM
·
Peel says Mexico has a much greater capability to expand its beef industry than it did 20 or 30 years ago in terms of its feeding and packing infrastructure.
October 16, 2025 03:59 PM
·
The impacts of the government shutdown have reached commodity growers with crops to move, ag economists monitoring the harvest without key data reporting, and meat producers in need of new export markets.
October 16, 2025 01:03 PM
·
China is not one of our top suppliers of cooking oil, according to USDA ERS data, but does export a lot of used cooking oil to the U.S. for biofuel production.
October 15, 2025 12:13 PM
·
Industry leaders say $11 billion in new investments could turn the tide as dairy producers face shrinking margins and growing uncertainty.
October 15, 2025 11:53 AM
·
Expect firmer shop prices, leaner inventories, and selective hiring in ag-adjacent businesses — plan parts, service, and financing needs earlier.
October 15, 2025 11:35 AM
·
Alan Bjerga with the National Milk Producers Federation joins us to discuss the idea behind the campaign and why accurate labeling on plant-based beverages matters to both consumers and dairy producers.
October 14, 2025 04:47 PM
·
Hughes shares how he’s preparing for the competition, his partnership with Bass Fishing Hall of Famer Mark Davis, and his journey from cattle ranching to professional bass fishing.
October 14, 2025 04:39 PM
·
