Rethinking the Farm Bill: Tell Us Where Our Beef Comes From
April 06, 2026 | Source: Farm Action | by Emma Nicolas and Jessica Cusworth
In our Rethinking the Farm Bill blog series, we bring our 2026 Farm Bill policy priorities to life with stories from farmers and ranchers across the country who are navigating a food system increasingly controlled by a handful of powerful corporations.
America's independent ranchers are fighting an uphill battle to survive—and deceptive meat labels at the grocery store are stacking the deck against them. But restoring a policy Congress rolled back could help turn the tide.
We sat down with California rancher Carrie Richards to discuss how restoring Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (MCOOL) for beef is critical for independent ranchers like her. The policy requires meat labels to state where an animal was born, raised, and harvested—but since Congress repealed it for beef and pork in 2015, that information is no longer required.
In an industry where just four giant multinational meatpackers control 80-85% of the market, the repeal dealt a huge blow to U.S. ranchers and gave these companies even more power. The dominant meatpackers have since been able to import beef and hide its origin, pushing U.S. ranchers out of market opportunities while misleading consumers. Without clear labeling, domestic producers of high-quality beef struggle to compete on a level playing field.