Nov. 27, 2025
The average US turkey is a product of a complex production system
Where did your Thanksgiving turkey come from?
This week, Wisconsin-based reporter John McCracken looked at the four large companies that control more than half of the turkey market. The Data Harvest feature includes a map of the major processing plants and a timeline showing how contracted turkey production has grown over the past 20 years.
That contract system has been criticized by many turkey farmers who say it leads to inconsistent payments. But when the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently considered changes to the poultry contract system, it left turkey producers out of the final changes. John investigated this change in a story last year that is worth revisiting this Thanksgiving.
— Ben Felder, editor-in-chief
OPINION: DOJ investigation in beef prices a red herring
By Dave Dickey, Investigate Midwest
Anyone who has been to the grocery store recently knows, White House claims to the contrary, that food prices are not “way down” or even “down.”
The October Consumer Price Index shows average grocery prices have increased 2.7% in the past year and eating away from home will cost you, on average, 3.7% more than 12 months ago.
Up. Not down.
Of course the facts are a bad look for the president of the United States, who campaigned on the promise of lowering food costs on day one.
According to POTUS, the price of groceries are down except for one pesky food category that's gumming up works. Meat. And more specifically beef.
To the White House's way of thinking, rising beef prices are due to price gouging among the nation's major beef packers — Cargill, Tyson Foods, JBS, and National Beef — collectively known as the Big 4.
Together they account for 80% of the beef market. And by and large, they've had their way when it comes to federal scrutiny of their operations.
Yes, America has a Big Meat consolidation issue. But that doesn't account for the rise in beef prices this year. What the U.S. has is a cattle problem. And more accurately a lack of cattle problem.
ICYMI: Turkey growers left out of contract reforms
Most turkey growers work under contracts that determine their pay and shift much of the financial risk onto them. When federal officials updated poultry contract rules last year, turkey producers were left out.
Reporter John McCracken examined what that decision means for growers who face inconsistent payments and limited leverage. The story remains timely as families sit down to Thanksgiving dinner.
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