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Chapter 6: On the Range Summary. By Adam Thies and Joseph Chirstodoulou. New vs. Old. Homes built on top of prairie grass ( very flammable) with shops Speedway for stock car racing replace natural land with loud noises and asphalt Cowboy attire rarely worn in modern society.
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Chapter 6: On the Range Summary By Adam Thies and Joseph Chirstodoulou
New vs. Old • Homes built on top of prairie grass ( very flammable) with shops • Speedway for stock car racing replace natural land with loud noises and asphalt • Cowboy attire rarely worn in modern society
Meatpackers are the Rulers • Meatpacking firms use “captive supplies”—company cattle—to lower market cattle prices • Not much competitive marketplace for ranchers, meatpacking firms slaughter 84% US cattle • Past Beef Trust controlled 55% market 1917, broken up by government with Federal Trade Commission
McNugget frenzy • Invention of McNugget transform chicken farmers into serfs for a big corporation • Appeared healthier than other menu items • Cooked in beef tallow and had twice the fat • Instead selling whole chicken, now sell bits and pieces • Tyson Foods turned into world’s largest chicken processor
Ranchers are the losers • Over last 20 years half million ranchers sold off cattle and quit business due to debt, inheritance taxes, no tax breaks • Ranching has taken over by large corporations
Ranchers are the losers Cont. • Independent ranchers have competition from rich ranchers like doctors, lawyers, stockbrokers • Rich competitors can afford to lose money while independent ranchers can’t
Ranchers are the losers Cont. • Suicide rate among ranchers 3 times national average due to low cattle prices, modern society building through ranches • Ranchers can’t escape debt they build up, like chicken raisers