Just curious; How many of you folks that are complaining actually feed cattle for a living? Or do you just send a few fats to the local sale barn a couple times a year?
When we were running at full capacity we had a middle man that contacted buyers when we had a pot load ready. We sent cattle to five different plants; Grand Island, NE, Joslin,IL, Aurora,IL, Green bay, WI, Philadelphia, Pa. The middle man got paid $x/hd for every fat we marketed through him.
The packers will not change. This is a numbers game. If you finish 20hd a year, you don't stand a chance. But if you have 20 and your neighbor has 15, now you have a pot load. The opportunities to market your cattle just grew exponentially.
If you want changes, you as producers have to make them. Involving the Government will only create a new problem.