ICE raids on farms, hotels, and meatpacking plants are back—just days after they were paused under pressure from Big Ag and hospitality lobbyists. The Trump administration reversed course after internal backlash, but the policy flip-flopping has left everyone guessing: who’s really calling the shots? For now, the cartel’s labor pipeline is back in the crosshairs—but don’t be surprised if the exemptions sneak back in.

Hold the Lettuce, Bring the Raids: Trump Reinstates Immigration Policy on Farms, Hotels, and Meat Plants
They paused the raids. Then un-paused them. For a moment, it looked like meatpackers and hoteliers had secured a get-out-of-jail-free card—courtesy of last-minute lobbying and soft-handed memos. But less than 72 hours later, the White House yanked the leash back....
Latest News
“You Were Never Buying Beef” — Agridime’s $191 Million Meat Mirage Explodes in Court
Agridime promised investors a stake in real American cattle. What they got instead was a $191 million Ponzi scheme—complete with fake livestock contracts, undisclosed commissions, and a federal court order for $102.9 million in restitution. Regulators admit most victims may never see their money again.
JBS Debuts on the NYSE – Day One, Immigrant Workers Ok’d in Slaughterhouses… But What About the Children?
JBS’s NYSE debut on June 13, 2025 glossed over a dark undercurrent—just one day later, ICE green-lighted undocumented labor in meatpacking plants even as JBS pledges to purge child labor through compliance funds and tip‑lines. That $4 million settlement may buy headlines, but who’s actually verifying zero‑tolerance on-site, and why is the government pausing enforcement for adults while prosecuting staffing firms for employing teenagers? As investors cheer the stock debut, the real question is: are vulnerable children still being treated as collateral damage in the drive for profit?
UK to Mandate Electronic ID in Cattle — U.S. Producers Sound Alarm
England’s coming mandatory EID tags have U.S. ranchers sounding the alarm, warning it paves a path toward centralized data control and AI-driven agriculture oversight. R‑CALF USA’s Bill Bullard argues that even massive plants like Cargill’s—which process thousands of cattle daily—don’t benefit from such tracing, exposing the scheme as a control tool, not a safety one. The message is clear: protect rancher data now—or lose it to unseen bureaucratic systems.
“I’d Be Better Off Selling Cocaine Than Raw Milk”: FDA Retreat Spurs Bipartisan Revolt
North Carolina’s reversal of a raw milk ban has ignited a national debate over food freedom, pitting consumer demand against outdated federal control. As the FDA suspends milk safety testing amid workforce cuts, questions swirl about whether the government can regulate what it no longer monitors. And in a time where selling raw milk can bring harsher penalties than cocaine, many are asking: who is the real threat?
Culture
Living Mythologies of 21st Century Agriculture

Barriers to Entry: Tariffs, US Cattlemen, and Beef Maps
This week’s Beef Maps X Spaces cut straight to the heart of what's choking out independent ranchers—imported beef, regulatory bottlenecks, and false labeling. From South American feedlots to USDA certification...

Authentic Brands, Real Beef: How Beef Maps is Saving Ranches and Rewiring the Food Economy
This week’s Beef Maps X Spaces was more than a meeting—it was a movement. From the voice of a son who lost his mother in Philadelphia to the wisdom of generational ranchers in Colorado and Iowa, this conversation...

Videos
Sovereign Health vs. One Health: Ranchers and Researchers Build a New Path Forward
The fight for health sovereignty begins with food. In this conversation with Health Revival Partners, ranchers and researchers reject the global One Health agenda and offer a grounded, local-first alternative. Sovereign Health is rising—from the soil to the soul.
Video: Bird Flu, Beef Imports, and the Future of Food
Bird flu mandates are wiping out herds and driving up food prices, but is there more to the story? In this must-hear discussion with Texas Slim and medical experts from VSRF, we expose how government overreach, mRNA vaccines in livestock, and imported beef threaten your dinner plate—and what you can do to fight back.
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BeefMaps.com – Three Levels of Decentralization
From bison snack sticks to smoked chuck roasts, this week’s Beef Maps X Spaces showcased the power of going direct. Ranchers, policy experts, and tech builders are carving out a new path—one handshake at a time. The cartel’s days are numbered, and decentralized beef is rising.
From The Ground Up: The Story Of A first Generation Ranch
Sawyer and Abbie Cottrell didn’t inherit a ranch—they built one from scratch with grit, vision, and a dream of giving their kids a meaningful life. Legacy Ranch American Wagyu now serves backyard grillers across the country, but its roots are in relationships, education, and second chances.
From Friday burger grills in Eureka to Snack Stick Subscriptions and a growing team of young ag dreamers, this isn’t just a ranch—it’s a movement.
Where’s the Beef? RS June Talks Food, Health & Rebuilding American Farms
RS “Ruffshot” June joins Mommy Heal Thyself to expose how the modern food system has disconnected families from real nutrition—and how regenerative beef can restore health and community. From BeefMaps.com to peer-to-peer rancher connections, June explains why saving American farms is the key to securing your plate. Listen now to learn how quality beef, direct from ranchers, is the missing link to food sovereignty.
Eat Beef to Heal America: Texas Slim, Shawn Baker, and the Fight for Food Sovereignty
Beef isn’t just food—it’s the foundation of health, community, and sovereignty. At Speaker Salon, Texas Slim, Dr. Shawn Baker, RS “Ruffshot” June, and RanchMama Shanen expose the corporate takeover of food and why real change starts with knowing your rancher. The fight for Beef.com and direct-to-consumer beef is more than a movement—it’s a necessity.
The Fight for Food Freedom: Supporting Small, Family-Owned Ranches for Healthier, More Ethical Meat Choices
Straight from the rugged foothills of Wyoming, this is a rancher’s voice—unfiltered and direct from Real Red Meat. The fight for real food isn’t led by politicians but by small family farms raising nutrient-dense beef, bison, and lamb with integrity. When you choose farm-to-table, you’re not just feeding your family—you’re fueling a movement.