Karina Jones is a real-life ranch wife in the Nebraska Sandhills and one of the most highly sought-after speakers in the cattle industry nationwide!
As Americans fire up their grill this Independence Day, National Farmers Union (NFU) highlights how little independence family farmers have in the marketplace. The “Farmer’s Share of the Food Dollar”, is a piece of data that always catches my interest at holiday time. It is a periodical report highlighting how little family farmers earn compared to how much consumers pay at the grocery store.
“As we celebrate the Fourth of July, a day that symbolizes freedom, fairness, and opportunity, we must also shine a light on the growing imbalance in our food system,” said NFU President Rob Larew. “Family farmers and ranchers are working harder than ever, yet taking home less, while corporate monopolies in processing, distribution, and retail rake in record profits. Farmers deserve a fair share of the food dollar, and consumers deserve a food system that works for everyone, not just a handful of powerful corporations.”
Family farmers receive only a small fraction of popular Independence Day foods – an average as low as 16.3% for a $30 shopping cart according to the recent Farmer’s Share report. I just want to know who is walking out of the grocery store only spending $30! Ooofta!
Let’s break it down. An 8 count package of hamburger buns that retails $3.79, only yields around 9 cents for the farmer who grew the wheat. And that $6/lb burger you put on the bun, only 1/3 of that is getting back to the cattle producer. You can’t have a burger without chips! A measly 36 cents finds its way back to the farmer when you buy that $6 bag of potato chips!
As we look to feed our families don’t forget those who work everyday to feed us! We salute America’s farmers and ranchers who have worked hard to make your Fourth of July BBQ a success!
For more information, visit, https://nfu.org/2025/06/30/on-independence-day-family-farmers-and-consumers-still-fight-for-fairness-in-the-food-system/?fbclid=IwY2xjawLUwDBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFmYjRpSTNNUk9IYVZ2bWthAR4_BNSQRnTAtIQzlQYq_1c-13V10ZVRQj8Vzlj_znSoChQz76Sy6EhmDwHerQ_aem_lGoPf9U4mFFtVFpS5pDSSg
Karina ranches with her husband, Marty, and 4 children near Merriman, NE. She grew up in western NE, with roots also in southwest SD. The cattle industry and raising kids is her passion.
Watching the cattle industry go the path that it has gone, she could no longer sit quietly at home checking cows, fixing fence, and doing all the everyday tasks wondering when some else was going to make it all better. As she became more active and outspoken on industry issues, she was asked to join the R-CALF USA staff in September 2020 as the Checkoff Petition Campaign manager. That position transcended into her former role as full time Field Director for R-CALF USA.
Listen to Ranch Raised on a Your Ag Network hometown station or www.youragnetwork.com where she talks about her daily life on the Jones Ranch.
Cattle producers are her people. She will meet you at the county fair, at the sale barn, or anywhere the dusty trail leads.
karina@youragnetwork.com or visit facebook.com/ranchraisedwithkarinajones
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