The American Farmer recieves about 12 to 15 cents of every food dollar Nic. The big packers and feeders are not the consumers friend, or the farmer's. To protect their profits they import beef, from anywhere and everywhere. We got a law passed that required meat to be labeled by the country in which it came from. That law was struck down by threats from Mexico, Canada and others. Then the WTO said the US could not require such labeling. So now the US imports 80 percent of Alberta's beef.
Congress sided with the WTO, Canada, Mexico, and the big packers and decided that the American consumer did not deserve to know where the meat they buy comes from.
frig those guys, buy local. Not supermarket local, that shit is no good, but local rancher type local. Its the only way we are going to change anything. If you are going to spend that hard earned dollar of yours, might at well spend it locally, give it to someone who is going to spend it locally, maybe even spend it doing tree work.
The more consumers that wish to eat good local food, the more that farmers and ranchers will be able to afford to produce it. The food is going to cost the same, but the money goes to the guy who's kids play with your kids. Why not give him your dollar instead of some Fat Cat in Brazil?
Sorry, sorry, rant over!
Anyhow, the wife made it for the first time. It was really good. Needed a bit of pepper but I always need to add that on anything because of the kids. The soup has some weird name I don't even try to say. It has bacon, sausage, potatoes, onions, garlic, and spinach. That's all I know. 
