FAQ's

Producer FAQ — American Rancher Alliance, Inc.

Frequently Asked Questions for U.S. Beef Producers

What is the American Rancher Alliance?

The Alliance is a producer-owned, nonprofit organization created to give U.S. ranchers direct access to grocery stores, transparent pricing, and a decentralized supply chain. We work to connect ranchers, processors, retailers, and consumers through a fully transparent national system.

Who can join the Alliance?

Any U.S. beef producer, including:

  • Cow–calf operations

  • Backgrounders & stockers

  • Finishing operations

  • Farm-to-table producers

  • Seedstock programs

Future livestock species (pork, lamb, poultry, etc.) may be added with Board + Founder approval.

How much does it cost to join?

  • Year 1: Free

  • Year 2 & beyond: $250 per year

Membership dues fund traceability, packaging systems, producer support, compliance, and onboarding.

Do I have to raise cattle a certain way to join?

No. The Alliance accepts all responsible ranching systems.
We only require full transparency and two mandatory rules for retail beef:

🚫 NO mRNA vaccines

🚫 NO antibiotic-treated animals in retail programs

You can still treat sick animals — they simply won’t go into ARA retail channels.

Grass-fed, grain-fed, regenerative, hybrid, Wagyu, Angus — all production systems are welcome.

Do I have to switch processors?

No. But to participate in ARA-branded retail programs, cattle must be processed at ARA-approved facilities that follow:

  • ARA packaging & labeling

  • QR code integration

  • Traceability requirements

  • Uniform reporting

Your existing processor may become ARA-approved if they meet standards.

How does the QR code work?

Every ARA retail package includes a QR code that shows:

  • Ranch of origin

  • Breed & production info

  • Feed program

  • Health & vaccine disclosures

  • Region of origin

  • Transparency notes

Consumers can scan and see exactly where their beef came from.
Producers gain direct customer leads from it.

How do producers get paid?

Your income comes from two sources:

1️⃣ Your Carcass Contract Price

You negotiate your own carcass price based on your cattle:

  • Wagyu

  • Angus

  • Regenerative

  • Grass-finished

  • Private-label retail programs

No averaging. No blended pricing. No subsidizing other ranchers.

You get YOUR rate.

2️⃣ Annual ARA Rebate

After all retail costs are paid, the Alliance distributes:

➡️ 80% of the net retail margin back to producers
(based on pounds delivered)

ARA keeps 20% for infrastructure, processors, retail expansion, technology, and national operations.

When do producers get rebates?

Once per year.

Producers receive a fully transparent statement showing:

  • Pounds delivered

  • Retail revenue

  • Deductions & costs

  • Reserve allocations

  • Final rebate amount

Do all producers get the same rebate?

No. Rebates are proportional to contribution.

If you supply 10% of all pounds delivered into the ARA retail chain, you receive 10% of the rebate pool.

Does the Alliance take ownership of my cattle?

No.
Producers retain full ownership until the processor intake point — exactly like standard custom or retail processing systems.

Can I stay independent and still join?

Absolutely.
You keep your ranch, your brand, your genetics, and your existing customers.

The Alliance gives you additional market access, not replacement.

What if I sell freezer beef already?

Great — you can continue doing that.

ARA simply gives you:

  • A national retail outlet

  • QR transparency tools

  • Producer rebates

  • Access to processors and retailers

Your direct-to-consumer business stays yours.

What health protocols are required?

Only three rules:

❌ No mRNA vaccines (strict)

❌ No antibiotic-treated animals in ARA retail

✔ Full transparency on all other inputs

Standard vaccines, low-vaccine programs, vitamin/mineral injections, and regenerative protocols are all allowed as long as they’re disclosed.

What about sick animals?

You can treat sick animals — they simply can’t go into retail ARA programs.

But you can still:

  • Sell them freezer beef

  • Sell them through normal channels

  • Use them in non-retail programs

The Alliance never punishes producers for protecting animal welfare.

How are processors selected?

Processors must be:

  • USDA or state-inspected

  • Able to apply ARA labels & QR codes

  • Willing to follow ARA reporting standards

  • Able to provide consistent capacity

We negotiate volume pricing to lower producer costs over time.

What if processors are full?

ARA distributes scheduling across multiple approved processors to prevent bottlenecks.

The Alliance also:

  • Contracts future processor capacity

  • Secures new processing partners

  • Works to eliminate state shipping barriers

Producers will not compete with each other for slots.

Does the Alliance replace the Big Four packers?

The Alliance circumvents the Big Four by creating a producer-owned alternative supply chain built on transparency and fair pricing.

We are building a new path — not joining their system.

Can corporations or packers join the Alliance?

No.
Only U.S. ranchers can hold membership or voting rights.
Corporate influence, foreign-owned packers, and investors cannot take control.

This is baked into the bylaws permanently.

Can the Alliance be sold in the future?

Absolutely not.
Bylaw protections prevent:

  • Merger

  • Acquisition

  • Corporate takeover

  • Mission drift

  • Sale of the organization

The Alliance exists ONLY for ranchers.

How do I join?

Producers can join today by completing the membership form and agreeing to transparency requirements. 

Year 1 is free.
All benefits begin immediately.