Beef Supply Chain
FAT has built a suite of interactive maps documenting the structure of the U.S. beef processing supply chain — from commercial feedlots and their geographic supply basins to plant-level capacity and EPA environmental enforcement records. The maps draw on state permit databases (Nebraska DWEE, TCEQ Texas), EPA ECHO, the Kansas Annual Feedlot Report, and USDA plant capacity estimates as of March 2026.
All three maps are interactive. Click any plant or feedlot marker for detail on capacity, supply basin data, nearest processors, and enforcement history.
Supply Map
28 active beef processing plants across the full Big Four national network (Tyson, Cargill, JBS, National Beef) plus 5 key independents, with 903 commercial feedlots and their 50-mile supply basins. Reflects the Tyson Lexington NE closure and Amarillo reduction (Jan 2026).
Enforcement Map
EPA ECHO ICIS-NPDES compliance data for over 1,000 CAFO facilities in KS, NE, CO, and TX. Facilities are color-coded by enforcement tier: formal actions, significant non-compliance, minor violations, and fully compliant.
Integrated Model Map
The full supply chain model in one view — plants, feedlots, supply basins, PPI economic data, and EPA enforcement layered together with scenario modeling. Four switchable view modes: Supply Basins, Economic Model (PPI), Enforcement — Actual, and Enforcement — Scenario.
Data Sources and Methodology
- Plant capacity: USDA FSIS establishment records, industry publications (Canadian Cattlemen, Beef Magazine, DTN, WLJ), company career pages as of March 2026. Not an official USDA plant-capacity series.
- Feedlot locations (KS): Kansas Department of Revenue Annual Feedlot Report 2026.
- Feedlot locations (NE): Nebraska DWEE NPDES Permit Database — 484 permitted cattle CAFO facilities statewide.
- Feedlot locations (TX): TCEQ General Permit TXG920000 active authorizations — 253 beef cattle (SIC 0211) facilities.
- Feedlot locations (CO): EPA ECHO ICIS-NPDES, CDPHE general permit COA934000 — 51 facilities.
- CAFO enforcement: EPA ECHO ICIS-NPDES, verified records as of March 2026.
- Geocoding: City-centroid approximations using US Census 2024 Gazetteer. Not rooftop geocoding.
How These Maps Are Different
Most maps of animal agriculture show either where animals are raised or where environmental violations occur. These maps do something different.
They combine feedlot geography with real enforcement data and present it in a format designed for consumers, not just regulators or researchers.
Regulatory Data — Not Marketing Claims
This map draws on enforcement records from federal and state agencies, including inspections, violations, and penalties.
Facility-Level Visibility
View individual feedlots and their compliance history, rather than relying on broad industry summaries.
Integrated, Not Siloed
Environmental data is placed directly within the beef supply chain, not separated from it.
Consumer-Facing Design
Government systems exist, but they are not built for everyday users. This map translates complex regulatory data into usable information.
Part of a Larger System
This map connects to FAT’s broader framework for evaluating meat labels—highlighting what is disclosed and what is not.
Why It Matters
Meat labels rarely disclose where animals were raised or how they were managed. This map adds a layer of accountability that is currently missing from the retail experience.
The goal is not to tell consumers what to buy. It is to ensure they can see the full picture before they decide.