New Mexico
Where’s the beef? Ranchers say ‘well done’ to carnivore diet trend
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New surveys show more Americans are adding meat to their meals, a shift New Mexico ranchers say supports the state’s role in beef production.
A survey cited in the report found 45 percent of shoppers say they are trying to put meat into their diet.
New dietary guidelines
This comes after meat became a bigger part of the federal dietary guidelines introduced this year.
“The recommendation was increased from 0.8 to 1.2 to 1.6. I’m not going to get into it if this was justified or not. But yes, there is definitely a push that people should eat more protein,” said Peter Pribis, an associate professor of nutrition and dietetics at the University of New Mexico. “And unfortunately in America, when you say protein, people think beef.”
Market research company Circana found Americans bought $112 billion worth of meat last year.
Another survey from a food industry group found 98 percent of American households buy meat.
New Mexico ranchers point to healthier beef options
Carollann Romo, executive director of the New Mexico Beef Council, said rising demand also brings more focus on education for ranchers.
“Something people don’t always know about beef is that there’s more than 40 cuts that are considered USDA lean. And so if you’re looking for a lean protein, you look for the word round or loin in the name,” said Romo. “And so that lean beef has always been something that would be valuable for people to reach out to.”
Is beef the only source of protein?
Pribis said protein does not have to come from meat, and pointed to nuts, beans, and potatoes as being able to help meet protein needs.
“People can be on extreme diets but generally speaking when you are eating enough energy, you are eating enough protein,” said Pribis.
Pribis said many Americans may already get more protein than they need, and he said the body does not store extra protein long term.
Native Vote 2026
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A Laguna Pueblo woman is the front runner to be New Mexico’s next governor.
Shortly after polls closed Tuesday night, Deb Haaland was declared the winner over Bernalillo County district attorney Sam Bregman in the state’s semi-open Democratic Party primary. As of 11:00 p.m., Haaland carried support from 72% of the Democratic primary voters to Bregman’s 28%, according to unofficial results from the New Mexico Secretary of State.
“We’re showing everyone that a better future in New Mexico is possible,” she told supporters gathered in Albuquerque’s historic Old Town Plaza. “New Mexicans want a leader who will stand up for working people, and who is ready to take on Donald Trump. I proudly accept your nomination as a Democratic nominee.”
Haaland spoke for 13 minutes, at times through a scratchy throat that required her to pause for water breaks. “Excuse me, I’ve been talking with voters all day,” she said while grabbing a water bottle before hitting her campaign stump notes on affordability, health care and public safety.
She will face Republican Gregg Hull, a former mayor from suburban Rio Rancho that won his party’s three-way primary with 47% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the New Mexico Secretary of State.
Haaland will be the Democratic Party nominee in a state dominated at every level by Democrats, and is expected to be heavily favored in the general election. With that insight she said her campaign message does translate to Republicans and Independent voters.
“We want our kids to thrive. We want our kids to have a quality, public education. We want every New Mexican to have health care. Everybody wants to feel safe in their neighborhoods, and everybody wants to be able to afford to put a hot meal on their table every night and have a roof over their children’s heads,” she said. “Those issues transcend whatever political spectrum we’re trying to slice and dice people into.”
Shortly after the race was called, Haaland campaign staff, major donors, surrogates, and their families walked from a building on the west side of Albuquerque’s Old Town Plaza to the historic plaza core, where the Haaland campaign had set up a stage and reserved the entire plaza for its victory celebration.
“We are now witnessing history in the making,” New Mexico state Rep. Derrick Lente (Sandia Pueblo) said to supporters immediately after Haaland was declared the winner.
Denise Wilie (Dine) also joined the celebration of Haaland’s victory. Wilie said she worked on get-out-the-vote efforts with the Native American Voters Alliance in McKinley County.
“It just is so exhilarating to even think about, a woman and a Pueblo woman,” she said. “Indigenous all the way, is how I feel. I’m like, yes, let’s get more of our voices.”
Haaland was introduced by her two sisters and walked to the stage escorted by a mariachi band.
Speaking to reporters after the event Haaland reflected on voting for a Pueblo woman (herself) for governor.
“I got emotional, quite frankly, when I went to vote for myself because you do that when you’re a candidate,” she said. “We’ve never had a Native American governor in New Mexico. We’re a multicultural state. I think representation matters, especially in a political era such as this one. So, I’m really proud and honored to carry on the legacy of my ancestors, who worked so incredibly hard to make sure that I had a place here today.”
Related
When a famly unexpectedly loses a loved one, or has someone go missing, the details of what comes next can be overwhelming.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – When a famly unexpectedly loses a loved one, or has someone go missing, the details of what comes next can be overwhelming.
But they don’t have to do it alone thanks to an organization helping New Mexico families with some of those burdens.
Watch the video above for more.
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