Farm Action has been invited to testify before the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law at a hearing on the state of food system concentration.
Farm Action has long advocated for a hearing with this committee, which presents an opportunity to share the real-world impacts of corporate consolidation on farmers and rural communities. For everyday people, the unbridled corporate mega-mergers and acquisitions just mean there will be more farmers trapped in unfair financial schemes and more rural communities hollowed out of wealth and opportunity. In his testimony, Farm Action’s Joe Maxwell will focus on recent developments in the highly consolidated fertilizer industry, as well as the abusive dynamics found in beef markets, where consolidation results in low income for the producer, high prices for the consumer, and excessive profits for the big meatpacker.
This hearing could yield real, substantial change to our brittle and dangerous status quo: the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust has the power to review our antitrust laws, and more authority than even the House Agriculture committee to rein in Big Ag. By encouraging this Subcommittee on Antitrust to curb and prevent monopolistic tendencies, we aim to shift power away from consolidated corporations and create opportunity for all.
The hearing is slated for 10:00 am ET on Wednesday, January 19th. Stay tuned to our Facebook and Twitter for updates on this issue, and check out the Subcommittee’s media page, where the hearing may be live-streamed.
