Joe Maxwell, co-founder of Farm Action, a nonprofit that works against agricultural consolidation, believes Vilsack is an example of the ways regulations have been delayed or stymied because of the close nature between the federal government and industry
Farm Action Urges USDA to Hold Monopolies Accountable for Discrimination and Retaliation with Proposed Packers and Stockyards Act Rule
Today Farm Action submitted a public comment in response to a proposal (“Proposed Rule”) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). By modernizing certain producer protections under the Packers and Stockyards Act (“P&S Act”), the Proposed Rule would promote competition in the livestock, meats, poultry, and live poultry markets.
“Farm Action is encouraged by AMS’s continuing efforts to strengthen antitrust enforcement across our food system by reinvigorating the Packers and Stockyards Act,” the comment states. The Proposed Rule would significantly improve AMS’s ability to hold poultry integrators and meatpackers accountable for their widespread discriminatory and retaliatory conduct towards growers and producers.
Farm Action’s comment went on to make specific recommendations for the Proposed Rule to help AMS more effectively accomplish its goals. Farm Action believes the rule could be strengthened by:
This Proposed Rule marks the second of three rulemakings USDA announced in June, 2021 as part of their plan to strengthen the landmark P&S Act and reinvigorate antitrust enforcement. Farm Action submitted comments on the first rule, which focused on the contract poultry growing industry, in August of 2022, and looks forward to reviewing the third rule when it is announced.
Media Contact: Dee Laninga, dlaninga@farmaction.us, 202-450-0094
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