Today, President Biden issued a sweeping Executive Order directing the USDA and other federal agencies to revive antitrust enforcement and promote competition throughout the U.S. economy.
FTC and USDA signaled a commitment to creating more competitive markets, in which independent farmers and ranchers can be rewarded for their honest practices.
With these comments, Farm Action seized an opportunity to inform the USDA’s policy priorities as they develop new programs, continue to implement existing ones, and determine what changes must be made to realize a more resilient future.
Proposed changes to the Packers and Stockyards Act signal that USDA is heeding calls from farmers and policymakers to address market concentration.
While the comment addressed key issues identified by USDA, it went further to make policy recommendations that would center farmers and ranchers as a part of the climate solution while detailing the safeguards needed to deter the continued concentration of the food system.
Stacked with sweeping provisions centering voluntary incentives for conservation, renewable energy, and local food system programs, Farm Action is optimistic that if enacted, this legislation would offer both immediate and long-term relief to farmers struggling to navigate a brittle, consolidated food system in a changing climate.
Farm Action submitted a comment to the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, recommending how COVID stimulus grants should be developed, distributed, and implemented for small businesses throughout the food system.
Farm Action commends the reintroduction of the Safe Line Speeds During COVID-19 Act. This pandemic has taken a disproportionate toll on meatpacking workers’ health, and increased line speeds have made these workers’ jobs even more dangerous.
In the 1.9 trillion dollar pandemic aid stimulus bill, Farm Action saw the advancement of multiple provisions aimed at tackling the faults in today’s food system, including implementing anti-racist food and farm policy and supporting local and regional food systems.
Farm Action and 86 other food and farm justice groups issued a petition to let India’s farmers know that we stand with them in their fight against corporations attempting to increase their stranglehold over India’s food and agricultural system.