WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Farmers Union (NFU) announced the Fairness for Farmers campaign this week, calling it a grassroots effort to break up monopolies and consolidation in the agriculture industry.
Speaking at a virtual press conference, NFU president Rob Larew (along with Congressional leaders and state attorneys general) says the organization was encouraged to move forward with the campaign after President Biden’s recent executive order promoting competition in the marketplace.
“Monopolies and companies that dominate the marketplace are holding farmers back,” says Larew. “Farmers and ranchers cannot afford to wait any longer.”
The nation’s second-largest farm group said the campaign will expose the negative effects of consolidation in the agriculture industry on family farms and rural towns. It will also call for stronger enforcement of antitrust laws and breaking up the corporate monopolies that, “use their size to unfairly take advantage of farmers and ranchers while forcing consumers to pay higher prices at the grocery store.”
The Fairness for Farmers campaign will include a public relations campaign and lobbying. NFU is also asking to hear from individual producers, telling their story as to how consolidation has affected their livelihood, families and communities.
The goal is to convince Washington politicians to crack down on monopolistic behavior in the industry. Lawmakers are currently proposing legislation to bring more price and market transparency to highly consolidated cattle and beef markets. In addition, there is proposed legislation to allow for greater enforcement of the Sherman Antitrust Act, the Packer’s & Stockyards Act, and the Commodity Exchange Act.
Larew says he hopes the campaign (joined by congressmen and states attorneys general) will work to educate and energize the rest of the country to the tight marketplaces that family farmers, ranchers and producers face. “Renewed attention to these problems give us hope. We have a president who is committed to taking on the challenge of fighting consolidation in agriculture.”
Find out more about the Fairness For Farmers Campaign
Listen to the NFU Fly-In Fairness for Farmers Press Conference
