Congressional action urged on competition in agriculture marketplace
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
News from the office of Senator Tester
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Jon Tester recently questioned experts during a Senate Banking Committee hearing, pushing for solutions to decreased competition in agricultural markets, and the need for solutions that protect family farm agriculture.
Tester began by highlighting challenges in the agricultural marketplace: “I believe in capitalism. I think you’ve got to have competition in the marketplace, it keeps everyone honest. I think what we’ve seen in many different sectors of our economy is way too much consolidation – I want to bring agriculture up as one. You know the statistics: three quarters of the global grain market is controlled by four traders. 82 percent of the U.S. beef market is controlled by four packers.”
“I’m a farmer in my real life,” Tester continued, emphasizing the impact of consolidation poses on family farmers: “That concentration prevents folks that are in production agriculture – family farmers – from being able to survive … That’s a system that, quite frankly, needs some attention.”
Tester continued to stress the importance of family farm agriculture to national security: “I’ve said, and I mean this: “If we lose family farm agriculture in this country, this country becomes far less secure. Congress needs to pay attention to that.”
Tester concluded by highlighting his legislation to fight big ag consolidation and pressing for more action to address big ag consolidation: “Chairwoman Stabenow put out a farm bill yesterday, and in that she included a bill that I’ve been pushing for, and I’ve sponsored, the Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act … Could you flesh out a little more how increased competition and accountability could help farmers, ranchers, consumers and what Congress needs to do from your perspective to make this happen?”
