Two Years On, Agricultural Markets Still Unbalanced and Unfair, Farmers Say

[marmar]

from Civil Eats:



Two Years On, Agricultural Markets Still Unbalanced and Unfair, Farmers Say

March 16th, 2012
By Claire Hermann


Two years ago this week, the USDA and U.S. Justice Department began a series of joint workshops on anti-trust issues in agriculture. More than 4,000 farmers participated, and 16,000 people submitted comments. (Civil Eats reported on these hearings here and here.) Yet at a press conference this week, marking the anniversary of the first workshop, a panel of farmers reported that little has changed. A handful of companies still control huge portions of livestock, dairy, and poultry markets, they said, and farmers continue to face abusive and unfair treatment.

“There are some winners,” said Rhonda Perry, a livestock and grain farmer and director of the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, “But those winners are clearly not farmers or consumers. Those who benefit have really been embarrassingly successful at convincing Congress and our leaders to do nothing.”

A Unified Message

The message at the workshops, panelists said, was loud and clear: Agricultural markets are not fair. A small number of companies hold most of the power, and farmers and consumers pay the price. Government regulation is needed to restore fairness and competiveness.

One panelist, South Dakota rancher Bob Mack, used the NCAA basketball tournament to explain: “Every team plays by the same rules. The officials are there to make sure those rules are followed. That’s all farmers want. Fair, open competition.” ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://civileats.com/2012/03/16/two-years-on-agricultural-markets-still-unbalanced-and-unfair-farmers-say/

[orwell]

1. And yet the RepubliCon party is so strong in rural areas...

...Why do farmers vote against their own interests?

[jsmirman]

2. K&R *

nm