Glia
07-21-2011, 11:25 PM
Enough is Enough.
For decades, family farmers and ranchers who raise livestock have endured abuses from corporate giants that control the market. But, you can help level the playing field for independent farmers and ranchers.
Today, just four companies own 83.5% of the beef market, 66% of the hog industry and 58.5% of the broiler chicken industry. These giant meatpackers and poultry processors have enjoyed unchecked market power, allowing them to control prices, issue unfair contracts with farmers and bully, intimidate and abuse farmers who stand up against corporate power.
But, it doesn't have to be this way. Way back in 1921, Congress passed the Packers and Stockyards Act to address corporate abuses by meatpackers and poultry processors. Its protections for farmers were never clearly defined though, and corporate abuses continued as tens of thousands of livestock, hog and poultry producers went out of business. 87 years later, in the 2008 Farm Bill, Congress directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enact protections for farmers under the Packers and Stockyards Act. Last year, the USDA proposed the GIPSA rule, which would do just that, but that's not the end of the story.
In response, corporate meat and poultry giants launched misinformation campaigns and used their lobbying power in the U.S. House of Representatives to derail the GIPSA rule and prevent the USDA from doing its job.
Family farmers and ranchers tell Farm Aid this is one of the most important fights they've faced. A better, healthier system of agriculture – one that ensures a fair living for family farmers and provides farmers and eaters a choice in the marketplace – requires fair, competitive markets for farmers. The GIPSA rule would help make fair markets possible.
Farmers and ranchers have waited long enough.
Click here to tell your U.S. Senators it's time to stand firm against corporate greed and abuse. (https://www.farmaid.org/c.qlI5IhNVJsE/b.7586087/k.B0DA/Tell_the_Senate_its_time_to_stand_firm_against_corporate_greed_and_abuse/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?msource=gipsa1&auid=8690416)
Tell them it's time to stand up for family farmers and ranchers and support the USDA in protecting them.
Sincerely,
Alicia Harvie
Program Manager, Farm Aid
P.S. I know you care about family farmers like I do. Your action, right now, is so important to seize on this rare opportunity to help family farmers. Take a moment to urge the Senate to protect this new rule.
For decades, family farmers and ranchers who raise livestock have endured abuses from corporate giants that control the market. But, you can help level the playing field for independent farmers and ranchers.
Today, just four companies own 83.5% of the beef market, 66% of the hog industry and 58.5% of the broiler chicken industry. These giant meatpackers and poultry processors have enjoyed unchecked market power, allowing them to control prices, issue unfair contracts with farmers and bully, intimidate and abuse farmers who stand up against corporate power.
But, it doesn't have to be this way. Way back in 1921, Congress passed the Packers and Stockyards Act to address corporate abuses by meatpackers and poultry processors. Its protections for farmers were never clearly defined though, and corporate abuses continued as tens of thousands of livestock, hog and poultry producers went out of business. 87 years later, in the 2008 Farm Bill, Congress directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enact protections for farmers under the Packers and Stockyards Act. Last year, the USDA proposed the GIPSA rule, which would do just that, but that's not the end of the story.
In response, corporate meat and poultry giants launched misinformation campaigns and used their lobbying power in the U.S. House of Representatives to derail the GIPSA rule and prevent the USDA from doing its job.
Family farmers and ranchers tell Farm Aid this is one of the most important fights they've faced. A better, healthier system of agriculture – one that ensures a fair living for family farmers and provides farmers and eaters a choice in the marketplace – requires fair, competitive markets for farmers. The GIPSA rule would help make fair markets possible.
Farmers and ranchers have waited long enough.
Click here to tell your U.S. Senators it's time to stand firm against corporate greed and abuse. (https://www.farmaid.org/c.qlI5IhNVJsE/b.7586087/k.B0DA/Tell_the_Senate_its_time_to_stand_firm_against_corporate_greed_and_abuse/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?msource=gipsa1&auid=8690416)
Tell them it's time to stand up for family farmers and ranchers and support the USDA in protecting them.
Sincerely,
Alicia Harvie
Program Manager, Farm Aid
P.S. I know you care about family farmers like I do. Your action, right now, is so important to seize on this rare opportunity to help family farmers. Take a moment to urge the Senate to protect this new rule.