Livestock markets are highly consolidated, with just four companies controlling 85 percent of processing of fed cattle. These companies prevent farmers and ranchers from getting a fair price for their livestock while they overcharge consumers and rake in massive profits. Increased transparency and robust price discovery will bring about greater fairness in cattle markets.  

The Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA) became law in 1921 to protect livestock and poultry producers from unfair, deceptive, and monopolistic practices in the marketplace. But for the last few decades, USDA has not fully enforced these important protections for farmers and ranchers, which has led to rampant consolidation in the livestock industry, reduced transparency in the marketplace, the rise of unfair contract terms, and depressed prices paid to farmers. Without strong enforcement of the PSA, farmers and ranchers will continue to face an unfair marketplace and abuses of power by corporate monopolies. 

NFU supports conspicuous, mandatory, and uniform labeling for food products throughout the processing chain and calls for reauthorization and full implementation of mandatory country-of origin labeling (COOL) for agricultural, aquaculture, and wild-caught seafood products.  

 This legislation would promote a fairer, more competitive market for America’s cattle farmers and ranchers and quality family-sustaining jobs for meat processing workers. Consumers have been paying high prices for beef at the grocery store while cattle producers continue receiving artificially depressed prices for their cattle. A consolidated and uncompetitive beef packing industry is exploiting consumers, workers, and ranchers alike. American consumers deserve the right to choose, American cattle farmers and ranchers deserve the right to compete for the consumers’ favor in their domestic market, and meat processing workers deserve quality jobs.   

Most modern farm equipment, such as tractors and combines, are technologically advanced and contain computers and sensors. As a result, software tools are often necessary to complete repairs. However, most equipment manufacturers refuse to make those tools fully available to farmers and independent mechanics, leaving farmers no choice but to take their broken equipment to a licensed dealership. This leads to lack of competition in the repair market, inflated service prices, and long delays during tight planting or harvest windows.  

Federal legislation has been introduced that would ensure that farm equipment owners and independent mechanics have access to the documentation, parts, and software tools required to diagnose, repair, and maintain equipment. Right to repair bills are being considered in state capitals across the country.  

To learn more about NFU's work on Right to Repair, view our fact sheet here.

The USDA and the Department of Justice opened an online portal for reporting illegal anticompetitive practices by corporate monopolies in the livestock and poultry sector. The site, www.usda.gov/farmerfairness, allows individual farmers and ranchers to submit tips to the USDA Packers and Stockyards division and the DOJ. This information can be provided either anonymously or with contact information, in keeping with privacy and confidentiality policies.