Latest Stories — Food & Power

Family Farmer Advocates Outline Farm Bill Priorities

As Congress prepares to pass the Farm Bill, many advocates have visited Washington to promote policies that challenge corporate consolidation in the food system. Food & Power has a roundup of their proposals.

PolicyClaire KellowayFebruary 23, 2023farm bill, CAFO, fishermen, COOL, mergers, Moratorium, EQIP, USDA, Land, dairy

How the FTC’s Noncompete Ban Would Affect Food Workers

One in six U.S. food service workers and one in five agriculture industry workers have signed a noncompete agreement. Banning these contracts could raise wages and entrepreneurship.

Policy, LaborClaire KellowayJanuary 26, 2023Noncompetes, FTC, labor, workers, Fast Food, Secondary Feature

Congress Encourages Corporate Sponsorship of USDA Conservation Programs

A new law lets corporations fund select USDA conservation programs in exchange for branded sponsorship and a cut of any environmental service benefits generated.

PolicyClaire KellowayJanuary 12, 2023Carbon Markets, USDA

Big Ag and Big Oil Eye Biogas Profits, Shell Buys Nature Energy

Shell buys biogas company that will turn cow manure into burnable gas. Opponents say these taxpayer supported projects expand dirty gas infrastructure and polluting industrial animal farms.

USDA Proposes Rule to Deter Packer Retaliation, Discrimination, and Deception

New USDA rule could clear the way for farmers to challenge meatpackers for retaliation and discrimination. Plus USDA commits $15 million to boost state attorneys general.

Policy, Poultry & LivestockClaire KellowaySeptember 29, 2022P&S Act, Packers and Stockyards, Meatpackers, USDA

Big Pork Says Animal Welfare Rule Breeds Monopoly; Small Farmers Disagree

The National Pork Producers Council says California’s Prop. 12 will drive small farms out of business. But a group of small farmers argues that the anti-crate law gives them a rare market opportunity.

Farmers, Ranchers, and Business Owners Urge Antitrust Action at Agency Midterm Review

Open Markets and Farm Action hosted farmers and other food business owners in Washington, DC to assess the Biden administration’s commitment to restoring fair competition in the food system.

Enforcement, PolicyAmy HuoJune 17, 2022USDA, DOJ, FTC, Executive Order, Biden

Meatpacker Lobbying Kept Plants Open and Increased Covid Deaths, Congressional Report Reveals

A congressional report reveals how meatpacking corporations exaggerated risks of food shortages and drafted an executive order to keep their plants open, deterring health and safety regulations.

Labor, Processing & Distribution, PolicyAmy HuoJune 8, 2022JBS, tyson, collusion, Trump, Meatpacking workers, meatpacker

USDA Releases New Rule to Increase Transparency in Poultry Contracting

USDA’s proposed rule would require that chicken companies provide more information to their contract growers to better project earnings and spot unfairness.

Policy, Poultry & LivestockClaire KellowayMay 26, 2022GIPSA, poultry, tournament, Biden

Farmers and Business Owners Testify to Harms of Lax Merger Policy

Farmers and food businesses urge antitrust enforcers to strengthen merger guidelines and fight consolidation.

Mergers & Acquisitions, Policy, EnforcementClaire KellowayMarch 31, 2022FTC, DOJ, mergers, vertical integration

Agriculture Antitrust News Roundup

Policy, Poultry & Livestock, RetailClaire KellowayMarch 17, 2022GIPSA, Executive Order, meatpacking, retail, USDA, Antitrust, Right to Repair, wage-fixing, mergers

Capper-Volstead Turns 100; It’s Time We Expand Its Goals, Within Agriculture and Beyond

The Capper-Volstead Act just turned 100 years old. What the future of farming could learn from this lesser-known law that established the legal foundations for agricultural cooperatives.

PolicyDaniel HanleyMarch 3, 2022cooperation, cooperative