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NSAC News

fair competition

Release: 102 Groups Urge Congress to Choose Farmers over Big Meat in Ag Appropriations Bill

June 13, 2023

102 groups urge Congress to choose farmers over big meat in Ag Appropriations Bill. The letter calls out an appropriations policy rider as an “unacceptable attack” on the USDA’s ability to ensure fair competition for farmers…. Read More →

Filed Under: Competition & Anti-trust, Press Releases, Sustainable Livestock

Secretary Vilsack Underscores Priorities for USDA to House Agriculture Committee

April 5, 2023

In a hearing before the House Agriculture Committee, Secretary Vilsack highlighted the importance of climate investments, efforts to better support underserved producers, the need for increased staffing at USDA, and how funds allocated through the IRA will address conservation backlogs for farmers across the nation…. Read More →

Filed Under: Carousel, Farm Bill

NSAC’s 2023 Farm Bill Platform: Leveling the Playing Field

December 15, 2022

This is the third post in our series covering key pillars of NSAC’s 2023 Farm Bill Platform, which advances recommendations that would level the playing field for small and mid-sized farms by supporting beginning farmers’ access to land and capital; fixing the flawed farm safety net and improving access for diversified farmers; and addressing corporate consolidation and restoring fair competition. … Read More →

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Carousel, Commodity, Crop Insurance & Credit Programs, Farm Bill

Release: New USDA Proposed Rule to Give Livestock and Poultry Growers Fair Shake

October 3, 2022

Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition applauded Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for the publication of a new proposed rule to modernize the century-old Packers and Stockyards Act: “Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity Under the Packers and Stockyards Act.” This is the second of three expected rules first announced in President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy and arrives on the heels of a proposed rule to bring transparency to the poultry tournament system published in June.
… Read More →

Filed Under: Press Releases, Sustainable Livestock

Release: NSAC Applauds Proposed Rule to Reform Poultry Tournament Payment System

June 8, 2022

Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition applauded Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for the publication of a long-awaited proposed rule regarding “Transparency in Poultry Growing Contracts and Tournaments.” This is the first of several expected rules to strengthen the century-old Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA) announced in President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy. … Read More →

Filed Under: Competition & Anti-trust, Implementation & Rule-making, Press Releases, Sustainable Livestock

COMMENT: NSAC Responds to USDA Announcement of Meat Processing Grants

February 24, 2022

NSAC Responds to USDA Announcement of Meat Processing Grants… Read More →

Filed Under: Competition & Anti-trust, Grants and Programs, Press Releases

Livestock and Poultry Competition Reform on the Horizon

August 27, 2021

Livestock consolidation and concentration have been gaining traction in Washington, D.C. Last month, President Biden signed an Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy, signaling a whole of government effort to address concentration and consolidation in US markets. Several initiatives announced could have a far-reaching impact on agriculture, including the intent to strengthen […]

Filed Under: Carousel, Competition & Anti-trust, General Interest, Local & Regional Food Systems, Marketing and Labeling, Rural Development, Sustainable Livestock

Investments and Opportunities for Input on Meat and Poultry Processing Infrastructure

July 23, 2021

USDA recently announced over $600 million in future investments to support and increase processing capacity through grants, loans, and technical assistance to address concentration within the meat and poultry sectors, as well as small plant fee relief.  On July 16th, 2021 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a notice in the Federal Register, seeking […]

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Carousel, Food Safety, General Interest, Grants and Programs, Local & Regional Food Systems, Rural Development, Sustainable Livestock

Farmers Trapped in Unsustainable Cycle by Biotechnology, Seed Consolidation

July 9, 2021

A deep dive into the role that corporate consolidation and concentration play in the commoditization and appropriation of seed and farming practices and what this means for farmers. … Read More →

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Carousel, Commodity, Crop Insurance & Credit Programs, Competition & Anti-trust, Conservation, Energy & Environment, Farm Bill, General Interest, Local & Regional Food Systems, Organic, Research, Education & Extension, Rural Development

Undo the Packers and Stockyards “Undue Preference” Final Rule

February 17, 2021

In the waning days of the Trump Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a final rule on the undue or unreasonable preference provision, Section 202(b), of the Packers & Stockyards Act of 1921 (P&SA). Unfortunately, the rule fails to protect livestock and poultry farmers from the abusive and exploitative practices that have become […]

Filed Under: Competition & Anti-trust, Implementation & Rule-making, Sustainable Livestock

The Time is Ripe for Competition and Antitrust Reform in Agriculture

February 12, 2021

This is the first of several blogs which will explore the impacts of consolidation and concentration in the agriculture industry on farmers and the broader food system, as well as a path forward. The blog series is authored by NSAC Policy Associate Billy Hackett with meaningful contributions by farmers and experts. Read the second entry […]

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Commodity, Crop Insurance & Credit Programs, Competition & Anti-trust, Coronavirus, Farm Bill, General Interest, Local & Regional Food Systems, Rural Development, Sustainable Livestock

RELEASE: Fair Competition Livestock Rule Fails to Advance Needed Reforms

December 10, 2020

Contact: Eric Deeble, Policy DirectorNational Sustainable Agriculture Coalitionedeeble@sustainableagriculture.net Fair Competition Livestock Rule Fails to Advance Needed ReformsUSDA fails to address major issues with its “undue preference” rule Washington, DC, December 10th, 2020 – Today, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) released a final rule to attempt to satisfy 2008 Farm Bill requirements to […]

Filed Under: Competition & Anti-trust, General Interest, Press Releases

Long Awaited GIPSA Rule Needs Major Improvement

February 25, 2020

On January 13, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture published a long-delayed proposed rule on the undue or unreasonable preference provision, Section 202(b), of the Packers & Stockyards Act of 1921 (P&SA). The P&SA was enacted to combat consolidation and lack of competition in the livestock and poultry industries as meatpackers and processors (also known […]

Filed Under: Competition & Anti-trust, Implementation & Rule-making

RELEASE: 84,000 SIGNATURES STRONG, GROUPS DEMAND USDA PROTECT FARMERS OVER MEAT MONOPOLIES

October 14, 2019

Farm and rural advocacy organizations delivered more than 84,000 petition signatures to USDA offices as part of a campaign urging the agency to take action to protect farmers from corporate abuse and exploitation in the livestock sector…. Read More →

Filed Under: Competition & Anti-trust, Press Releases, Sustainable Livestock

USDA to Tackle Corporate Concentration in Livestock Sector

July 2, 2019

Rising consolidation among meatpacking and processing companies over the past few decades has steadily eroded fair competition within the poultry and livestock industries. Despite years of clamoring from producers and advocacy organizations like the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) for legislation and regulations needed to address this problem, progress has so far been painfully slow […]

Filed Under: Competition & Anti-trust, Sustainable Livestock

RELEASE: Elected Officials Called Upon to Increase Fairness for Family Farmers

June 21, 2019

Editor’s Note: This press release was originally issued by Food & Water Watch, and was sent as a joint release between: Food & Water Watch, National Farmers Union, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, and RAFI-USA. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:Reana Kovalcik National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition 202-547-5754; rkovalcik@sustainableagriculture.net Presidential Candidates Called Upon to Increase Fairness for Family Farmers Washington, […]

Filed Under: Competition & Anti-trust

National Agricultural Law Center to Host Webinar on Proposed GIPSA Rules

October 11, 2010

On Thursday, October 14, the National Agricultural Law Center (NALC) will host a webinar from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. EST on the rules proposed by USDA’s Grain Inspection Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA). NALC staff attorneys will provide an overview of GIPSA’s proposed rule changes for poultry and livestock, review the rulemaking process, explain […]

Filed Under: Competition & Anti-trust

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