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F E E D I N G T H E F U T U R E T H R O U G H F A R M E R S U N I O N E D U C AT I O N A P U B L I C AT I O N B Y M O N TA N A F A R M E R S U N I O N
EXECUTIVE ORDER TO PROMOTE COMPETITION IN ECONOMY IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR AGRICULTURE This month President Biden issued 72 directives to promote competition and jump-start the US economy. The White House said a lack of competition in the marketplace is estimated to cost American households $5,000 annually. Many directives pertain to the agriculture sector including a directive to the Federal Trade Commission to limit equipment manufacturers from restricting farmers the right to repair their equipment; a directive on new rules defining when meat can have the “Product of the USA” label; enhancing the USDA’s ability to prevent meat processors from abusing the market; increasing opportunities for farmers to access markets, and support of local and regional food systems. This order also establishes a White House council to monitor the progress of these initiatives. Montana Farmers Union President Walter Schweitzer is excited that President Biden signs executive order with 72 directives to incresase compeition in the economy. Biden is addressing several issues that Farmers Union has been discussing. “Farmers Union has been asking the President, Congress, DOJ, and the USDA for decades to address the anti-competitive practices of the corporate monopolies.” Schweitzer went on to say, “Thank you, President Biden, it feels good to know someone is listening and doing something about it.” C O N T I N U E D PA G E 4
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
MEMBERS’ PICNIC HONORS MERRILL FAMILY & TORCHBEARERS: STORY ON PAGE 4
HELLO FROM ARROWPEAK CAMP!
PAID LIVINGSTON, MT PERMIT NO. 93
PAGE 3 More Details on Biden’s Executive ORder
PAGE 6 State to State Brings Farmers Union States Together
PAGE 5 Member Profile: Megan Hedges 1
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE BY
WA LT E R S C H W E I T Z E R
FOOD SECURITY IS FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY When you are hungry and struggling to survive you become desperate. There is no telling what you might do. During the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers found empty shelves. Meat, dairy, and produce were being rationed. Farmers were euthanizing livestock, dumping milk, and plowing in vegetable fields. This should never be the case in the richest most powerful nation on earth. Over half of our annual federal budget is spent on our national security, and yet the National Guard protecting our capital and democracy was struggling to get decent food. Some troops ended up in the hospital with food poisoning. The US helps feed the world, but during a crisis, we struggled to feed ourselves. This is wrong and needs to be fixed. There is nothing good about the COVID-19 pandemic, but hopefully, there will be positive changes from what we have learned during that period. How did this happen? Sixty years of a “cheap food policy” which is more about corporate control of our food dollar developed a fragile food supply chain. We have concentrated our food supply into the hands of a few in the guise of efficiency. This has come at the
expense of resiliency. When I first started farming Montana raised and processed 70% of our food. Now it is less than 10%. You used to be able to go to your locally family-owned grocery store and the shelves were full of Montana-raised and processed food. Now you have to travel for hours to corporate-owned stores and buy food that has been processed and shipped 1,000 miles or more. This has exposed us to disruptions to our food supply and weakened our national security. Eighty-four percent of our meat is processed by just four corporate monopolies mostly foreign-owned. Nearly 90% of our fruits and vegetable are produced in just three states. Just one dairy processor controls over 25% of US dairy products. Just one corporate monopoly sells over 50% of our food and in some regions 90%. This is not a resilient food supply. Farmers Union has been advocating for decades that we need a more resilient food supply by promoting more locally grown and locally processed food. Over a hundred years ago Farmers Union worked with our elected leaders to create antitrust laws and the Packers & Stockyard Act to rein in the corporate monopolies to secure our food supply. The good news is that consumers and some of our elected officials have noticed and are trying to fix the problem. President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act and Build Back Better Plan focus on a more resilient food supply by investing in more regionally raised and processed food. Investing in regional processing is a good start, but more importantly, stopping anti-competitive practices by corporate monopolies is critical. These corporate monopolies force smaller processors out of business, are price gouging consumers and producers. They have put our food supply at risk. Senator Tester’s Meat Packing Special Investigator Act would place an investigator in the Packers & Stockyard division with subpoena powers to investigate anticompetitive practices. I agree with Senator Tester. Corporate consolidation is a direct threat to our national security. When a single cyberattack or a shutdown due to a fire or a pandemic threatens the very food we eat that is proof that something must be done fast to protect our national security.
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RMA AUTHORIZES EMERGENCY PROCEDURES TO HELP DROUGHT-IMPACTED PRODUCERS The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is authorizing emergency procedures to help agricultural producers impacted by extreme drought conditions. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is working with crop insurance companies to streamline and accelerate the adjustment of losses and issuance of indemnity payments to crop insurance policyholders in impacted areas. These new crop insurance flexibilities are part of USDA’s broader response to help producers impacted by drought, in the West, Northern Great Plains, and other areas. “Crop insurance helps producers weather natural disasters like drought,” RMA Acting Administrator Richard Flournoy said. “We recognize the distress experienced by farmers and ranchers because of drought, and these emergency procedures will authorize insurance companies to expedite the claims process, enabling them to plant a new crop or a cover crop.” Producers should contact their crop insurance agent as soon as they notice damage. The insurance company must have an opportunity to inspect the crop before the producer puts their crop acres to another use. If the company cannot make an accurate appraisal, or the producer disagrees with the appraisal at the time the acreage is to be destroyed or no longer cared for, the insurance company and producer can determine representative sample areas to be left intact and maintained for future appraisal purposes. Once an insured crop has been appraised and released, or representative strips have been authorized for later appraisal, the producer may cut the crop for silage, destroy it or take any other action on the land including planting a cover crop. Additional information can be found at https://www.r ma.usda.gov/en/News-Room/ Frequently-Asked-Questions/Crop-Insurance-andDrought-Damaged-Crops..
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
IN THIS ISSUE
Member Recruited By
Brian & Andrea Kurtz, Miles City Watts Agency Reed & Holly Marcy, Forsyth Watts Agency Kyle & Anna Callaway, Billings Jesse Fleming Jay & Loverty Erickson, Wolf Point Jesse Fleming Robert & Jerry Toavs, Wolf Point Jesse Fleming Carol Fraser, Lewistown Tom McKenna Chris & Amy Ator, Medicine Lake Austin O’Dea Allen Dale Herman, Lodge Grass Melissa Wacker Vivian Small, Busby Melissa Wacker Clyde Brewer, Melstone Judd Long Larry & Sang Hu Beerman, Power Jeff Thill Ted J & Lorraine Sokalowski, Kalispell Charles Monroe Harriman Trout Co., St. Ignatius Andrew Luedtke Kenn & Susan McCarty, St. Ignatius Andrew Luedtke Jason & Sindee Smith, Ronan Andrew Luedtke Dana Tryon, St. Ignatius Andrew Luedtke Dennis P Anderson, Missoula Andre Marcure Kristine & Douglas Maas, Belt MFU Office Melonie & Travis Donner, Fort Benton MFU Office Andra Anderson, Stockett MFU Office Alison Vergeront Pease & Michael Pease Jr., MFU Office Great Falls Genevieve & Chris Smyth, Great Falls MFU Office Jennifer & Lea Mitchell, Stanford MFU Office Sammy Farmer & Jeffrey Conger, MFU Office Bozeman Clay & Marie Dunlap, Lewistown MFU Office Kathleen Waller, Sidney MFU Office Mary Catherine Dunphy, Miles City Walter Schweitzer
MFU’s Statement on Biden’s Executive Order Page 4
Member Profile: Megan Hedges Page 5
ATV Safety 101 Page 6
MFU Staff Attend State to State Page 7
Arrowpeak Camp in Full-swing!
PO BOX 2447 300 RIVER DRIVE NORTH GREAT FALLS MT 59403 PHONE: (406) 452-6406 1-800-234-4071 FAX: (406) 727-8216 mfu@montanafarmersunion.com www.montanafarmersunion.com Board of Directors: Walter Schweitzer, President Rollie Schlepp, Vice President, Conrad Jan Tusick, Secretary/Treasuer, District 6, Ronan Erik Somerfeld, District 2, Power Jeff Bangs, At-Large Director District 1& 2, Inverness Eric Bergman, District 1, Fort Shaw Brett Dailey, District 4, Jordan William Downs, District 5, Molt Ben Peterson, At-Large director, Judith Gap Sig Rudie, Fairview, At-Large director Sarah Rachor, Sidney, District 3 State Office Staff:
Page 8 & 9
Senator Tester Proposes Legislation to Increase Meat Processing Capacity and Oversight in Industry Page 10
Washington Corner, National Farmers Union Page 11
MONTANA FARMERS UNION
Jan Johnson, Office Mgr., Assistant Secretary/ Treasurer Lyndsay Bruno, Communications Director/ Editor Justin Loch, Membership Director Rachel Prevost, Camp Advisor/Education Violet Green, Education Coordinator Audra Labert, Digital Marketing Specialist Matt Rains, Special Projects
Copyright © Montana Farmers Union, 2021. Montana Grassroots is the official publication of the Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union of America, Montana Division. MFU reserves the right to reject any advertisements. Third Class bulk postage paid at Great Falls MT 59401. Membership: $50.00 per year Montana Grassroots is published monthly. Article submissions are requested by the 15th of the month. Copy Editor: Jan Johnson Editor/Designer: Lyndsay Bruno
IN MEMORIAM DOUG BAKER, NASHUA JOSEPH ALLEN, ROBERTS
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manufacturers only allow their dealer technicians to make repairs. Farming and RIGHT TO REPAIR ranching are very stressful. Farmers have Montana Farmers Union, an advocate at the the highest suicide rate of any demographic. state and federal level for the right to repair, When you have a crop ready for harvest, your is praising President Biden for issuing an equipment is broke down, you have to wait executive order on the farmers’ right to repair for a dealer to fix it and you are not allowed to their equipment. MFU’s work on the right to fix it yourself, it is STRESSFUL! Having the repair included a virtual town hall this spring right to repair our equipment will save money, on the issue in partnership with national increase food security, and reduce stress. stakeholders and state legislators. In addition, MFU worked with Representative Kate ANTI-COMPETITIVE PRACTICES Sullivan and Senator Mark Sweeney to pass “For decades the multi-national packers have the right to repair legislation. Despite the best dominated the market and decreased our food efforts on the part of MFU, Representative security. The pandemic put a microscope on Sullivan and Senator Sweeney the right to this broken food system. We must enforce repair legislation failed to pass. However, anti-trust laws so those producers will get a support for the issue has gained momentum. fair price for their product, and consumers MFU continues its work on this critical issue will always have access to affordable and and is encouraged by the executive order. “We nutritious food.” appreciate the president’s executive order on right to repair which brings the issue to the TRUTH IN LABELING national stage for potential action by the FTC. When Congress repealed Country-of-Origin Labeling(COOL) for beef and pork in 2015 it Currently, there are only three major equipment allowed multinational packers to start labeling manufacturers that sell into Montana. These beef and pork imported from foreign countries companies have placed proprietary software with a Product of USA label – allowing on their equipment that prevents local heavy unfettered use of the USDA stamp which equipment mechanics from diagnosing and misleads consumers and prevents Montana repairing tractors and combines. These producers from getting a fair price for their EXECUTIVE ORDER CONTINED
MONTANA FARMERS UNION DEDICATES ARROWPEAK CAMP TRAIL TO MERRILL FAMILY In July at the MFU Members’ Picnic at Arrowpeak Camp in the Highwood Mountains, Montana Farmers Union recognized Alan Merrill and his family for their years of service to the organization by dedicating a new hiking trail in the family's honor. The new path expands the recreational opportunities at camp and gives campers another way to learn hands-on about nature.
product. Montana Farmers Union along with its national partner National Farmers Union is a longtime advocate of truth in labeling. In the 65 and 66th legislative session, MFU supported a joint resolution passed by the house and senate urging congress to recognize the importance and need for Country-ofOrigin labeling on beef and pork products. “MFU was pleased to support a resolution on truth in labeling that passed through the 2019 and 2021 Montana Legislative session. We continue to work at the federal level to see this issue through and appreciate the president’s efforts on this important issue.” ACCESS TO MARKETS/FOOD SYSTEM EXPANSION “Access to markets for producers is extremely important. We have lost some markets that took decades to establish. It will take years to get our markets back, and this executive order is a step in the right direction. MFU supports a policy that will help address the issue of food security, the need for infrastructure to expand local and regional food systems in particular, and support for local farmers' markets which play a pivotal role in getting nutritious and locally grown food out into our communities.”
Merrill. "My family has enjoyed being part of the Farmers Union family for many years. "We are so happy to see the addition of a new hiking trail at Arrowpeak Camp and the opportunities it affords youth to enjoy the outdoors and learn about agriculture."
Alan Merrill was president of Montana Farmers Union for 13 years and served as Chairman of the National Education Committee. The Merrill family's involvement in Farmers Union dates back generations. Alan's great grandfather started the Hopp Local in Big Sandy. His great grandmother and mother were teachers in MFU education for many years. "Montana Farmers Union appreciates everything the Merrill family has done for the organization, said Walter Schweitzer, President. "Alan worked hard to make sure youth education was a top priority for MFU. Thanks to the Merrills, MFU's youth camps are flourishing and will be for generations to come." "I want to thank Montana Farmers Union for this honor,” said Alan
Alan, Ruth and Lorrie Merrill at the trail head at Arrowpeak Camp.
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The July member profile is Farmers Union Insurance agent and owner of Northern Plains Insurance Megan Hedges. Hedges was born and raised on the family farm near Chester. Currently, She lives in her hometown with her husband and three children.
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MEMBER profile MEGAN HEDGES
Q. Can you tell us about your background? I went to Oregon State University and majored in geography and computer-assisted cartography. Most of my clients have some pretty cool maps that I make for them. I interviewed with the National Ag Statistics. They asked me what the one technological advance in agriculture that farmers couldn't live without was. I said GPS. I enjoy using my degree to help farmers with this technology. My parents and grandparents learned how to drive the tractors and combine so straight, and I could never do it. It's a skill that I never understood, so GPS is a requirement in my world when operating equipment. Q. How did you get into the insurance business? I have three little kids. They are seven, six, and two. Farming was not fitting into that family schedule well, especially since my husband's busy time is at summer too in construction. About four years ago, I got my insurance license. Gary Seubert owned the agency in Chester before retiring. Farmers Union was looking for somebody with an ag background to take over his position. It fits into my experience and passion for agriculture and helping producers be more educated and mitigate their risk. The majority of my agency is crop insurance. Q. What do you like best about being an insurance agent? I've always had a passion for ag advocacy and education. As an agent, I can blend my skills from being on the farmer's side of the desk to being on the agent's side now. I can help farmers mitigate risk and be profitable in bad years with the help of multi-peril insurance. Q. What Crops do you insure? Well, just about every crop grown in Liberty County is insurable. This includes wheat, peas, lentils, flax, mustard, to name a few. We’ve had an increase in pulse crops over the last
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Megan Hedges with Brody (6) Stella(2) and Eliza(7) on the family farm near Chester. Photo courtesy of Megan Hedges.
several years. There have been more locations for delivery and opportunity for producers to grow those. Plus they have a great rotation for farmers to change up the varieties of crops being grown on their land that provides some beneficial nutrients to the soils. I have a couple of clients growing hemp, but that isn’t utilizing the crop insurance program at the moment. It’s just maybe not the best thing for your buck at the moment. Hemp is tricky because there are so many commodities that can come out of that one crop that it’s hard to pinpoint what it is that you’ll use it for and how to insure it.
gonna be quite possibly a pretty high likelihood of a good chunk of people using crop insurance. It just depends on the year and depends on your level of coverage and where the rain hit that year. Or maybe there was a hail storm. For our area in Liberty County specifically where I have a lot of my business this year looks like one that’s gonna get used.
Q. As an active member of your community, are there any specific rural issues you are concerned about? Rural Montana is a changing dynamic. This is due largely to COVID, the influx of people, Q. What factors influence crop insurance and a change in the socioeconomic status of coverage? many rural communities in Montana. So with Every producer picks their level based on their that comes a lot of challenges. I’ve always needs. So everyone is different. I help them been in Chester except for college, but it go through their budget to determine what has changed. When I was growing up I knew they need at the end of the year to make ends every single person in town that you saw meet. And that’s usually where we put their walking across the street, and a majority of crop insurance levels to make sure they’re the families were farm families. happy at the end of the year and the banks C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 6 happy at the end of the year. Just looking at the drought map this year I think it’s 5
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M E M B E R P RO F I L E C O N T I N U E D
Now it's just not that way. I mean obviously, farms are getting bigger so there are fewer people on that front. CRP has diminished a lot. We also experienced that back in the '80s. In Liberty County, a lot of farms went into CRP so those families moved away.
that we grew up experiencing so that others can experience those as well, especially my kids.
Q. Why do you think it is important to belong to a farm organization? I've always been very passionate about it, and it's because I grew up in a family with parents who were involved in every ag organiI’m concerned about the lack of zation there was, I remember paychildcare opportunities and farms ing bills and asking why we bestruggling to find employees and long to stock growers. We don't skilled workers. It’s not the same even own a cow. community that I grew up in. My dad always instilled in us that I'm involved in a lot of small or- you need to belong to an organiganizations in the community and zation that supports your induswe're trying hard to bring back a try. And all of these ag organizalot of the fun activities and events tions support agriculture and its
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viability and sustainability in the world. There are always ag organizations that you maybe don't agree with on specific issues, but at the end of the day, we're all working toward the same goal to promote agriculture and maintain its viability. I wish there was more involvement from members and more buy-in from producers themselves because, with one voice you're not very loud, but if we all combine forces and unify great things can happen.
and I loved it. Agents get a little kickback if they sign up members with a new policy. I always donate mine back to the Farmers Union youth programs because I think it's really important to support youth programming. I also helped with Chester day camp organized by Charlotte Kelly. It was really fun. My kids loved the camp! I'm excited to see the Chester Day Camp is still running.
Q. In what ways are you involved with MFU? I appreciate the hard work Farmers Union does. I remember going to the Farmers Union Camp up in Highwood when I was a kid,
lands in good standing. Stay on trails, don't go off-trail. • Never use alcohol or drugs when riding an ATV. • Always obey the rules. This helps save lives and So how do we increase safety and prevent accidents, but most lower the number of accidents importantly allows you to and deaths related to ATV use? use an ATV safely. operator is a significant cause of accidents. ATVS are dangerous due to their design and instability when not operated correctly. ATV rollovers happen quickly.
Here are some rules to follow: • Always wear your helmet and protective gear that covers your body from head to toe. • Only one person rides an ATV at a time. • Ride the right size ATV. Arrowpeak campers learn about ATV safety on MFU’s ATV simulator Often, children will ride an ATV that is way too big to handle and maintain control ATV SAFETY FOR ALL work. I want to focus this article on ATV safety. • Never ride on main traffic AGES roads. ATVs are harder for According to the Consumer motor vehicles to see on BY JUSTIN LOCH Product Safety Commission, over public roadways. M E M B E R S H I P D I R E C TO R 135,000 people are injured every • Take an ATV safety course. As summer ramps up and year in an ATV accident. ATV • Tell someone where you are going. gets going, that means the accidents result in nearly 700 increased use of ATVs for either deaths each year. Proper training • Respect all trails and of ATV usage could prevent ATV property. Keep relationships agricultural, recreation, or other accidents. Negligence of the ATV with landowners and public
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If you are interested in learning more about ATV safety, and would like to have MFU’s ATV simulator come to your community please reach out to schedule a visit. Additionally, National Farmers Union produced an ATV safety video on Youtube. I wish you a safe and happy summer!
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Hmong American Farmers Association Tour. Farmers of Southfeast Asia own 5-10 acre farms and work together to grow a variety of agricultural products from vegetables, flowers and root crops like ginseng.
Lyndsay Bruno, Justin Loch, Rachel Prevost,Walter Schweitzer and Matt Rains attend State to State
MFU STAFF ATTEND STATE TO STATE IN MINNESOTA BY RACHEL PREVOST
In June staff from the MFU Office staff Matt Rains, Justin Loch, Walter Schweitzer, Lyndsay Bruno and Rachel Prevost, had the opportunity to travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota for the National Farmers Union State to State Forum. State to State was hosted by Minnesota Farmers Union. The forum provided the opportunity to share ideas and updates with other states’ Farmers Union Staff and connect with NFU staff as well. We each had the chance to meet with other Farmers Union Staff working in the same positions to checkin, share ideas and projects, and get to know new staff members. Each day consisted of different workshops and farm tours. Montana Farmers Union Board Member Jan Tusick gave a Zoom presentation in one of the workshops on Cooperative Organizing by speaking on local food systems using a cooperative model. Another of the many great workshops offered focused on Advocacy development. Presented by Alana Peterson from Canary Consulting, she discussed working on and developing advocacy programs through
example of launching a statewide grassroots campaign on market reform in light of the disparities in cattle and beef prices. There were two farm tours included in the Forum, the first was a tour to the Hmong American Farmers Association Farm where we had the chance to walk through different parts of the 155 acre farm, as our guides discussed soil health, food safety, and food production. A wide variety of produce and flowers are grown and offered by the farmers. We had the chance to try cucumbers and see the high different crops grown at the farm. The HAFA farm also works on research to help farmers grow different crops and produce without having to take current crops out of production for more specialty crops that are less common in the area. The second farm tour was to the Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm where we had the chance to learn more about the gardens that grow the toppings and more for the pizza, see and experience agritourism, and the chance to taste a variety of the made on the farm wood fired pizza and enjoy some live music.
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Rachel Prevost and the Montana team win a round of cornhole over NFU staff!
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JUNE WRAPS UP JUNIOR CAMP
B Y A U D R A L A B E RT D I G I TA L M A R K E T I N G S P E C I A L I S T
“A lot of kids wouldn’t have the opportunity to get up close and personal with a calf and be able to touch them.”
MFU Junior Camp 1
with Violet Green. Having been a camper and counselor herself, Violet has pretty much seen it all, and her experience at Arrowpeak goes a long way to make sure things go as smoothly as possible. “There’s always something,” she laughs during a moment sitting down at lunch. Between all the activities, counselors When asked the best part of the camp, Phillip has attended camp since he was draw from a seemingly endless repertoire of answers from MFU campers at Arrowpeak seven years old. Phillip did a presentation songs and games to keep kids busy during range from dancing and games to just having on animal husbandry and livestock nutrition. transition times, from push-up contests to fun with friends. Having just caught up with Phillip plans to keep the calves at Arrowpeak Zombie Grace: “Thank you, God… for them coming back from a hike on The Merrill for each summer camp this year, moving a the food we meet, and the friends we eat.” Trail, honoring Alan Merrill the former MFU portable corral along the camp edges to keep The Montana Farmers Union community is President, campers were as energetic as ever the calves fed and on fresh grass. indebted to these young leaders who choose to on the last full day at camp. carry on the Farmers Union camp legacy and Although each camp always presents its all the other people who make the gathering Days at camp are busy with activities, games, logistical challenges, whether it’s finding last- of 50 kids at the end of a gravel road in the and educational lessons. Campers this year minute replacements for the staff or tending to mountains into an unforgettable experience. were also able to spend time learning about the minor injuries of campers. Rachel Prevost two special guests: Bucket calves brought by is the camp advisor and works hand-in-hand The first Junior Camp, June 20-24, was for kids ages 8-12. For some, it’s the first time at camp, while others already feel at home, having spent previous summers at the Highwood Mountain facility.
Campers take dance lessons in the rec hall.
the Prewett Family. The young calves were left orphaned this spring, and Junior Dean Phillip Prewett saw it as an opportunity. “A lot of kids wouldn’t have the opportunity to get up close and personal with a calf and be able to touch them.”
Campers sign tee shirts provided by Farmers Union insurance as keep sakes. A big thank you to Farmers Union Insurance for sponsoring camp! 8
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Top left: Junior campers on a hike Bottom left: Counselor Phillip Prewett, Camp Advisor Rachel Prevost and Junior Dean Jack Anderson Top right corner: Phillip educates campers on raising steers. Campers do artwork in the rec hall. Campers receive instruction during a lesson in the rec hall.
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A MESSAGE FROM SENATOR JON TESTER: USDA ANNOUNCES $600 MILLION J TO INCREASE MEAT PROCESSING FOLLOWING TESTER PUSH Jon Tester celebrated the USDA announcement that it would invest $500 million in meat :and poultry capacity building with the goals of increasing choice and negotiation options for producers as well as $100 million in relief through a fee waiver for inspection and overtime fees for small and medium processors.
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aggressive enforcement against the big packers, but I won’t be satisfied unless these actions have real teeth to them.” In addition to the USDA announcement, the White House announced an Executive Order establishing a whole-ofgovernment effort to promote competition and reduce consolidation, including in agriculture markets.
Tester, a champion of aggressively enforcing the Packers and Stockyards Act to cut down This funding is provided through on consolidation in the meat the American Rescue Plan.”This processing industry, recently announcement is welcome news for secured Secretary Vilsack’s family ranchers across Montana,” support for his bipartisan Meat said Tester. “Increasing capacity Packing Special Investigator Act, means more competition in the which would create the "Office (Big Sandy, Mont.) – Following marketplace, which is essential of the Special Investigator for his direct appeal to Agriculture to ensuring folks in production Competition Matters" within the Secretary Tom Vilsack last month ag can make a living and that U.S. Department of Agriculture's urging the U.S. Department we keep meat prices affordable (USDA) Packers and Stockyards of Agriculture (USDA) to for families at the grocery store. Division. make investments in new meat I’m also glad the Administration processing facilities, U.S. Senator is taking steps toward more
A MESSAGE FROM SENATOR STEVE DAINES Too many Montana farmers and ranchers are being forced to sell off their cattle and other livestock because there is not enough grass for grazing. This is not acceptable, especially when we have reserved land that can be used in times like these. I’m calling on Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to allow emergency grazing in the Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge.Moving the cattle to retired grazing allotments within the CMR would help mitigate hardships felt by Montana ranchers due to the drought. Over 90% of Montana is facing devastating drought conditions that is threating the livelihoods of Montana farmers and ranchers. That’s why I have been pushing for emergency relief for Montana farmers and ranchers.
as primary disaster areas, Montana farmers and ranchers across the state could access the critical USDA resources and programs to manage these challenging conditions. This could include financial and technical assistance to repair farmland damage or recover from crop and livestock losses.
It is also essential that emergency haying and grazing and additional flexibilities are authorized on Conservation Reserve Program land to provide more forage for livestock. Producers need to have I am also pressing USDA Secretary sufficient time and flexibility to Tom Vilsack to approve Governor hay and bale viable CRP land in Gianforte’s request to designate response to this drought. all counties in Montana as primary natural disaster areas. So far, As your voice in the United States only 31 counties have received a Senate, I will continue fighting on form of disaster designation. By behalf of Montana farmers and designating all Montana counties ranchers. 10
Under Senator Tester’s proposed legislation, the new USDA special investigator will have a team of investigators, with subpoena power, dedicated to preventing and addressing anticompetitive practices in the meat and poultry industries and enforcing our nation's antitrust laws. They will coordinate and act in consultation with the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission and create a new bridge between the USDA and the Department of Homeland Security to protect the continuation of the food supply and increase our national security. With a team of dedicated staff, the USDA will have the ability to deeply investigate issues facing producers, safeguard producers by enforcing the Packers and Stockyards Act, and protect America's food supply chain and national security.
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B Y RO B L A R E W PRESIDENT
Over the last year or two, the meat sector has had no shortage of problems. COVID-19 outbreaks, natural disasters, and cyberattacks have forced plants to shut down, backing up the entire meat supply chain and creating huge headaches for ranchers and consumers. On top of that, corporations in essentially every major meat category have been embroiled in antitrust lawsuits for overcharging consumers or underpaying ranchers. Throughout it all, National Farmers Union has been fighting for stronger antitrust enforcement, better protections for farmers, and more resilient food processing infrastructure – and it seems that the administration and Congress is hearing our concerns. In this month’s Washington Corner, learn more about legislative efforts to restore competition, transparency, and fairness to livestock markets. USDA TO INTRODUCE STRONGER PROTECTIONS FROM CORPORATE ABUSE Following multiple allegations and indictments of price fixing and other anticompetitive practices in the livestock sector, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) indicated its intention to propose a series of rules that would offer family farmers and
contract poultry growers greater agency and recourse in their relationships with corporations. The rules would amend regulations related to the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 which are meant “to assure fair competition and fair trade practices. . . and to protect members of the livestock, meat, and poultry industries from unfair, deceptive, unjustly discriminatory and monopolistic practices,” but lack the teeth to achieve those objectives. For instance, corporations are prohibited from giving "undue or unreasonable preferences and advantages" to one farmer over another, but what that means is not clearly defined. Additionally, according to legal interpretations of the act, growers must prove that harm was done to the entire industry in order to sue for abusive practices. The rules would seek to rectify both issues by clarifying the meaning of “undue or unreasonable preferences and advantages” and by eliminating the requirement of competitive injury to allege a violation of the Packers and Stockyards Act. The third rule would restructure the “tournament system” of payment, which pits contract growers against one another and results in some being paid poverty wages.
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USDA AIMS TO STRENGTHEN FOOD SYSTEM In the wake of multiple food supply chain disruptions, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to spend more than $4 billion to build resilience to future crises. The new initiative targets each step in the food system, including production, processing, aggregation and distribution, and markets/consumers. Among other goals, the agency says that the investment will "strengthen the food system, create new market opportunities, tackle the climate crisis, help communities that have been left behind, and support good-paying jobs throughout the supply chain." NFU President Rob Larew told reporters that he is "encouraged" by the USDA's efforts to prevent shocks to the food supply chain. CATTLE GROUPS TEAM UP TO ADDRESS ISSUES IN MARKETPLACE After convening in Phoenix, Arizona, a diverse coalition of groups representing cattle producers announced their commitment to working together to achieve “a fair and transparent cattle marketing system.” During the meeting, the organizations – National Farmers Union, American Farm Bureau Federation, R-CALF USA, the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association, and the Livestock Marketing Association – discussed a wide variety of issues, including packer concentration, price transparency and discovery and packer oversight. 11
March 2021
$4 BILLION INVESTMENT WILL BOLSTER NUTRITION SAFETY NET As part of its ongoing efforts to address food insecurity, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it will invest $1 billion in the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). $900 million of that funding will be dedicated to purchasing food for food banks, $400 million of which will come from local, regional and socially disadvantaged producers. The final $100 million will be used to strengthen food chain infrastructure to help food banks expand their reach into rural, remote, and low-income areas. NFU’s President Rob Larew welcomed the announcement."By strengthening the nutrition safety net, the Biden administration’s initiative will help mitigate our hunger crisis," said Larew, "while also offering farmers more options for distributing the food they grow. Both of these results will take us a few steps further on the path to pandemic recovery and to a food system that serves farmers and eaters alike."
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