Nebraska Farmers Union members are opposing a measure introduced in the Unicameral to allow pork processors to be able to directly own livestock. Current Nebraska law prohibits processors or corporations to directly own cattle or pork. Farmers Union President John Hansen says letting meat packers directly own livestock damages the market and destroys transparency while hurting prices for producers.
Hansen says if LB 176 is approved it will mean even more livestock concentration as Smithfield which is owned by a Chinese Company run by the government will have an even larger chokehold on the market. He says presently Smithfield and the other three processors control 64 percent of the pork market in the US..
Tuesday, the Nebraska Legislature’s Ag Committee took testimony on LB 176 introduced by Senator Ken Schilz as well as his other measure, LB 175 which provides more funding to enhance expansion in livestock friendly counties. Farmers Union opposes that measure as well.