Organization for Competitive Markets members are concerned with the recent reorganization step taken at the USDA. Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue plans to eliminate GIPSA, the Grain Inspection Packers and Stockyards Administration and move its duties to the Ag Marketing Service. OCM Executive Director Joe Maxwell urges the Secretary to reconsider his action that will take away antitrust enforcement protections for ag producers.
He’s concerned the Ag Marketing Service won’t adequately enforce market safeguards that would protect farmers against abusive corporate practices.
Maxwell says OCM’s options include going to Congress or the President to correct the situation and possibly even seeking court action if necessary.
Maxwell says it was President Lincoln who said that GIPSA is the people’s department but his group calls the Ag Department USDA INC and says it’s controlled by the largest corporations in the world.
