The Organization for Competitive Markets has released a 25 page study that shows regulatory agencies aren’t protecting farmers and ranchers like they should. The report also shows a revolving door between major agribusiness firms and the regulatory agencies that are supposed to police them. OCM Interim Executive Director Ben Gotschall says the report is divided into three section and the first shows a former government employee working with South American firm JBS.
He says their report has three specific cases of farmers who were injured by lack of regulatory protections with the most noted one being a dairy producer.
Gotschall says the final section outlines what fixes need to be made to improve regulatory protections for producers from antitrust activities.
Gotschall says what’s caused a great deal of harm to producers is lack of enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act and that problem rests with the U.S. Agriculture Secretary.
Gotschall says their report also recommends implementing restrictions on the revolving door transitions of government officials back and forth from lobbying and industry leadership positions. They’re also calling for increased Congressional oversight of agriculture antitrust enforcement.
