The Family Farm Coalition is backing the Farm System Reform Act being introduced this week by Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey. National Policy Director Jake Davis says the measure pushes back against the consolidation of American agriculture. The bill reinstates Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling on meat and strengthens the Packers and Stockyards Act.
He says the bill calls for a voluntary buyout program for contract farmers who want to transition out of large farming operations.
Davis says the measure would prohibit meat packers from owning livestock more than seven days prior to slaughter or buying fed cattle using unfair forward contracts. It also requires packers to acquire at least 50 percent of their livestock through spot market sales.
Davis says the Farm System Reform Act places an immediate moratorium on the construction of new or expansion of CAFOs and initiates a phase out of existing CAFOs by 2040.
