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Farmers Union optimistic about proposed Packers and Stockyards rule

Farmers Union members are optimistic about the proposed new USDA Packers and Stockyards rules.

Lauren Langworthy with Wisconsin Farmers Union tells Brownfield their members are concerned about consolidation in agriculture, especially in the meat packing sector where four companies control much of the business.  Langworthy says USDA’s new rule defines unfair practices. “And we think that’s really important because it’s hard for anyone to really enforce the components of what unfair practices are if we don’t have a good definition of what that means.”

Langworthy says having that clear definition is needed to reign in the big four meat packers. “Once we’re able to clarify those unfair practices, we’ll be able to hold some of the corporations accountable when they actually do harm to our small and mid-scale family farms.”

Langworthy hopes USDA can also define unfair practices beyond the livestock and poultry sectors. “And we can start to broaden the fairness across our agricultural sector.”

Langworthy spoke to Brownfield during Wisconsin’s Farm Technology Days.

Audio: Lauren Langworthy discusses proposed USDA rule with Brownfield’s Larry Lee