Background: Please read the Missouri Rural Crisis Center's invitation letter below and join us for the "Meat of the Matter - Reining in Corporate Ag" webinar on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 6 p.m.
The Missouri Rural Crisis Center (MRCC) and its allies at Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC) submitted over 2,000 signatures to President Biden sending a strong message that independent family farmers, consumers and rural citizens are united in demanding strong antitrust enforcement and rules for enforcing the Packers and Stockyards Act to address the unfair and anticompetitive treatment of livestock farmers and ranchers by multinational meatpackers.
Past administrations have promised to address these issues, but have failed to follow through on the critical policies producers need to compete in the marketplace and that consumers need to have a safe and affordable food supply. Now is the time for action.
Something has to be done, and it has to be bold and transformative. Since 1982, the U.S. has lost 80 percent of our hog farmers and 35 percent of our cattle producers. We are losing, on average, 17,000 cattle producers each year and the average age of U.S. farmers is nearing 60. And, consumer prices are skyrocketing.
"We are at a moment in time where we have to decide who we want growing our food and owning our land for future generations. Without a significant policy change, the trend of increasing control by multinational corporations, foreign companies, and Wall Street will continue, to the detriment of independent farmers (who are working on the land and conserving our natural resources) consumers, workers, our food system, and our future ability to build wealth in our communities." noted MRCC organizers.
To help keep up the momentum, MRCC is hosting a Feb. 28 webinar at 6 p.m. to learn more about the history of the policies that got us where we are, and the policies that will get us out, including next steps to hold the Biden Administration accountable to his pledge. A panel of experts will include Bill Bullard with R-CALF USA, Patty Lovera with Campaign for Family Farms & the Environment, and Tim Gibbons with MRCC.
Register for this online event at www.morural.org, calling (573) 449-1336 or emailing jamie@morural.org.
Categories: Missouri, Livestock