"This may be the most important meeting for livestock producers in a hundred years," said RMFU President Kent Peppler, a Mead, Colo., farmer and former rancher. "Rocky Mountain Farmers Union has been fighting to see that ranchers get a fair shake in the marketplace for nearly a century, and the USDA/DoJ hearings are our opportunity to get the federal government to enforce laws that do just that."
The USDA and the Department of Justice will hold a historic first joint hearing on Friday, Aug. 27, in Fort Collins to examine livestock marketing. Panels and public commentary will focus on how the consolidation of marketing power in the hands of a half dozen international companies has created a gap between farm and retail costs and now threatens the survival of independent, family-based cattle producers.
"The meat industry is lobbying its heart out to stop the momentum of legislation that will break its stranglehold on American meat producers," Peppler said. "It's time to speak up for a ranchers' bill of rights, including the right to fair competitive markets. Friday is our farm community's chance to put the facts in front of the government, counter industrial propaganda, and ensure the future of farming and ranching. It's the consumers' chance to learn first-hand about the gap between what they pay for meat and what ranchers get for their hard work."
According to statistics gathered for August by the USDA, the American pork producer is paid about 70 cents for pork costing the consumer $4/pound, and cattle ranchers are paid less than a dollar for beef the consumer pays $7 for. The gap between farm gate price and retail price has been growing steadily for the last 20 years.
The public is welcome to attend the USDA/DoJ event Friday, Aug. 27, at the Lory Student Center in Fort Collins, but pre-registration is recommended by sending an e-mail to agriculturalworkshops@usdoj.
