Mean what you say

By John Crabtree, Center for Rural Affairs
Friday, April 13, 2007 4:36 PM CDT

In a world where packers own all the hogs and cattle, what need is there for farmers and ranchers? That question haunts me in this farm bill debate.

Meatpackers claim that vertical integration increases efficiency. That is a lie. Family farms and ranches have demonstrated, time and again, that they can match or beat the cost of production in the packers’ industrial facilities.

Packers use vertical integration and captive supplies to manipulate livestock markets, depressing prices across the board by killing their own when prices are high and turning to independent producers as residual suppliers when prices are low to the detriment of farmers, ranchers and rural communities.

Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) have said they will fight for family farmers and ranchers and have proved as good as their word by offering legislation to increase competitiveness in livestock markets and ban packers from owning livestock.

Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho) and Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) should declare their support for competitive livestock markets publicly, while the writing of the farm bill begins, by joining the Iowans and other senators who have stood up and sponsored these bills.

My father always told me, “Say what you mean, and mean what you say.” If senators and representatives want to say they stand with family farmers and ranchers then they should support a federal ban on packer ownership of livestock and a comprehensive competition title in the farm bill — in other words, they should mean what they say.

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