Improved Spirit of Cooperation
Department of Justice, USDA vow to protect farmers' interests.
John Otte
Published: Mar 12, 2010
USDA's secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. attorney general Eric Holder led the impressive lineup of politicians, ag industry representatives and farmers who participated in the joint USDA/U.S. Department of Justice workshop exploring competition issues in agriculture. The event was held at the Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, Iowa. Four more workshops will be held around the nation this year.
"This is truly a milestone event," attorney general Holder says. "The Sherman anti-trust act has been in effect for more than a century. The Packers and Stockyards Act was passed more than 90 years ago. Not once have the nation's departments, farmers, ranchers, processors and consumers joined together to express their views on regulations and concentration. That will happen today in this room."
Anti-trust efforts remain alive. "These workshops are an opportunity for all of us," adds Holder. "They will provide each of us a better understanding of how pieces fit into the total U.S. economy.
"We recognize that one threat to the U.S. economy is erosion in competition within the U.S. economy," he states. "Christine Varney, my assistant attorney general for anti-trust issues is as tough, as knowledgeable and as aggressive as they come.
"Our top priority must remain national security," he stresses. "But we cannot and will not neglect to strengthen and improve the U.S. economy. If we do, we risk security of U.S. people in another way.
"We have learned the hard way that recession and long periods of deregulation can foster actions that are anti-competitive," he says. "The administration is committed to anti-competitive efforts and we're committed to tapping agricultural knowledge within USDA to implement those efforts.
Focus on fairness. Ag Secretary Vilsack points out that tremendous improvements in agricultural efficiency have led to consolidation and to lower food costs for consumers.
"More needs to be done on concentration," he says. Are consumers and farmers getting a fair shake? Is there enough transparency in the market places for inputs and products?
"The purpose of these workshops is to explore whether the system is fair," he says. "Many farmers have expressed concerns to me that the system is not fair. These workshops are long over due."
Purpose in a nutshell. Chelsea, Iowa, farmer Gary Lamb succinctly nailed the overwhelming tone of the opening session.
"Today's meeting is predominantly political theater," he says. "However, this is the first time the U.S. Department and Justice and USDA have come to the heartland to discuss this topic. And that is a very good thing."
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