The Organization for Competitive Markets expressed its appreciation to Senator Tom Harkin (IA) and Representative Leonard Boswell (IA) for holding ag competition hearings this week.  The clear message sent by witnesses was that a Competition Title in the Farm Bill is necessary to preserve and continue independent entrepreneurship in production agriculture.

“Producers of cattle, hogs, poultry and sheep all testified as to the competitive problems in agriculture that can and should be solved in the upcoming Farm Bill,” said Keith Mudd, OCM president.  “Senators and Representatives received a clear message that producers want a packer ownership prohibition, captive supply reform, fair ag contracting rules, and strong amendments to the Packers & Stockyards Act.”

Boswell, as chairman of the House Livestock Subcommittee, held a hearing on April 17, 2007.  Harkin, as chairman of the full Senate Agriculture Committee, held a hearing on April 18, 2007. 

Scott Hamilton, an Alabama poultry producer, told the Senate Ag Committee of the retaliation faced by poultry producers by poultry processors, the unreasonable expenses and unfairness of mandatory arbitration clauses, and the systemic unfairness in the poultry industry.  Tim Schmidt, an Iowa hog producer, spoke of independent farmers’ inability to sell hogs to packers anymore because of captive supplies and packer owned livestock.  Eric Nelson, an Iowa cattle producer representing R-CALF, also testified about market manipulation in the cattle market.