Last Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced three actions on rulemaking to strengthen enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act to reflect today’s market dynamics. Collectively, these regulatory updates should result in more competitive, healthy markets for consumers, farmers, ranchers, producers, and our overall agricultural system.
In a policy brief released earlier this year, the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) called on the Biden administration to focus on stricter antitrust enforcement in the food industry to help consumers facing increasing prices for basic nutrition staples, such as meat and eggs.
Veronica Goodman, Director of Social Policy at PPI, praised the U.S.D.A. announcement:
“Market concentration in the agricultural industry has resulted in harm to farmers, ranchers, and consumers. The recent U.S.D.A. announcement will ensure our national food system is more equitable and competitive in today’s economy. We applaud the administration for working to strengthen competition in agricultural markets.”
The Progressive Policy Institute is a catalyst for policy innovation and political reform based in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to create radically pragmatic ideas for moving America beyond ideological and partisan deadlock. Learn more about PPI by visiting progressivepolicy.org.
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Media Contact: Aaron White – awhite@ppionline.org
