The Farm System Reform Act of 2019 Seeks to Level the Farming & Rancher Playing Field
Earlier this year, U.S. Senator Booker (D-NJ) unveiled The Farm System Reform Act of 2019 also known as S.3221. This proposed bill seeks to revitalize independent family farm agriculture and ensure a level playing field for all farmers and ranchers.
The Farm System Reform Act of 2019 would, among other things, strengthen the Packers & Stockyards Act to crack down on the monopolistic practices of multinational meatpackers and corporate integrators, place a moratorium on large industrial animal operations, sometimes referred to as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), and restore mandatory country-of-origin labeling requirements.
According to the Senator’s release, below are a few issues that this bill seeks to address:
Place an immediate moratorium on new and expanding large CAFOs, and phase out by 2040 the largest CAFOs as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency
Hold corporate integrators responsible for pollution and other harm caused by CAFOs
Provide a voluntary buyout for farmers who want to transition out of operating a CAFO
Strengthen the Packers and Stockyards Act to protect family farmers and ranchers, including:
Prohibit the use of unfair tournament or ranking systems for paying contract growers
Protect livestock and poultry farmers from retaliation
Create market transparency and protect farmers and ranchers from predatory purchasing practices
Restore mandatory country-of-origin labeling requirements for beef and pork and expand to dairy products
Prohibit the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) from labeling foreign imported meat products as “Product of USA”
At Lanton Law our food law practice helps farmers, ranchers and similarly situated stakeholders attain their strategic priorities. Contact us to learn about how either our legal or lobbying services can help you attain your goals.