Public Forum on Livestock Markets
Public forum with the US Dept of Ag and Dept of Justice on fairness in livestock markets in Ft Collins, Colorado August 25-27.
| What |
|
|---|---|
| When |
Aug 25, 2010 08:00 AM
to Aug 27, 2010 06:00 PM |
| Where | CSU Campus, Ft Collins, CO |
| Contact Name | Nella Parks |
| Contact Phone | 541-975-2411 |
| Add event to calendar |
vCal
iCal
|
Public Forum on Livestock Markets
August 25-27 ~ Ft Collins, CO
Decades after the Packers and Stockyards and Packers Act of 1921, the question still remains: Is the current livestock market fair to family farmers and ranchers?
“A small handful of corporations dominate the nation’s food supply. The market control of the top four firms in food retailing, red meat, grain, poultry and milk processing is at a historic high.
Four meat packers now slaughter 8 out of every 10 of the fat cattle in the U.S. This unprecedented level of market consolidation effectively eliminates free market competition to the detriment of independent family farmers and consumers.
The public policies shaping the U.S. farm and food system are failing the family farmers and ranchers who produce our food. Farmers and ranchers have lost income and independence. Too many have lost their farms and ranches to a system favoring multi-national corporations.
-Excerpt from the WORC website
Ensuring fairness and competition in agriculture and fighting anti-competitive practices in the livestock markets is a key component of many of the issues important to ORA members including locally-raised meat, family farms and ranches, and the rural nature of our region.
On August 27th there will be a Public Forum on Livestock Markets in Ft Collins, CO. This public forum looks at how corporate consolidation has led to an imbalance of power in the food system, with unfair practices putting farmers and ranchers, workers, and consumers at a disadvantage, and why government action, like the proposed GIPSA rule, is overdue. Dept of Justice Secretary Eric Holder and Dept of Ag Secretary Vilsack will be attending the workshop to hear from the public.
ORA organizer, Nella Parks, will be attending along with folks from the WORC network, R-CALF USA, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Food & Water Watch network and most importantly, thousands of producers. If you’re interested in being a part of this historic event, contact Nella at 541-975-2411 ASAP. Otherwise, catch up on what happened at the Blue Mt Chapter meeting Sept 2 at 6PM at the ORA office in La Grande or check back here at our website for updates in early September.
