Hinds Today

U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith has joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in introducing the Meat Packing Special Investigator Act, aimed at addressing issues within the meatpacking industry. The act seeks to empower the USDA to tackle anticompetitive practices by creating the "Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters" within its Packers and Stockyards Division. This office would have the authority to enforce federal antitrust laws in the meat and poultry sectors.

"The struggle to get by only gets worse for cattle producers year after year, and a lot of that is tied to consolidation in the meatpacking industry. It is certainly not the producers making a profit from the high prices consumers are paying, which indicates something has gone wrong," remarked Senator Hyde-Smith.

The legislation aims to give USDA special investigators subpoena powers, enabling them to collaborate with both the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to scrutinize anticompetitive activities and hold offending parties responsible.

Since 1980, the control of the beef market by just four companies has surged from 36 percent to 85 percent, while their control of the pork market has risen from 34 percent to 67 percent. This concentration has allowed these companies to potentially exploit ranchers and consumers alike.

Sponsored by Senator Ron Wyden, the bill is also supported by senators Peter Welch, Mike Rounds, Chuck Grassley, Adam Schiff, Martin Heinrich, Richard Blumenthal, and John Hoeven.

The bill has garnered endorsements from the National Farmers Union and the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association. "If the bad actors in the marketplace have nothing to hide, then they should have no problem with reinforcing USDA’s oversight authority through the measures provided in this bill," stated Justin Tupper, president of the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association.

Rob Larew, president of the National Farmers Union, added, "A special investigator at USDA is an important step to cracking down on unfair practices and leveling the playing field for independent livestock producers."