Ranchers Highlighted in WH Speech
As his administration marked its first year, President Biden held a press conference this week with a mention of the plight of ranchers and farmers.
Biden admitted, “It’s been a year of challenges. But it’s also been a year of enormous progress.”
Among the progress Biden noted was the USDA’s renewed efforts to level the playing field for American farmers and ranchers. He said in too many industries a handful of companies dominate the entire market. Biden says it’s been happening for decades.
Biden;”...but over time it has decreased competition, squeezed out small businesses and farmers and ranchers and increased the costs for consumers.
In July, Biden signed an Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy it said was designed to create a fairer, more resilient, and more dynamic economy.
The Biden administration plans to enforce new, stronger rules under the Packers and Stockyards Act—the law designed to combat abuses by the meatpackers and processors.
It plans to issue new “Product of USA” labeling rules so that consumers can better understand where their meat comes from.
Additionally, the Department of Justice and USDA announced a joint initiative to better coordinate their efforts—including a new portal for reporting concerns about potential violations of the competition laws.
