USDA/DOJ to Hold Second Hearing on Competition in Agriculture Industry, Focus on Poultry

MEDIA ALERT

WHAT: The USDA and the Department of Justice will hold the second in a series of historic workshops on corporate concentration and lack of competition in agriculture. The workshop will focus on the poultry industry. Join the Campaign for Contract Agriculture Reform the day before the workshop for a press conference with contract poultry growers and learn how large poultry companies like Tyson, Perdue and Pilgrims Pride control the industry and employ unfair practices against growers, making government attention so urgent.

Did you know that:

• Four companies control almost 60 percent of the U.S. market for broiler chickens. These companies contract with individual farmers who grow chickens for them; most chicken in the U.S. is produced in this contract system.
• Entering the contract poultry growing business causes growers to take on massive amounts of debt, forcing them to accept whatever terms companies offer. Companies often force growers to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to update their facilities just to keep their contract; terminate growers without due cause; and manipulate the amount growers are paid. Read an LA Times article on the subject here.
• Growers are in dire economic straights. Many poultry growers’ earnings have remained stagnant since the 1990s, while operating costs continue to increase.
• The USDA lacks the enforcement authority to counter abuses or unfair contract terms leveled against poultry growers by companies.

WHEN: Thursday, May 20, 2010 at 3 p.m.

WHERE: Holiday Inn, 401 Williams Ave., Huntsville, Alabama

WHO: The press conference is sponsored by the Campaign for Contract Agriculture Reform, a national alliance of organizations working to provide a voice for farmers involved in contract agriculture. Conference speakers include:

- Jonathan Buttram, President, Alabama Contract Poultry Growers Association
- Mike Weaver, President, Contract Poultry Growers Association of the Virginias
- Kay Doby, former president of the North Carolina Contract Poultry Growers Association
- Andy Stone, Board Member, Mississippi Agriculture Producers Association
- Patty Lovera, Food & Water Watch

More Information on the USDA/DOJ Workshop:

WHEN: Friday, May 21, 2010 at 9 a.m. (USDA & DOJ workshop: “Agriculture and Antitrust Enforcement Issues in Our 21st Century Economy: Poultry Growers.” Register for the free workshop)

WHERE: Alabama A&M University, Knight Reception Center, 4900 Meridian St., Normal, Alabama

*Normal, AL is just outside of Huntsville, AL

WHO: USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division Christine Varney, and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder will participate in the USDA/DOJ workshop.

* Can’t make the hearings but still want to cover this important issue? Please contact Lauren Wright [LWright(at)FWWatch(dot)org] for an interview with press conference speakers.