National Farmers Union President Rob Larew reacted positively to a recent announcement from the USDA and Department of Justice.
He issued a statement applauding the news after the two agencies came together in a new initiative to scrutinize competitive conditions in the agricultural marketplace.
“American agriculture is at a breaking point,” Larew said. “Rising input costs are hitting family farmers and ranchers hard, and corporate consolidation is a major cause.”
He also said that if just a handful of companies control the markets for seed, fertilizer, and other farm supplies, they can raise their prices at will. “This leaves farmers squeezed between skyrocketing costs and low prices for their products, which is unsustainable for farm families, rural communities, and consumers,” Larew said.
The Farmers Union commends the USDA and DOJ for hearing the group’s call to action, confronting the challenges, and looks forward to easing the economic burden in farm country.
