Farm Action Fund

@SenBooker’s Fair Competition for Small Business Act is groundbreaking for independent farmers and small grocers. Read his full press release announcing this legislation below: booker.senate.gov/news/press/boo…

🔥 @SenBooker just introduced a REVOLUTIONARY bill for independent farmers and small businesses. The 1936 Robinson-Patman Act tackled price discrimination by prohibiting suppliers from charging different prices to large retail chains and small grocers. But state attorneys general were only enabled to seek injunctive relief—not monetary damages. Senator Booker’s Fair Competition for Small Business Act changes that, and he has our FULL support. Farm Action Fund’s Joe Maxwell: “Senator Booker's Fair Competition for Small Business Act increases the power of the State Attorneys General in the fight to hold powerful suppliers and retailers accountable for discriminatory pricing practices that have squeezed farmers and small businesses out of the marketplace.” “Revitalizing Robinson-Patman enforcement will help level the playing field, ensuring farmers a fair marketplace to sell into.” Senator Booker’s bill will enable state attorneys general to “bring civil actions for damages when violating the Robinson-Patman Act.” “This will allow state attorneys general to pursue monetary damages against distributors and retailers that engage in unlawful price discrimination, giving states the same enforcement authority they already have under other federal antitrust laws.”

To check out this full bill, check below👇 booker.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/…

The EQIP Improvement Act, introduced by @SenBooker and @SenMikeLee, refocuses federal conservation funding on practices that deliver real results. For years, EQIP dollars have been concentrated in a small number of large structural projects that offer limited environmental benefit and contribute to further consolidation across agriculture. This legislation prioritizes proven conservation practices that protect soil and water, supports more farmers, and gives states greater flexibility to meet local needs. Joe Maxwell, President of Farm Action Fund, applauds the bipartisan effort, calling the legislation a necessary reset for the program: “The EQIP Improvement Act is a long overdue course correction.”

Iowa gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn is proving regenerative farming can be profitable.  He says most farmers cannot follow suit because consolidation has crushed their ability to take risks. “We do farm regeneratively… and we are able to do that and make a profit.” “I know many farmers that would like to experiment with other practices.” “But because our farmers are kept on razor thin margins, they can’t experiment with other practices.” “When you’re operating at margins that are break even at best… your appetite to experiment is very low and you can’t take any risks.” “We have to break these companies up. These companies are acting as monopolies.”

Iowa gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn is calling out the monopolies that have taken over American agriculture and are preying on family farmers. “Iowa alone in the past 20 years has lost 10,000 family farms.” “In the same time, the suicide rate amongst our farmers went up by 50% and no one’s talking about it.” “25% of Iowa’s land is now owned by out-of-state investors and funds that treat Iowa like an annuity.” “They keep our young farmers off of the ground, they raise our rental rates, and they inflate the valuations.” “This is not a normal progression. This is not how it’s supposed to happen.” “When I was growing up in Iowa, there were 300 companies that were selling seeds and inputs to farmers. Today, there’s three that make up over 85% of the market.” “They set the pieces of the game for the farmers.” “They’re extorting them, any time the crop price goes up, they raise their input costs even though there’s not a correlating factor.” “Just in five years, nitrogen fertilizer went up by 150% while the corn price has been down 2%.” “We are at a point of crisis in our communities and in our farms.”

Farm Action’s Joe Maxwell just went to Washington and sounded the alarm: America’s ranchers are in “CRISIS.” “We cannot afford a food supply where foreign beef fills the gap while American ranchers go out of business.” And he named the first step that the Trump Administration can take to reverse this crisis: “Reinstating Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling for beef and pork must be a top U.S. priority in the 2026 USMCA review.” “This is urgent regarding our food security, the survival of independent ranchers, and the long-term stability of North America’s beef supply.” “USDA reports that the U.S. beef cow herd has fallen to its smallest level in over 70 years.” “Ranchers tell us the same thing across the country. They cannot justify rebuilding their herds because the market does not reward U.S. origin.” “Tyson just closed a beef plant in Lexington, Nebraska, and is scaling back a plant in Amarillo, Texas.” “These moves impact 4,900 jobs.” “At the same time, beef imports are rising to record levels, over 4.5 million pounds last year.” “That combination—a shrinking domestic herd and rising imports—is a dangerous trajectory for America’s food security and rural economy.” “Reinstating MCOOL would give ranchers the most important thing they lack today: a reliable and forceful market signal that U.S.-raised beef will be recognized and rewarded.” “Reinstating MCOOL would allow consumers to choose U.S.-raised beef and ensure that choice benefits U.S. ranchers, give producers the confidence to reinvest in multi-year herd expansion, strengthen rural economies by keeping food dollars local, and build a more resilient domestic supply.” “The United States cannot afford a cattle industry at its smallest level in 70 years.” “MCOOL is essential for rebuilding the herd, restoring fairness, and protecting our food security.”

Pass the PRIME Act to bypass the meat processing oligopoly that prevents regenerative grass farmers from marketing their beef to local consumers. Good for farmers, good for the environment, good for you.

I believe Tyson's decision to shut down its Lexington, Nebraska plant instead of selling it is a PLOY to manipulate cattle and beef markets in violation of our antitrust laws. 🧵

Though we don’t believe bailouts are a sustainable long-term solution, we’ve outlined what a responsible and effective bailout should look like for farmers. 👇 rstreet.org/outreach/coali…

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a new farmer bailout coming next week. Farm Action Fund, along with several other organizations, sent her a letter asking USDA to follow basic principles that protect farmers and taxpayers. We’re asking USDA to target aid to the farmers who genuinely need help, using strong payment limits, real income caps, and rules that keep absentee landowners and passive investors from collecting bailout dollars. We’re asking for stronger oversight so the mistakes of past trade aid aren’t repeated — from improper payments to loopholes that favor the largest operations. And we’re asking for full transparency. Taxpayers deserve to see how decisions are made, who receives the money, and what assumptions USDA is using. To read our full letter, check the post below: 🧵

Trade aid should help the farmers who truly need it—not fuel waste, fraud, or loopholes. In a new letter RSI and our coalition partners urge @USDA, @SecRollins, & @UnderSecLindberg to ensure any trade bailout is needs-based, transparent, and fiscally responsible. Thank you to our co-signers: @FarmActionUS, @LandCoreUSA, @Taxpayers @NTU, @ProtectTaxpayers, @SoilClimateAll

Fourth-generation farmer Will Harris EXPOSES the corruption strangling small farmers: Big Ag and Big Food write the Farm Bills. Joe Rogan: “Is there a way that the government can incentivize … farms [to be] more self-sustaining?” Harris: “That question assumes the government wants to do that.”

“Let me tell you how [the Farm Bill] is written … ”

“Big Ag and Big Food decide what they want.” “Then they hire lobbyists, and those guys go to Washington and write the program or get the program written through aides.” “Many of those bureaucrats that become very senior in USDA … post-retirement, they get really great jobs with Big Ag and Big Food.”

The Save Our Bacon Act is a SCAM designed by corporate lobbyists—some representing China-owned Smithfield Foods—to crush independent American farmers. Read below: Congress is trying to gut state agriculture laws  fairobserver.com/business/congr…

Congress is on the brink of CRUSHING small farmers and states’ rights. Why? To serve the interests of corporations like China-owned Smithfield Foods. The “Save Our Bacon” Act sounds like it’s meant to help small farmers. That’s a lie. It would empower corporate producers—including China-owned Smithfield Foods and Brazil-owned JBS—to unravel state laws designed to help those small farmers by enabling any business or individual who claims to be adversely affected by a different state’s agricultural laws to file a lawsuit seeking to strike down the law in court. A new Harvard study warns the Save Our Bacon Act could put hundreds of state laws on the chopping block, including basic food safety protections and California’s Prop 12, which set basic animal welfare standards. This is not about protecting farmers. It is about giving the biggest producers the power to strike down state laws that protect the interests of independent farmers. If Congress wants to support farmers, it should stop pushing bills that erase state decisions and start defending the people who actually raise the food. Read the full article in the Fair Observer exposing this corporate SCAM below👇

🚨 Independent farmers are on the brink of being CRUSHED at the hands of factory farm giants. Nearly 200 House Democrats just urged the Ag Committee to block the Save Our Bacon Act. Don’t let the name fool you. This bill is not about protecting farmers. It’s about putting corporate interests over states’ rights and independent farmers. It would overturn California’s Prop 12 and crush independent farmers who already invested in crate-free systems with greater animal welfare. Prop 12 opened new markets for independent producers. The Supreme Court affirmed states’ rights to set these standards. The Save Our Bacon Act would REVERSE that momentum and strengthen corporate control. Family farmers would be the ones paying the price.

Over the last few weeks, the public has learned that JUST 4 companies control 85% of beef in the U.S.🤯 But non-ranchers may not FULLY understand what this means and why it’s so bad. To help, here are the Top 10 reasons why meatpacking consolidation is bad for ALL Americans.🧵

.@RepThomasMassie says his PRIME Act is the solution to USDA regulations that support corporate consolidation in meatpacking at the expense of our farmers. “The more regulation, the better for them, because it’s keeping the little guys out.” “If you’re succeeding and producing healthy food, why would I want you to hit a barrier?” “And then try to come up with ways to get around that barrier that are very costly?” “It’s not even illegal for me to use a custom slaughterhouse to get hamburger meat and give it away.”

“It only becomes illegal when you charge a penny for it. Now the USDA wants to be involved.” “My PRIME Act gets around that.” “The federal government … had no authority to regulate intrastate commerce.” “The regulations will be at the state or local level.”

America’s beef market is RIGGED. Four corporations—JBS, Tyson, Cargill, and National Beef—control nearly 85% of the industry. The result is simple: ranchers are being SQUEEZED out of the market while consumers face record prices for beef. Now, President Trump has directed the DOJ to investigate these companies for price manipulation and market collusion. It is a necessary step, but it will only matter if it leads to real enforcement. A similar investigation was launched in 2020, then quietly disappeared without any major action. The same four corporations grew more powerful, their profits SOARED, and independent ranchers continued to lose their livelihoods. If this investigation ends the same way, the message will be clear: The biggest players in the American food system can manipulate markets, crush competition, and use political influence to protect their dominance. The DOJ has the power to change that. If it uncovers illegal behavior, it MUST take the packers to court, break them up, prosecute their executives, and stop any further consolidation before what remains of fair competition is lost completely. This is the moment to prove that no company is too powerful to be held accountable.

For more information about the TRUTH and IMPORTANCE of Prop 12, check out the link below 👇🏻farmactionfund.us/prop-12-farmer…

🚨 Farm Action Fund’s Joe Maxwell just called out the National Pork Producers Council for LYING about Prop 12. They’re spreading four big myths about this law. Prop 12 protects farmers, consumers, and animal welfare. “Corporate lobbyists like the National Pork Producers Council are LYING about Prop 12, which sets basic animal welfare standards and opens up a market for independent family farmers.” “Myth one—Prop 12 caused a surge in pork prices. In reality, prices only went up 6.6% after Prop 12 took effect, a normal market adjustment. That 41% increase? It happened years earlier, thanks to Covid and low hog prices—not Prop 12.” “Myth two—Prop 12 led to the loss of 5,000 farmers. Those losses happened before Prop 12. It’s a decade-long trend driven by corporate consolidation pushed by NPPC’s own policy agenda.” “Myth three—Prop 12 is a food security risk. False again. Pork shelves are full, and at least 27% of producers are already Prop 12 compliant.” “Myth four—Prop 12 endangers animal welfare because sows crush their piglets if not confined in crates. The truth is Prop 12 only bans gestation crates for sows that are pregnant, not farrowing crates for nursing piglets.” “Shame on you, NPPC.”