The Hill News

More than 90 years ago, during World War I, President Woodrow Wilson suspected foul play in the American meat industry. He was right. An investigation by the Federal Trade Commission reported collusion, market manipulation, and other nefarious, behind-the-scenes activities by meatpackers. As a result, in 1921 lawmakers passed the Packers and Stockyards Act, intended to prevent unfair and deceptive business practices in the industry.

Is history repeating itself?

In less than 60 years, the United States has lost more than 1.6 million broiler chicken farms, while the number of the birds raised yearly has skyrocketed by 1,400 percent. Similar trends have affected the cattle and hog industries, in large part due to the consolidation and integration of livestock agriculture as production shifts to an industrial system. But meatpackers, who direct many aspects of the industry, have also squeezed farmers' profits through contracting practices that many belie! ve to be unfair. In recent years, there has been a push to update the law to prevent behaviors that seem to mirror past problems.

Read more...