Many farmers have questions when it comes to major industry mergers. We are answering some frequently asked questions here and sharing firsthand insight from some of our whistleblower clients, former poultry growers and current poultry growers.
What does consolidation mean for you?
One significant merger the Department of Justice is considering right now is that of Sanderson Farms Inc. and Wayne Farms LLC, which is expected to create the third largest chicken company in the country. While CEOs make promises to be a better company after the merger, farmers are left wondering what this increasing consolidation really means for them.
Currently, only a handful of corporations control our food from farm to fork. Over the past 50 years, fewer and fewer multinational agribusiness corporations have come to control more and more of our food system, shutting out local and family farmers in the process. With unchecked power, companies have standardized exploitative practices that are harmful to farmers, to rural communities, to the animals themselves and to our environment. In general, this unchecked concentration spells bad news for farmers.
Why would a farmer pay attention to increased consolidation in the poultry and livestock industry?
Because you want to keep farming. Concentration happens in an industry when bigger companies buy up smaller companies to the point that free and fair competition is stifled. When the corporation owns every step in the production of the final...
A state announcement comes amid a congressional inquiry into Medicaid fraud but state officials said the cases are not related to federal pressure This premium article is for members. If you are on...