Bill > S2670

This bill, the Fairness for Small-Scale Farmers and Ranchers Act, proposes several key provisions to address market concentration and competition in the food and agriculture industry: 1. It imposes a temporary moratorium on large mergers and acquisitions involving agribusiness, food and beverage manufacturing, and grocery retail companies above certain size thresholds, with limited waiver authority for the Attorney General. 2. It requires the Attorney General and Federal Trade Commission to review and potentially unwind past mergers in these sectors if they determine the mergers caused harm to competition, farmers and ranchers, workers, or consumers. 3. It makes several changes to the Packers and Stockyards Act, including defining unfair and deceptive practices, requiring certain payment structures for poultry growers, and mandating that large meatpackers purchase a minimum percentage of livestock on the open spot market. 4. It provides increased funding and reauthorization for programs supporting beginning, retiring, and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. 5. It establishes new grant and loan programs, as well as a pilot program, to support livestock, dairy, and poultry supply chain infrastructure, particularly for small processing facilities. Overall, the bill aims to address consolidation and anti-competitive practices in the agricultural sector in order to strengthen the bargaining power and economic prospects of family farmers and ranchers.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/2670/all-info