Competitive Markets Action

Lance Gooden

The Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act sponsored by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) implements a series of reforms to commodity check-off programs that are designed to reduce conflicts of interest, anti-competitive practices, and other unfair or deceptive acts. Under these programs, producers of certain products, such as beef, dairy, or poultry, are forced to pay into a fund (ex. $2 for a cow) that is used for industry research or advertising campaigns. Support is the Competitive Markets Action and Organization for Competitive Markets Position as, while government-mandated checkoff programs should be eliminated entirely, this bill serves as a step in the right direction to reducing corruption. It is the role of the private sector to voluntarily organize and fund product promotion for industry, not for big producers to utilize government to financially coerce small producers to fund their activities.

Implementing Critical Reforms to Reduce Corruption within the Crony Commodity Checkoff Programs Mandated by Government.

The "Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024" aka "the Farm bill" sponsored by Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA) provides funding for a number of agricultural programs as well as various public assistance programs. Most notably, the bill serves as a slimmed down version of the EATS Act and does not contain any of the proposed reforms to the commodity checkoff programs. Oppose is the Competitive Markets Action and Organization for Competitive Markets Position as this bill merely worsens the corrupt practices taking place within the agricultural industry and places the interests of China and Big AG over small American family farmers through provisions of the EATS Act.

Fueling Corruption through a Farm Bill which Places the Interests of China and Big AG over Small American Family Farmers.

The Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act sponsored by Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) prevents state and local governments from tailoring agricultural regulations to the unique circumstances and needs facing their regions. Instead, the bill provides the federal government full control to set a universal standard across the entire country. Oppose is Competitive Markets Action and Organization for Competitive Markets Position as state and local governments are best equipped to set agriculture policy rather than the federal government through one size-fits-all mandates and central planning tactics. Furthermore, the bill merely fuels China's takeover of U.S. agriculture by making it easier for Chinese corporations such as Smithfield foods to grow their control and ownership of U.S. farmlands.

Advancing China's Takeover of U.S. Agriculture by Co-Sponsoring the EATS Act.

The Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY) amendment #76 to the "Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024" prevents the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service from implementing its proposed rule mandating electronic identification ear tags (EID) for cattle and bison. The EID rule will also require agriculture producers to comply with new data collection and reporting requirements. Support is the Competitive Markets Action and Organization for Competitive Markets Position as the EID mandate further grows the size and scope of the government surveillance state. Additionally, this increased interference in the marketplace provides special benefits to the meat packing industry at the financial expense of agriculture producers.

Protecting Agricultural Producers from Higher Costs and Increased Government Surveillance by Blocking a New Mandate for Cattle Electronic Identification Ear Tags (EIDS).

The Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) amendment #76 to the "Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024" implements reforms to commodity checkoff programs. Under these programs, producers of certain products, such as beef, dairy, or poultry, are forced to pay into a fund (ex. $2 for a cow) that is used for industry research or advertising campaigns. The amendment increases transparency on how the funds are utilized and ensures taxpayer funds are used by the boards of these programs. Support is Competitive Markets Action and Organization for Competitive Markets Position as, while government-mandated checkoff programs should be eliminated entirely, this bill serves as a step in the right direction to reducing corruption. It is the role of the private sector to voluntarily organize and fund product promotion for industry, not for big producers to utilize government to financially coerce small producers to fund their activities.

Increasing Transparency and Accountability within the Crony Commodity Checkoff Programs Mandated by Government.

The letters to Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-PA) and Ranking Member David Scott (D-GA) strongly urging the committee to oppose the inclusion of the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) or any similar language in the 2024 Farm bill. The EATS Act prevents state and local governments from tailoring agricultural regulations to the unique circumstances and needs facing their regions. Instead, the bill provides the federal government full control to set a universal standard across the entire country. Support is Competitive Markets Action and Organization for Competitive Markets Position as state and local governments are best equipped to set agriculture policy rather than the federal government through one size-fits-all mandates and central planning tactics. Furthermore, the EATS Act merely fuels China's takeover of U.S. agriculture by making it easier for Chinese corporations such as Smithfield foods to grow their control and ownership of U.S. farmlands.