For every dollar Americans spend on Thanksgiving meals this year, farmers and ranchers will earn just approximately 14.3 cents, according to the Michigan Farmers Union (MFU).
“Farmers are glad to help supply families the food that brings us all together during the holidays,” said MFU President Bob Thompson. “But small, independent farmers need a better, fairer deal when it comes to how we support our families. We need to get a better share of the profits we make possible.”
The farmer’s share of every dollar that families spend on food has fallen from 50 percent in 1952 to less than 15 percent today. Multiple waves of mergers and acquisitions during the last several decades have resulted in agriculture and food supply chains that are uncompetitive, fragile, and underpay farmers.
“The Michigan Farmers Union is fighting for stronger enforcement of antitrust laws to break up corporate monopolies that use their size to unfairly take advantage of farmers and ranchers while forcing consumers to pay higher prices at the grocery store,” added Thompson. “Enough is enough. Someone must stand up to the corporate monopolies destroying independent, family farms and undermining our national food supply.”
MFU members are actively advocating for the following policy changes to support fair and transparent agriculture markets:
- Stronger enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA)
- Improving price discovery and ensuring fair and accurate market information
- Facilitating competition and more diverse market opportunities
- Reinvigorated antitrust enforcement
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