From North Dakota to Texas, the beef raised on farms goes through a production process controlled by four major companies and independent ranchers hope a proposed federal rule gives them more power to act if they feel they have been ripped off.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said the plan it unveiled last week would provide clarity regarding unfair market practices under the Packers and Stockyards Act.

Aaron Shier, government relations director for the National Farmers Union, said in the past, some courts have said there needs to be proof the broader market is harmed. He noted the update addresses the problem within the long-standing law.

"It has many producer protection elements," Shier explained. "Over the long history of this law, that has gotten confused and muddled. And so, this proposed rule is meant to set the record straight on that issue."

Supporters said not only does it help prevent smaller farmers from going out of business but potentially gives consumers a fair shake on the prices they pay for meat and poultry. Industry groups like the Meat Institute are criticizing the move, saying it would set meat production back decades by encouraging litigation while actually hurting consumers.

The Institute also questioned such efforts when cattle prices are at record levels. Shier suggested there are specific examples of questionable tactics beyond current market dynamics.

"Failure to pay," Shier emphasized. "If a meatpacker, someone in the market fails to pay a producer, that is something USDA has consistently taken action on."

With more clarity under the law, policy analysts said there might be more consistency regarding court decisions when individual farmers push back against an industry giant. Shier pointed out the ultimate goal is to avoid lawsuits with this action and similar steps recently taken by the USDA setting a tone to foster market competition. A public comment period is the next step ahead of the rule becoming final.


get more stories like this via email

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has approved a permit to expand Ridge Breeze Dairy in Salem despite hundreds of local objections.

The concentrated animal feeding operation would grow from 1,700 cows to 6,500 or four times its current size, making it the largest such facility in western Wisconsin. The approval starts a 60-day timer to contest the decision.

Danny Akenson, field organizer for the group Grassroots Organizing Western Wisconsin, said it has been on a mission to get more local operations ordinances passed to better regulate the industry.

"There are people in Pierce County whose lives could be put in harm's way because of this," Akenson contended. "Those people should have their voices heard and taken seriously, and we'll be both exploring options to make sure that's the case and continuing to push for local ordinances that will protect our homes."

Ridge Breeze's expansion plans include storing, hauling and spreading 80 million gallons of waste in Pierce, Pepin and Saint Croix counties. Akenson pointed out the operations ordinances, which have already been passed in some towns and counties, include requirements for such things as addressing damage to roads by large manure tankers.

The number of large-scale operations in the state has risen every year since 2005. Currently, there are more than 340 across the state and 90% of them are dairy operations. Grassroots organizers argued many aspects of their operations are unregulated or under-regulated, including air pollution, infectious disease, carcass removal and biosecurity plans.

Akenson noted regulations from the DNR primarily cover the effects of livestock waste on water and do not have a limit on how large they can be.

"What the operations ordinance essentially is, is a series of plans that is asking the CAFO to supply how they're going to address these concerns that are among residents," Akenson outlined. "It's not a ban on CAFOs. It's a message that said, 'Yes you can come into our community, but you have to show us your homework.'"

Akenson added the state has not seen any meaningful regulatory changes for concentrated animal feeding operations for about 20 years. Proponents said they are good for business and are an economic necessity to keep operating costs down and prices for milk, cheese and meat products affordable.


get more stories like this via email

A new analysis revealed a staggering amount of livestock waste is flowing through Michigan's waterways each year, equivalent to the sewage of 81 million people.

The nonprofit For Love of Water released the analysis. The waste, primarily from concentrated animal feeding operations, contains nitrogen and phosphorus, which contribute to toxic algal blooms.

Chelsea Thompson, legal assistant for the group, said legal challenges to the most recent permit sought in 2020 left Michigan farms under an outdated 2015 permit.

"There was a lot of challenges made by the ag community as well as the environmental community. I think something we can both agree on -- both sides anyways -- is the 2020 permit, as it was written, was not in the best interest of either party."

Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy oversees permits for large operations and Thompson hopes it will apply lessons from 2020 legal issues to improve waste runoff rules, benefiting both agriculture and the environment.

She pointed out a new 2025 permit is expected in just a few months. Michigan now has nearly 300 permitted concentrated animal feeding operations, up from just 34 in 2005, producing about 4 billion gallons of untreated liquid waste and up to 60 million tons of solid manure annually.

Thompson acknowledged the issue is often framed as "farmers versus environmentalists," but she believes they are on the same team.

"I want to be able to have food. I want to be able to have all of the different things that we couldn't have without the farming community," Thompson stressed. "But I also want our water to be safe for future generations. I believe that someone working in the farming community would say the same thing."

The Environmental Protection Agency regulates concentrated animal feeding operations nationwide, under the Clean Water Act but enforcement varies by state.


get more stories like this via email

Kentucky is launching a new program aimed at rewarding school districts that buy food directly from farmers in the Commonwealth. Three schools will be awarded $10,000, $8,000 and $6,000 for their efforts to serve local produce and meat.

Dana Feldman, executive director of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, says farming is the backbone of the state's economy and that it's important for schools to forge relationships with their local producers.

"Students love it because they know that some of their products that they're eating come from the farm down the street," she said.

She added that farm to school programs also come with economic benefits, noting for every dollar spent on local foods, $2.16 is generated in local economic activity. Eligible districts must participate in the National School Lunch Program. Only Kentucky grown or raised products used during breakfast and lunch during the regular school year are eligible, excluding milk.

John Cain, Kentucky Kids Eat Program Director, says research shows children who eat local food at school lunch or breakfast are more likely to eat more fruits and vegetables, with lifelong impacts for public health.

"After food is harvested, produce in particular, starts to lose it's nutrients, within 24 hours of harvest, so the sooner we can get that to the cafeteria and the tray to the children, the better," he said.

Feldman added that districts can apply for the program in the coming weeks.

"Schools have up until July 31 to apply for this program. We have not put the application up yet, but it will be on our Farm to School web page, on our KDA website," she added.

Across the country, nearly two-thirds of schools participating in the National School Lunch Program say they served local foods to students during the 2022-2023 academic year, and spent almost $1.8 billion on local foods, according to the USDA.


get more stories like this via email