Independent Producers Talk State of Small Farming from Capitol Hill

Coalition of Independent Farmers, Moms for America Discussed Argentina Beef Imports and the “Save Our Bacon” Act

The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) and Competitive Markets Action (CMA) held a press conference from Capitol Hill to discuss the state of American small farming.

As small and independent farmers across the U.S. struggle with rising costs, corporate consolidation, and an uneven playing field, leaders in the farming community – joined by Moms for America – voiced strong support for common-sense reforms like mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) and the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act. These measures are aimed at restoring transparency and fairness to agricultural markets soon to be flooded with cheap and inferior beef products that threaten American producers fighting to stay afloat.

In addition, participants discussed H.R. 4673, the “Save Our Bacon (SOB) Act,” and S. 1326, the “Food Security and Farm Protection Act,” – giveaways to industrial meatpackers that would undercut local producers, as well as consumer and voter choice.  

OCM’s D.C. fly-in comes amid growing upset over thePresident’s recent negotiations to import Argentinian beef. The United States lost more than 140,000 small farms between 2017 and 2022.

“We don’t have a problem with imported beef from Argentina,” said Taylor Haynes, president at Organization for Competitive Markets. “What we have a problem with is not telling consumers where their beef products are coming from. Beef from Argentina is cheaper, but it’s also inferior. America, meanwhile, has the best beef in the world. We’re ready to compete, but we need to let consumers know which product is which by implementing mandatory country of origin labeling.That’s the real free market at work.”

“The ‘Save Our Bacon’ Act and similar bills are aimed at undercutting states like California and Massachusetts,” said Marty Irby, president at Competitive Markets Action. “But they will have the effect of killing markets on which small farmers rely. They are also overbroad in the extreme and will inevitably be used to invalidate hundreds of state laws across the country that the biggest multinational operators find inconvenient. The winners will be companies like China-owned Smithfield. The losers will be small farmers and states with the temerity to pass laws reflecting the unique health and safety concerns of their citizens.”

“As a mom, I’m the one who buys groceries, cooks the meals and feels the impact of our food system directly at my kitchen table – and I’m not alone in that,” said Aly Legge, director of civic engagement at Moms for America. “This isn’t just a rancher issue – this affects every family that eats. If we don’t protect independent ranchers, who are the backbone of American food, we lose the ability to choose what we feed our families. This is about who gets to make decisions on what ends up on our plates: us or the corporations. And if they control the food, they control the people.”

The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Lincoln, Nebraska. The foundation of the Organization for Competitive Markets is to fight for competitive markets in agriculture for farmers, ranchers and rural communities. True competition reduces the need for economic regulation. Our mission, and our duty, is to define and advocate the proper role of government in the agricultural economy as a regulator and enforcer of rules necessary for markets that are fair, honest, accessible and competitive for all citizens.

Competitive Markets Action (CMA) is a 501(c)(4) non-profit based in Washington, D.C., that was formed with the mission of shaping policy to promote more regenerative and sustainable agriculture, and competitive markets in the U.S., and to defend against attacks on states’ rights by the federal government. CMA works to raise awareness of the harm caused by multinational conglomerates to the American family farmer, the consumer and our U.S. economy as a whole in an effort to bring about legislative and regulatory reforms.