Action Alert! Senate Ag Committee schedules Hearing July 16, 2002 on Packer Ban

Action Alert

Senate Ag Committee schedules Hearing July 16, 2002 on Packer Ban

The Senate Ag Committee has scheduled a hearing on the need for a ban on meatpackers owning, feeding or controlling livestock for more than 14 days before slaughter. The leadership of the U.S. House "killed" a packer ban, which passed the Senate twice, in the farm bill conference committee this spring.

Banning corporate meatpacker ownership of livestock remains the single most important thing Congress can do this year to support independent livestock producers in our country. Over the past five years, major packers have obtained ownership of well over 1.2 million sows and tens of millions of market hogs, led by Smithfield, Premium Standard Farms, Cargill, Tyson, and Hormel. Members of Congress who oppose the packer ban are standing against independent producers and family farms and favor corporate control of agriculture-let's not forget that.

*** CALL TODAY ***

· Call Senate Ag Committee Chair Tom Harkin (Iowa) at
202-224-3254 before July 16 and let him know that you
support the packer ban.

· Call the Senate Ag Committee member in your state before
   July 16 and tell them we need the packer ban passed now.
   No more delays! Tell them to stand up for independent
   livestock producers and support the packer ban.

Remember, through your efforts, the packer ban passed the Senate twice before the House leadership bowed to agribusiness corporations and commodity groups and prevented the packer ban from becoming the law of the land. WE NEED TO KEEP THE HEAT ON. Tell your members of Congress they need to pass the packer ban-they could put the ban into another bill as an amendment, or introduce and pass the ban as its own legislation, BUT THEY NEED TO GET THE JOB DONE THIS YEAR. Call the Senators on the Senate Ag Committee before July 16-see the list below.

Senate Ag Committee Chair Tom Harkin (Iowa)-202-224-3254

Senate Ag Committee:
T. Harkin (IA) (202) 224-3254
R. Lugar (IN) (202) 224-4814
J. Helms (NC) (202) 224-6342
T. Cochran (MS) (202) 224-5054
M. McConnell (KY) (202) 224-2541
P. Roberts (KS) (202) 224-4774
P. Fitzgerald (IL) (202) 224-2854
C. Thomas (WY) (202) 224-6441
W. Allard (CO) (202) 224-5941
T. Hutchinson (AR) (202) 224-2353
M. Crapo (ID) (202) 224-6142
P. Leahy (VT) (202) 224-4242
K. Conrad (ND) (202) 224-2043
T. Daschle (SD) (202) 224-2321
M. Baucus (MT) (202) 224-2651
B. Lincoln (AR) (202) 224-4843
Z. Miller (GA) (202) 224-3643
D. Stabenow (MI) (202) 224-4822
B. Nelson (NE) (202) 224-6551
M. Dayton (MN) (202) 224-3244

Capitol Switchboard 202-224-3121 for Senators not listed above.

*** CALL TODAY ***

Top Corporate Meatpackers Expand Hog Market Control;
Smithfield, Cargill, Tyson/IBP Among the Biggest "Producers"

Packer ownership of hogs, according to Successful Farming's
"Pork Powerhouses 2001" list:

  • Smithfield Foods (packer) 710,000 sows
  • Premium Standard Farms (packer) 211,000 sows
  • Cargill (packer) 109,675 sows
  • Tyson Foods (packer) 107,000 sows
  • Bell Farms/Hormel Foods (packer) 61,500 sows
  • Farmland Industries (packer) 37,400 sows

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