As a result, many farmers are either holding on until they can afford to get out or are simply hanging by a thread hoping something will change. Competition is a difficult issue and can have many different meanings. As an organization, Farm Bureau is strongly supportive of competitive markets. When a good or service is controlled by only a few this is cause for concern. Today, the agricultural processing sector provides a good case study on consolidation.
Consolidation is also a concern at the farm level.
While the extent of consolidation can be quantified it is more difficult to determine the various impacts of a specific transaction. The Sherman Act focuses on market allocation, monopolies and price fixing. Under the Clayton Act, key factors include the shape of the market, number of competitors and future expectations. It is difficult to determine exactly what needs to be done to address consolidation in the agricultural sector. Several options warrant consideration by Congress as well as organizations such as Farm Bureau.