Other packers would follow suit. Conventional wisdom says open markets will be replaced by negotiated price. Farmers need competitive markets. The only substitute is regulation and antitrust oversight. It will require intensive efforts by farmers, led by legislators willing to risk their campaign coffers.
Critics maintain that nothing can alter market forces.
But these trends are not simply driven by efficiency or dictated by consumers. They're not ordained by God's invisible hand in the market. They're the deliberate outcome of marketplace power and well-placed campaign contributions. Call members of Congress to urge immediate action. Insist that your farm group represent you.