They want to be the farmer. Corporations violate state laws against packer feeding or corporate agriculture so they can suck profits away from American farmers. When we farmers are driven to our knees, they circle us like vultures. First, we need a federal law against packer livestock feeding, and in the interim, stronger state laws to prevent packers like Smithfield from becoming the largest producer. Government's job is to level the playing field.
Market access is critical.
My husband has severed ties with co-ops that use his equity to siphon profits from his pocket to protect their feed business. They use someone else's equity to stay afloat and indirectly drive independents out. Contracts transfer risk to the fine print and limit farmer profits. Livestock contracting by packers violates the Packers and Stockyards Act. I don't oppose change.