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FIGHTING MONOPOLY POWER

Enforcement of federal anti-trust laws has slackened in recent years, with very few meaningful investigations into mergers and acquisitions of large scale agricultural producers, suppliers and processors. Farmers are facing the increasingly deleterious effects of lack of competition in numerous markets. The markets for seed, dairy, livestock processing, grain, fertilizer, and transportation are becoming increasingly consolidated, to the detriment of farmers.

Solutions

Enforce existing antitrust laws

  • Break up existing monopolies - breaking up corporate giants will spur innovation, restore competition in the marketplace, and rein in political corruption.  

  • Block new mergers - we need to halt mega-mergers that threaten our economic security and democracy.

Re-balance the power between corporations and the people

  • Campaign finance reform - we need to get big money out of politics so our elected leaders represent us, not corporations or special interest groups.  

  • Fair prices, fair wages, fair trade - farmers and workers at home and abroad must receive fair wages in exchange for their labor, knowledge, and skills. 

  • Federal tax reform - corporations and the wealthy must pay their fair share.

  • Corporate accountability - we need safeguards against unfair, anticompetitive, or abusive business practices. 

  • Marketplace transparency - pricing, marketing, and labeling must be honest and transparent. 

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Take Action

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  1. Share your story - how does monopoly power impact your life, your farm, your business? 

    • Write opinion pieces 

    • Do on-camera media interviews 

    • Share a video story 

    • Check out NFU's Fairness for Farmers Campaign

  2. Follow organizations that are tackling monopoly power 

    • Organization for Competitive Markets 

    • Open Markets Institute 

    • Farm Action

    • American Antitrust Institute 

  3. Educate yourself about monopoly power

    • The Curse of Bigness: Antitrust in the New Gilded Age by Tim Wu

    • Antitrust by Amy Klobuchar

    • Goliath: The 100-Year War Between Monopoly Power and Democracy by Matt Stoller

    • Break ‘em Up: Recovering our Freedom from Big Ag, Big Tech, and Big Money by Zephyr Teachout

    • Monopolized: Life in the Age of Corporate Power by David Dayen

    • Foodopoly: The Battle Over the Future of Food and Farming in America by Wenonah Hauter

  4. Start a book club with friends and family 

  5. Buy directly from farmers and co-ops 

  6. Weigh in with your decision-makers 

    • Members of Congress 

    • Federal agencies 

    • State attorney generals 

  7. Engage with candidates who are running for office

    • Attend town halls and candidate forums

    • Ask candidates where they stand on antitrust issues 

  8. Vote for candidates who support economic democracy!

Info Sheets & Resources

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Consolidation in Agriculture - Wisconsin Farmers Union

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Fairness for Farmers - National Farmers Union

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Consolidation Policy Brief - National Farmers Union

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Anti-Monopoly Timeline - Open Markets Institute

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Monopoly Power Webinar

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“Farmer Fairness” Portal for Reporting Violations

Join us today to fight for a stronger tomorrow.

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