Senator Tester Reintroduces Meat Packing Special Investigator Act In Congress

In a continued push to support Montana cattle producers and combat anti-competitive practices in the meat processing industry, Senator Tester reintroduced his Meat Packing Special Investigator Act to fight consolidation and enforce the nation’s anti-trust laws on Feb. 8. The bill is co-led by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.). This Act will benefit Montana producers by helping create more fair markets and strengthening enforcement against anti-competitive practices.

The bill would create the “Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters” within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which would be comprised of a team of investigators, with subpoena power, responsible for targeting and preventing anti-competitive practices amongst large players in the meat and poultry industries.

“Folks in Washington don’t understand that the deck is stacked against Montana’s cattle producers,” Tester said. “As the Senate’s only working farmer, I’ll take on anyone to make sure that Montana’s family farmers and ranchers get a fair chance to compete in the marketplace. For too long, massive multi-national conglomerates have run the tables on our producers—who produce the best beef in the world—and our bipartisan bill will give them the chance to compete on a level playing field.”

Montana Farmers Union President Walter Schweitzer praised the bill, stating “Senator Tester continues to be a champion for Montana’s family farmers and ranchers, and his Meat Packing Special Investigator Act will finally put some much needed competition back in the marketplace. Montana ranchers produce a premium product, but multinational corporations have been rigging the game against them for years...”

“Increased consolidation and anticompetitive tactics by meat packers continues to create unfair markets for meat producers and consumers alike,” Senator Grassley said. “In the last few years, we’ve seen settlement after settlement from major packers accused of distorting the market. It’s time we beef up tools to protect farm families and folks at the meat counter. This bill provides USDA with the necessary tools to strengthen enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act, increase coordination with DOJ, FTC, and DHS and to foster a fair and functional marketplace for everyone who grows, produces, and enjoys quality American meat.”

The senators also received praise for this bill from other associations. “What good is a law if there is no sheriff,” said Richard Liebert, Director, Montana Cattlemen’s Association. The Packers and Stockyards Administration has been downgraded and defunded to the point that it is toothless. This bill by Senator Tester restores the ability for the Department of Agriculture to investigate and prosecute violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act. This is great idea. We need a sheriff and he needs to round up a posse.”

“Information moves quickly in agriculture,” said Fred Wacker, Natural Cattle Rancher and Feeder Past President of Montana Stockgrowers Association. “It is imperative that we have the ability to monitor accuracy and fairness in the livestock business. I support Senator Tester for introducing the Special Investigator bill to provide fair competition with our industry.”

As the Senate’s only working farmer, Tester has long been Montana’s leading champion for family farmers and ranchers. He recently re-introduced his bipartisan Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act, which would establish minimums for negotiated sales and require clear reporting of marketing contracts.

Last April, Tester testified in front of the Senate Agriculture Committee in support of his bipartisan anti-consolidation bills and in May, he pressed USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack on how the Biden Administration planned to tackle the anti-competitive practices jacking up consumer prices and putting Montana ranchers out of business.

Last month, Tester also reintroduced his bipartisan American Beef Labeling Act, which would reinstate mandatory country of origin labeling for beef, adding more transparency to the beef industry, and give American producers a fair shake.