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Figuring out the impact of consolidation within the livestock industry is the objective of a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra.
"This legislation will help us understand what is truly happening in the industry and root out any discriminatory practices," the Republican from Hull said.
The bill is called the Livestock Consolidation Research Act. It is co-sponsored by Feenstra and U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Michigan.
The measure would direct the United States Department of Agriculture to study the impact of consolidation in the beef, dairy, pork and poultry industries. The department would be required to issue a report outlining how consolidation has affected things like consumer purchasing power.
"Competition is vital to a functioning and fair economy," Feenstra said in a written statement. "In my conversations with producers – especially Iowa cattlemen – there is frustration that the current marketplace, with such few players, can harm and push out family farms and small producers."
This bill marks the congressman's second attempt this year to deal with practices within the meat industry. In March, Feenstra introduced the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act to crack down on price-fixing schemes by the four biggest meat-packing companies. U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, an Iowa Republican, introduced a companion measure in the Senate.
The bills await action in congressional committees.