American farmers and ranchers were in Washington, D.C., September 17-22, to state their opposition to the EATS Act. The Ending Agriculture Trade Suppression Act was introduced by Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) and Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS). Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC) is a co-sponsor in the House.

Groups like the Organization for Competitive Markets, Competitive Markets Action, and several others said the act would nullify more than a thousand state and local agriculture laws which are in place to protect communities from a number of issues like invasive pests and livestock diseases. The absence of local regulations would create an environment in which foreign conglomerates could rapidly expand across all 50 states, according to the organizers.

“If EATS is included in the upcoming farm bill, it will mark the end of American family farming as we know it,” said Deborah Mills, a director with the Organization for Competitive Markets.

The organizations also advocated for the inclusion of the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act.

Photo courtesy of USDA ARS.