U.S. Farming and Agriculture Regulations and Policies:
Agribusiness has hijacked the regulatory process and policies within America. In Abraham Lincoln's time the USDA was named the "People's Department." Now it is the "Agribusiness Industry's Department." A lot has changed, obviously.
The USDA's policies on issues such as fair market competition and food safety have now been shaped to serve interests of giant corporations that have Corporate Farms that now dominate the food production, processing, and distribution for America.
The USDA has had political influence since Bush's presidency, and Big Agribusiness has been able to fill the USDA with appointed people who have a background in lobbying, research, or work in large food processing companies and trade associations. So pretty much the USDA is filled with Corporatized Farming men and women. There are no high-level men or women in the USDA with any ties to family farm, labor, consumer, or environmental advocacy groups, which creates a huge problem for any change to possibly happen any time soon.
It is extremely apparent when looking into the biographies of the top USDA officials for one to see that agribusiness has infiltrated the USDA. Even the Secretary, Ann Veneman and her fellow people. These men and women are all linked to industry have been huge players in implementing policies to America that undermine the entire regulatory system of the USDA so that there is a huge favor for the few economically powerful agri-companies.
Specific Agriculture acts and rules you can learn more about and could be changed:
- Federal Meat Inspection Act
- Organic Beef standard
- Organic Standards
- Food and Safety Regulations
Sources:
http://www.nffc.net/Issues/Corporate%20Control/USDA%20INC.pdf
http://www.nffc.net/Issues/Corporate%20Control/USDA%20INC.pdf