NeFU Praises DOJ Expanded Enforcement of Anti-Trust and Competition Issues

Efforts will focus on civil and criminal enforcement in the agricultural sector

PUBLISHED ON June 26, 2024

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) welcomes the decision of the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to expand its Chicago office and increase its staffing dedicated to civil and criminal enforcement in the agricultural sector.

According to Michael Kades, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ, the focus will be to better address agricultural antitrust, competition and fairness issues within agricultural supply chains. This expanded focus mirrors President Biden’s historic July 9, 2021 Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy.

NeFU President John Hansen says the President’s follow through on his Executive Order on competition has been impressive in the fact that many different government agencies and departments are now helping implement long overdue anti-trust and competition actions.

“I believe National Farmers Union’s (NFU) ‘Fairness for Farmers’ campaign has played a very helpful and influential role in putting farmers and ranchers at the discussion table with agency and department staff and officials so they could better understand how badly marketplace reforms are needed “Hansen said. “I am proud of our members. They do a great job of communicating and explaining their situations.”

Hansen said, “For the past several years, at the annual September Fly-In, in addition to meeting with House and Senate Members and their staff, NFU members have held extremely productive meetings with the Federal Trade Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, USDA, and the Justice Department among others. Those meetings have produced ongoing engagement with NFU members. I think our expanded engagement with those agencies and departments has been beneficial for all parties involved.”

Hansen praised the efforts of National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew and the NFU staff for their innovation and hard work in setting up all these extra meetings. “Good communication is a two-way street. In this case, I believe all parties have learned a great deal. It is encouraging that our federal agencies are listening, and then responding with concrete steps and action. Our Farmers Union members more than held up their end of the bargain to get involved and advocate on behalf of their interests.”

About Nebraska Farmers Union:

Nebraska Farmers Union is a general farm organization with 3,212 farm and ranch family members dedicated to protecting and enhancing the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers and ranchers, and their rural communities. Since 1913, Nebraska Farmers Union has helped organize over 445 cooperatives.

—Nebraska Farmers Union