Agribusiness Consolidation: Hearing Before the Committee on Agriculture, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixth Congress, First Session, February 11, 1999U.S. Government Printing Office, 1999 - 87 pages |
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acquisition agri agribusiness alliances American areas beef bigger broiler Callicrate Cargill Cargill's Chairman changes CHENOWETH committee commodity prices companies competitive ConAgra concentration concern Congress Congressman consolida consumers Continental Grain contracts cooperatives corn corporations cost DOOLEY DRABENSTOTT ducers economic efficient export facilities family farm Farm Bureau fast track fast track trade Federal fewer firms future global going grain business happen Harry Pearson hearing Heffernan hog farmers hog industry hog production impact important increase issue livestock look low prices market access market power marketplace meat meat packing industry merger MINGE National Farmers Union NFFC North Dakota operation opportunity packers PEARSON percent POMEROY pork industry price reporting processing processor profits public policy question retail rural America rural communities SIMS soybeans STENHOLM structure supply chains SWENSON talking testimony Thank things tion trade trend U.S. agriculture U.S. grain USDA Wal-Mart wave of consolidation
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Page 4 - I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial of strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country.
Page 3 - ... Randy Sandefer and Doreen Dotzler, and with that we thank all of you and we are adjourned. [Whereupon, at 4:15 pm, the subcommittee was adjourned.] [The prepared statement of Hon. Jim Turner follows:] OPENING STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE JIM TURNER OMIT HEARING ON PERFORMANCE BUDGETING JULY 1, 1999 I would like to thank the Chairman for holding this important hearing on performance budgeting.
Page 69 - The views expressed are strictly those of the author, and do not necessarily represent those of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, or the Federal Reserve System.
Page 82 - These low price situations force us to evaluate the marketplace and seek new opportunities for producers. I am committed to working with Congress, the administration and my colleagues here on the panel today to continue to seek input regarding the direction that agriculture is going and determine a process that will enable our farmers and ranchers to compete in a global marketplace. Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the opportunity to come before you today. I will be happy to respond to any questions.
Page 12 - Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Walden. Mr. WALDEN. Thank you very much, Mr.
Page 28 - Manpower provides for people who have dropped out of school, for kids that are interested, and this is one of the things that we are going to have to do.
Page 69 - ... questions that surround this critical topic. First, what does consolidation mean for US agriculture and its participants? And second, what issues, if any, does the new wave of consolidation pose for public policy? My testimony will show that consolidation is generally a positive trend for US agriculture, one that leads to lower-priced, higher quality food products for consumers and a leaner industry better equipped to compete in global markets. That said, consolidation does highlight the need...
Page 77 - National Beef. (See Chart I.) • Three of every four sheep are processed by the four largest firms; the top four include ConAgra; Superior Packing; High Country; and Denver Lamb; • Three of every five hogs are slaughtered by the four largest firms; the top four include Murphy Family Farms; Carroll's Foods; Continental Grain; and Smithfield Foods. (See Chart II.) • Half of all broilers (chickens produced for meat) are slaughtered by the largest four firms: the six largest firms include Tyson...
Page 7 - Notwithstanding these rural impacts, consolidation holds the promise of a more competitive industry, bringing lower food prices to consumers and bigger exports to the Nation's trade balance. While consolidation will put strains on farm families and the communities in which they live, the economic forces behind it are so powerful and the benefits to consumers so substantial that it is neither possible nor desirable to legislate consolidation away.
Page 78 - ... that ... as the food chain clusters form, with major management decisions made by a small core of firm executives, there is little room left in the global food system for independent farmers.