The White House this week announced an Action Plan for a Fairer, More Competitive, and More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply Chain.

Some of the key points from the Jan. 3 announcement include the dedication of $1 billion of American Rescue Fund money for the expansion of independent processing capacity. Also announced is a hotline at the Department of Justice for the public to report concerns about potential violations of the competition laws. Lastly, the administration hopes to work in various ways to increase transparency in the marketplace, including aspects of legislation that American Farm Bureau supports.

“The idea is that more independent processing and greater transparency in the marketplace should lead to a market that is fair to all players, certainly those that raise and sell the livestock,” said Scott Bennett, American Farm Bureau Federation congressional relations director. “AFBF plans to work with this administration in efforts that help us reach this goal.”

Bennett added the action plan would fit well with a cattle contract library, which American Farm Bureau supports.

“While the announcement doesn’t directly pertain to the cattle contract library, this announcement should provide some tailwinds for efforts like these,” Bennett said. “The cattle contract library and the efforts announced would work well together in the marketplace, so we hope to see that come to fruition as soon as possible.”

Labor has always been an issue, mainly because we are a seasonal operation. So that's a challenge finding somebody who only wants to work three months out of a year, sometimes up to six months.
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Mandy Way

Way Farms

Farm Labor Resources
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Ernie Welch

Van Wert County Farm Bureau

Strong communities
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Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Leadership development
Farm Bureau involvement has taught me how to grow my professional and leadership experience outside of the workforce and how to do that in a community-centric way.
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Jaclyn De Candio

Clark County Farm Bureau

Young Ag Professionals program
With not growing up on a farm, I’d say I was a late bloomer to agriculture. I feel so fortunate that I found the agriculture industry. There are so many opportunities for growth.
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Jenna Gregorich

Coshocton County Farm Bureau

Growing our Generation
Knowing that horticulture is under the agriculture umbrella and having Farm Bureau supporting horticulture like it does the rest of ag is very important.
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Jared Hughes

Groovy Plants Ranch

Groovy Plants Ranch
If it wasn't for Farm Bureau, I personally, along with many others, would not have had the opportunity to meet with our representatives face to face in Washington.
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Austin Heil

Hardin County Farm Bureau

Washington, D.C. Leadership Experience
So many of the issues that OFBF and its members are advocating for are important to all Ohioans. I look at OFBF as an agricultural watchdog advocating for farmers and rural communities across Ohio.
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Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Advocacy
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