The USDA reminds specialty crop producers to apply for assistance for marketing and food safety certification expenses. 

The Farm Service Agency is providing an additional $650 million in funding for the new Market Assistance for Specialty Crops Program and extending the MASC application deadline to this Friday, January 10. Meanwhile, FSA also reminds specialty crop producers of the January 31, 2025, deadline to apply for the Food Safety Certification and Specialty Crops Program for 2024 expenses. 

With a total of $2.65 billion available, MASC helps specialty crop producers expand markets and manage higher costs. FSA is also increasing the MASC payment limit from $125,000 to $900,000.

 “Specialty crop producers should act quickly to make an appointment to apply for both marketing and food safety certification assistance,” says FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “Specialty crop producers have been impacted by higher marketing and handling costs due to the perishability of their products.”

The USDA reminds specialty crop producers to apply for assistance for marketing and food safety certification expenses. The Farm Service Agency is providing an additional $650 million in funding for the new Market Assistance for Specialty Crops Program and extending the MASC application deadline to this Friday, January 10. Meanwhile, FSA also reminds specialty crop producers of the January 31, 2025, deadline to apply for the Food Safety Certification and Specialty Crops Program for 2024 expenses. With a total of $2.65 billion available, MASC helps specialty crop producers expand markets and manage higher costs. FSA is also increasing the MASC payment limit from $125,000 to $900,000. “Specialty crop producers should act quickly to make an appointment to apply for both marketing and food safety certification assistance,” says FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “Specialty crop producers have been impacted by higher marketing and handling costs due to the perishability of their products.”-NAFB

Specialty crop marketing assistance deadline extended

The Farmers National Company says there are more motivated land buyers in today’s market than there are willing sellers.

 Land values have remained quite stable in the Midwest despite the pressure from lower net farm income, declining commodity markets, higher interest rates, and increased input costs. 

“There are many factors for buyer motivation, but much of it can be explained by mindset translating to demand,” says Paul Schadegg, senior vice president of real estate operations at Farmers National. “Farm operators are still the primary buyers of ag land, and their mindset revolves around reinvesting in their farm, expanding operations, and utilizing today’s farm equipment fully.” 

The Land location also plays a part in decision-making as it often hasn’t changed hands for generations, and once sold, “It may not be sold again,” he added. Across the industry, land listings are down, on average, by 25 percent from the active market between 2020-2023.

The Farmers National Company says there are more motivated land buyers in today’s market than there are willing sellers. Land values have remained quite stable in the Midwest despite the pressure from lower net farm income, declining commodity markets, higher interest rates, and increased input costs. “There are many factors for buyer motivation, but much of it can be explained by mindset translating to demand,” says Paul Schadegg, senior vice president of real estate operations at Farmers National. “Farm operators are still the primary buyers of ag land, and their mindset revolves around reinvesting in their farm, expanding operations, and utilizing today’s farm equipment fully.” The Land location also plays a part in decision-making as it often hasn’t changed hands for generations, and once sold, “It may not be sold again,” he added. Across the industry, land listings are down, on average, by 25 percent from the active market between 2020-2023.-NAFB

Limited supply and strong demand in farmland market

The American Lamb Board’s 2025 program includes workshops and summits aimed at equipping sheep producers with the necessary tools and resources to profitably grow their operations.

 They’re encouraging producers to begin planning their year by discovering more about several upcoming opportunities, including six targeted grazing workshops on the 2025 schedule. The rapid development of utility-scale solar farms across the country has stimulated a significant need for sheep grazing as a means of vegetation management. 

There are increasing opportunities for sheep grazing contracts in wildfire-prone areas and vineyards. Sheep grazing helps eliminate dried plants that otherwise could become wildfire fuel, and grazing in vineyards and other regions helps to clear weeds while reducing or eliminating herbicide use. 

The ALB Targeted Grazing Workshops provide a unique chance to learn about these paid grazing contracts, which offer significant potential for expanding the sheep flock and enhancing the availability and price competitiveness of American Lamb.

The American Lamb Board’s 2025 program includes workshops and summits aimed at equipping sheep producers with the necessary tools and resources to profitably grow their operations. They’re encouraging producers to begin planning their year by discovering more about several upcoming opportunities, including six targeted grazing workshops on the 2025 schedule. The rapid development of utility-scale solar farms across the country has stimulated a significant need for sheep grazing as a means of vegetation management. There are increasing opportunities for sheep grazing contracts in wildfire-prone areas and vineyards. Sheep grazing helps eliminate dried plants that otherwise could become wildfire fuel, and grazing in vineyards and other regions helps to clear weeds while reducing or eliminating herbicide use. The ALB Targeted Grazing Workshops provide a unique chance to learn about these paid grazing contracts, which offer significant potential for expanding the sheep flock and enhancing the availability and price competitiveness of American Lamb.-NAFB

Sheep industry wants 2025 to be best year yet for education

China approved five gene-edited crop varieties and 12 types of genetically modified soybeans, corn, and cotton. 

Reuters says the expanded approvals are intended to boost high-yielding crops, reduce the need for imports, and ensure Chinese food security. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs awarded safety certificates to the 17 crop varieties, according to a document on its website. 

The approved gene-edited crops include two soybean varieties, and one each of wheat, corn, and rice. China mostly imports GM crops like corn and soybeans for animal feed, while cultivating non-GM varieties for food consumption. Many Chinese consumers remain concerned about the safety of GM food crops. 

A ministry document says the safety certificates for the newly approved varieties are valid for five years, starting from December 25, 2024. China has also approved importing an insect-resistant and herbicide-tolerant GM soybean variety from the German firm BASF exclusively as a processing material, the ministry added.

China approved five gene-edited crop varieties and 12 types of genetically modified soybeans, corn, and cotton. Reuters says the expanded approvals are intended to boost high-yielding crops, reduce the need for imports, and ensure Chinese food security. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs awarded safety certificates to the 17 crop varieties, according to a document on its website. The approved gene-edited crops include two soybean varieties, and one each of wheat, corn, and rice. China mostly imports GM crops like corn and soybeans for animal feed, while cultivating non-GM varieties for food consumption. Many Chinese consumers remain concerned about the safety of GM food crops. A ministry document says the safety certificates for the newly approved varieties are valid for five years, starting from December 25, 2024. China has also approved importing an insect-resistant and herbicide-tolerant GM soybean variety from the German firm BASF exclusively as a processing material, the ministry added.-NAFB

China approves more GM crops to boost food security

An early push for national year-round E15 sales is expected as a new Congress and administration are seated. Legislative efforts fell short in the last Congress but gave national year-round E15 sales new momentum.

Iowa Senator and farmer Chuck Grassley has already been in touch with House Speaker Mike Johnson.

“And I texted to him why we need E15 year-round. And I included in that text that even oil companies would agree to it because it’s very difficult having eight states having one mixture and the other 42 states, another mixture.”

Grassley and other ethanol-state lawmakers sponsored bipartisan E15 legislation in the last Congress, also included in a failed version of a short-term government funding bill.

At the Renewable Fuels Association, CEO Geoff Cooper says year-round sales are needed to soak up a bumper corn crop.

“The quickest way to increase demand for corn and value for corn is to let more of it go into the ethanol industry. And for that to happen, we need to have the marketplace allow more ethanol into the fuel supply. So, that’s where E15 becomes critically important.”

And, despite record or near-record ethanol exports.

“We’re going to need to see even higher levels of ethanol exports and, frankly, higher levels of domestic consumption here through E15 and other higher blends.”

And demand from developing markets like sustainable aviation fuel propelled by a hoped-for 45Z clean fuel tax credit.

An early push for national year-round E15 sales is expected as a new Congress and administration are seated. Legislative efforts fell short in the last Congress but gave national year-round E15 sales new momentum.Iowa Senator and farmer Chuck Grassley has already been in touch with House Speaker Mike Johnson.“And I texted to him why we need E15 year-round. And I included in that text that even oil companies would agree to it because it’s very difficult having eight states having one mixture and the other 42 states, another mixture.”Grassley and other ethanol-state lawmakers sponsored bipartisan E15 legislation in the last Congress, also included in a failed version of a short-term government funding bill.At the Renewable Fuels Association, CEO Geoff Cooper says year-round sales are needed to soak up a bumper corn crop.“The quickest way to increase demand for corn and value for corn is to let more of it go into the ethanol industry. And for that to happen, we need to have the marketplace allow more ethanol into the fuel supply. So, that’s where E15 becomes critically important.”And, despite record or near-record ethanol exports.“We’re going to need to see even higher levels of ethanol exports and, frankly, higher levels of domestic consumption here through E15 and other higher blends.”And demand from developing markets like sustainable aviation fuel propelled by a hoped-for 45Z clean fuel tax credit.-NAFB

Early push for national year-round E15 expected in new Congress, Administration

The Energy Information Administration says ethanol production averaged 1.111 million barrels a day during the week ending on December 27. 

This was the fourth consecutive week-over-week increase, up from 1.107 million barrels a day during the prior week. In the Midwest, production rose to an average of 1.055 million barrels a day from 1.045 million during the previous week. The EIA says West Coast Production increased to 10,000 barrels a day, up from 9,000 barrels the week before. 

East Coast output was unchanged week over week at 11,000 barrels a day, on average. Rocky Mountain Production declined from 14,000 to 11,000 barrels a day. The government report also says Gulf Coast production fell from an average of 28,000 barrels a day to 22,000 barrels. 

Ethanol inventories increased to 23.639 million barrels from 23.074 million a week earlier. That’s the highest level for ethanol stocks since September 13.

The Energy Information Administration says ethanol production averaged 1.111 million barrels a day during the week ending on December 27. This was the fourth consecutive week-over-week increase, up from 1.107 million barrels a day during the prior week. In the Midwest, production rose to an average of 1.055 million barrels a day from 1.045 million during the previous week. The EIA says West Coast Production increased to 10,000 barrels a day, up from 9,000 barrels the week before. East Coast output was unchanged week over week at 11,000 barrels a day, on average. Rocky Mountain Production declined from 14,000 to 11,000 barrels a day. The government report also says Gulf Coast production fell from an average of 28,000 barrels a day to 22,000 barrels. Ethanol inventories increased to 23.639 million barrels from 23.074 million a week earlier. That’s the highest level for ethanol stocks since September 13.-NAFB

Ethanol production grows for fourth consecutive week

The NCTA, or the Rural Broadband Association, released its “2024 Broadband-Internet Availability Survey Report.” 

The group says it capped off a year in which NCTA members made remarkable strides in delivering on the promise of robust and reliable high-speed connectivity in the most rural parts of the U.S. 

Despite operating in rural areas where the average density is less than seven locations per mile, approximately 89 percent of respondents’ customers, on-average, can receive downstream speeds greater than or equal to 100 Mbps, up from 84 percent in 2023. 

More than 76 percent of customers on average have access to Gigabit downstream speeds, an increase from 67 percent in 2023. Upload speeds continue to increase as well. Over 67 percent of respondents’ customers, on average, subscribe to 100 Mbps downstream broadband or better, up from just under 60 percent in the 2023 survey. 

Deployment costs remain the largest expansion barrier.

The NCTA, or the Rural Broadband Association, released its “2024 Broadband-Internet Availability Survey Report.” The group says it capped off a year in which NCTA members made remarkable strides in delivering on the promise of robust and reliable high-speed connectivity in the most rural parts of the U.S. Despite operating in rural areas where the average density is less than seven locations per mile, approximately 89 percent of respondents’ customers, on-average, can receive downstream speeds greater than or equal to 100 Mbps, up from 84 percent in 2023. More than 76 percent of customers on average have access to Gigabit downstream speeds, an increase from 67 percent in 2023. Upload speeds continue to increase as well. Over 67 percent of respondents’ customers, on average, subscribe to 100 Mbps downstream broadband or better, up from just under 60 percent in the 2023 survey. Deployment costs remain the largest expansion barrier.-NAFB

Scorecard on delivering broadband to rural areas

Dairy checkoff initiatives of 2024 successfully increased dairy access in schools, expanded market share for U.S. dairy products domestically and internationally and supported the industry’s commitment to sustainability. 

Dairy Management Inc. President and CEO Barbara O’Brien says the checkoff is working and achieving a lot in building its next chapter. She outlined the “Now, Next, and Future” checkoff strategies at the joint annual meeting. “All of the successes were made possible by the dedication and hard work of everyone across the checkoff federation,” O’Brien said. “This was a strong year of results as we continue to work with and through others to catalyze action in energizing our trust- and sales-building priorities.” 

The Dairy Checkoff launched the Dairy Conservation Navigator, a resource hub designed to give farm advisors, stakeholders, and conservation professionals science-based information on sustainable practices and technologies. DMI also unveiled its InnovateWithDairy.com tool to help spur industry innovation ideas.

Dairy checkoff initiatives of 2024 successfully increased dairy access in schools, expanded market share for U.S. dairy products domestically and internationally and supported the industry’s commitment to sustainability. Dairy Management Inc. President and CEO Barbara O’Brien says the checkoff is working and achieving a lot in building its next chapter. She outlined the “Now, Next, and Future” checkoff strategies at the joint annual meeting. “All of the successes were made possible by the dedication and hard work of everyone across the checkoff federation,” O’Brien said. “This was a strong year of results as we continue to work with and through others to catalyze action in energizing our trust- and sales-building priorities.” The Dairy Checkoff launched the Dairy Conservation Navigator, a resource hub designed to give farm advisors, stakeholders, and conservation professionals science-based information on sustainable practices and technologies. DMI also unveiled its InnovateWithDairy.com tool to help spur industry innovation ideas.- NAFB

Dairy Checkoff Highlights 2024 Work

The U.S. is on pace to surpass five billion gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel consumption for the first time. 

That caps a 2024 that saw increased efforts from states to drive adoption, updates to technical standards, growth in soybean crush capacity, and growing public support for clean transportation fuel. Clean Fuels Alliance America CEO Donnell Rehagen says a strong 2024 has set the industry up for further growth in air, marine, rail, and heavy-duty transportation use. “Consumers and corporations are demanding more clean fuel, and they are increasingly turning to biodiesel and renewable diesel for it,” Rehagen said. “Our industry has become a central force in the global effort to curb greenhouse gas emissions.” 

One factor in the improvement is the number of states that implemented clean fuel policies. Updated fuel specs will create opportunities in the new year. Biodiesel and renewable diesel will continue making farms stronger in 2025.

The U.S. is on pace to surpass five billion gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel consumption for the first time. That caps a 2024 that saw increased efforts from states to drive adoption, updates to technical standards, growth in soybean crush capacity, and growing public support for clean transportation fuel. Clean Fuels Alliance America CEO Donnell Rehagen says a strong 2024 has set the industry up for further growth in air, marine, rail, and heavy-duty transportation use. “Consumers and corporations are demanding more clean fuel, and they are increasingly turning to biodiesel and renewable diesel for it,” Rehagen said. “Our industry has become a central force in the global effort to curb greenhouse gas emissions.” One factor in the improvement is the number of states that implemented clean fuel policies. Updated fuel specs will create opportunities in the new year. Biodiesel and renewable diesel will continue making farms stronger in 2025.- NAFB

Rapid Growth for Biodiesel and Renewable Diesel in 2024

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says a recent decision putting the Corporate Transparency Act reporting requirements on hold is “confusing.” 

Kent Bacus, NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs, says the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court reversed the ruling it had issued before Christmas and has instead decided to uphold the injunction blocking the Corporate Transparency Act from taking effect. “This means U.S. cattle producers have yet another reprieve from filing beneficial ownership information with the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCen,” Bacus says. “These court rulings have gone back and forth and continue to add to the overall confusion.”

 He also says NCBA urges all cattle producers to consult with their attorney and tax professional for the latest information in case of more changes. “NCBA is continuing to urge Congress to pass legislation that will permanently protect cattle farmers and ranchers from this burdensome mandate,” Bacus added.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says a recent decision putting the Corporate Transparency Act reporting requirements on hold is “confusing.” Kent Bacus, NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs, says the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court reversed the ruling it had issued before Christmas and has instead decided to uphold the injunction blocking the Corporate Transparency Act from taking effect. “This means U.S. cattle producers have yet another reprieve from filing beneficial ownership information with the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCen,” Bacus says. “These court rulings have gone back and forth and continue to add to the overall confusion.” He also says NCBA urges all cattle producers to consult with their attorney and tax professional for the latest information in case of more changes. “NCBA is continuing to urge Congress to pass legislation that will permanently protect cattle farmers and ranchers from this burdensome mandate,” Bacus added.- NAFB

NCBA Reacts to Temporary Relief from CTA

Thanks to a dedicated group of 16 Angus breeders, the Fund the Future Campaign garnered $36,400 for the Angus Fund in fiscal year 2024. 

The funds help support the Foundation’s mission and events like the Beef Leaders Institute and Young Cattlemen’s Conference. The Angus Foundation is excited about the new year and the opportunities it brings. In the new year, an anonymous donor pledged to match the first $30,000 raised, effectively doubling the impact of every dollar donated. “I’m thrilled to watch the campaign expand and see more breeders getting involved in 2025,” says Jaclyn Boester, Angus Foundation executive director. “The simplicity of participation has sparked excitement, with breeders eager to contribute and knowing their donations are making an impact on the Angus breed.” 

The Fund the Future Campaign offers breeders a unique opportunity to give back through annual production sales, consignment sales, bull sales, or even private treaty opportunities.

Thanks to a dedicated group of 16 Angus breeders, the Fund the Future Campaign garnered $36,400 for the Angus Fund in fiscal year 2024. The funds help support the Foundation’s mission and events like the Beef Leaders Institute and Young Cattlemen’s Conference. The Angus Foundation is excited about the new year and the opportunities it brings. In the new year, an anonymous donor pledged to match the first $30,000 raised, effectively doubling the impact of every dollar donated. “I’m thrilled to watch the campaign expand and see more breeders getting involved in 2025,” says Jaclyn Boester, Angus Foundation executive director. “The simplicity of participation has sparked excitement, with breeders eager to contribute and knowing their donations are making an impact on the Angus breed.” The Fund the Future Campaign offers breeders a unique opportunity to give back through annual production sales, consignment sales, bull sales, or even private treaty opportunities.- NAFB

Angus Foundation is Funding the Future

Following Congressional votes on year-end legislation, National Corn Growers Association President Ken Hartmann, Jr., says corn growers were disappointed about no year-round access to E15. 

“We thought it would be in the end-of-year legislation package,” he said. “This no-cost provision would have provided a market-driven solution to farmers experiencing low corn prices.” The organization is calling on legislators to address this matter as quickly as possible at the start of the new Congress and fix the issue once and for all. 

“The National Corn Growers Association is appreciative of House and Senate Agriculture Committee leadership and our other champions who worked hard to extend the farm bill and provide much-needed economic and disaster assistance in farm country,” said Hartmann, Jr., a farmer from Illinois. “This assistance will help growers reeling from natural disasters like hurricanes and wildfires and multiple years of low crop prices paired with higher input costs.”

Following Congressional votes on year-end legislation, National Corn Growers Association President Ken Hartmann, Jr., says corn growers were disappointed about no year-round access to E15. “We thought it would be in the end-of-year legislation package,” he said. “This no-cost provision would have provided a market-driven solution to farmers experiencing low corn prices.” The organization is calling on legislators to address this matter as quickly as possible at the start of the new Congress and fix the issue once and for all. “The National Corn Growers Association is appreciative of House and Senate Agriculture Committee leadership and our other champions who worked hard to extend the farm bill and provide much-needed economic and disaster assistance in farm country,” said Hartmann, Jr., a farmer from Illinois. “This assistance will help growers reeling from natural disasters like hurricanes and wildfires and multiple years of low crop prices paired with higher input costs.”- NAFB

NCGA Disappointed in No Year-Round E15

U.S. agriculture is bracing for a potential work stoppage at East and Gulf Coast ports that could greatly disrupt American red meat exports. 

Contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance broke down in mid-November over issues related to automation and have shown little progress over the past month. The two sides reached a tentative agreement on wages in early October and temporarily extended the existing labor agreement. However, the contract extension will expire on January 15. The U.S. Meat Export Federation says the uncertainty is already impacting red meat exports. 

USMEF President Dan Halstrom says ocean carriers are announcing surcharges related to a potential strike, and exporters are forced to look, where possible, to divert shipments to other ports. Approximately 45 percent of waterborne U.S. pork exports ship out of the East and Gulf Coast ports, and on the beef side, that total is 30 percent.

U.S. agriculture is bracing for a potential work stoppage at East and Gulf Coast ports that could greatly disrupt American red meat exports. Contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance broke down in mid-November over issues related to automation and have shown little progress over the past month. The two sides reached a tentative agreement on wages in early October and temporarily extended the existing labor agreement. However, the contract extension will expire on January 15. The U.S. Meat Export Federation says the uncertainty is already impacting red meat exports. USMEF President Dan Halstrom says ocean carriers are announcing surcharges related to a potential strike, and exporters are forced to look, where possible, to divert shipments to other ports. Approximately 45 percent of waterborne U.S. pork exports ship out of the East and Gulf Coast ports, and on the beef side, that total is 30 percent.- NAFB

Port Labor Dispute Affecting Red Meat Exports

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association wants to remind all producers that the Corporate Transparency Act filing requirements are back in effect. A recent court of appeals decision reversed an injunction that previously had stopped the mandate. NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs, Kent Bacus says, “The Corporate Transparency Act requires millions of family farmers and ranchers to file complex paperwork and disclose beneficial ownership information with the federal government under penalty of severe fines and jail time.”  

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association wants to remind all producers that the Corporate Transparency Act filing requirements are back in effect. A recent court of appeals decision reversed an injunction that previously had stopped the mandate. NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs, Kent Bacus says, “The Corporate Transparency Act requires millions of family farmers and ranchers to file complex paperwork and disclose beneficial ownership information with the federal government under penalty of severe fines and jail time.”

Beneficial ownership deadline extended

A Continuing Resolution keeping the government fully funded through March 14, 2025, also included economic aid for farmers experiencing one of the biggest income drops in many years. In fact, over the past two years, USDA projects that farmers will experience the steepest two-year decline in net farm income in history. Meanwhile, due to an ineffective safety net, government help for producers is slated to be at the lowest level since 1982. 

A Continuing Resolution keeping the government fully funded through March 14, 2025, also included economic aid for farmers experiencing one of the biggest income drops in many years. In fact, over the past two years, USDA projects that farmers will experience the steepest two-year decline in net farm income in history. Meanwhile, due to an ineffective safety net, government help for producers is slated to be at the lowest level since 1982.

Economic assistance for farmers will be distributed

The 2024 Organic Grower Summit in Monterey, California, again proved to be the premier gathering for the Organic farming community. The event welcomed hundreds of participants from across the U.S. organic industry. 

“This year’s enthusiastic participation underscores the growing interest in sustainable and innovative farming practices,” says Matt Jungmann, Farm Progress national events director. “The Organic Grower Summit provides a platform for collaboration and learning for stakeholders who are shaping the future of organic farming.” 

The seminar’s educational sessions covered critical topics like soil health, ag technology, and market resiliency. A major focus was the increasing importance of regenerative farming practices.

 “It’s inspiring to see the organic community come together to share knowledge and celebrate progress,” says Jungmann. “We’re grateful to our sponsors, partners, and exhibitors, and we’re already looking forward to next year.” 

The 2025 Organic Summit will return to Monterey, California, December 3-4. For updates, go to<a href="http://www.organicgrowersummit.com/en/home.html"> OrganicGrowerSummit.com</a>.

The 2024 Organic Grower Summit in Monterey, California, again proved to be the premier gathering for the Organic farming community. The event welcomed hundreds of participants from across the U.S. organic industry. “This year’s enthusiastic participation underscores the growing interest in sustainable and innovative farming practices,” says Matt Jungmann, Farm Progress national events director. “The Organic Grower Summit provides a platform for collaboration and learning for stakeholders who are shaping the future of organic farming.” The seminar’s educational sessions covered critical topics like soil health, ag technology, and market resiliency. A major focus was the increasing importance of regenerative farming practices. “It’s inspiring to see the organic community come together to share knowledge and celebrate progress,” says Jungmann. “We’re grateful to our sponsors, partners, and exhibitors, and we’re already looking forward to next year.” The 2025 Organic Summit will return to Monterey, California, December 3-4. For updates, go to<a href="http://www.organicgrowersummit.com/en/home.html"> OrganicGrowerSummit.com</a>.

Farm Progress holds successful 2024 Organic Grower Summit

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 head or more totaled 12 million head on December 1, 2024. 

That inventory level was slightly below December 1, 2023. Placements in feedlots during November totaled 1.8 million head, four percent below the same time in 2023. Net placements totaled 1.74 million head. 

During November, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 495,000 ahead, 600-699 pounds were 420,000 head, 700-799 pounds totaled 375,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 276,000 head, 900-999 pounds totaled 145,000 head, and 1,000 pounds or greater reached 85,000 head. 

Marketings of fed cattle during November totaled 1.73 million head, one percent below November 2023. Other disappearances totaled 55,000 ahead during November, which was two percent higher than in 2023.

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 head or more totaled 12 million head on December 1, 2024. That inventory level was slightly below December 1, 2023. Placements in feedlots during November totaled 1.8 million head, four percent below the same time in 2023. Net placements totaled 1.74 million head. During November, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 495,000 ahead, 600-699 pounds were 420,000 head, 700-799 pounds totaled 375,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 276,000 head, 900-999 pounds totaled 145,000 head, and 1,000 pounds or greater reached 85,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during November totaled 1.73 million head, one percent below November 2023. Other disappearances totaled 55,000 ahead during November, which was two percent higher than in 2023.-NAFB

U.S. cattle on feed down slightly

In a major win for the nation’s corn growers, a USMCA dispute panel ruled that Mexico violated its commitments under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. 

The violation took place in early 2023 when Mexico issued a decree that banned genetically modified corn imports. 

“This is an incredible development for the nation’s corn growers and rural communities,” says Kenneth Hartman, Jr., president of the National Corn Growers Association. “The outcome is a direct result of advocacy efforts of corn grower leaders from across the country.” 

The U.S. Grains Council also hailed the good news. 

“Mexico has always been a powerful partner to U.S. corn growers and exporters, so when the country tried banning GM imports, it would have severely affected our industry,” says Ryan LeGrand, USGC President and CEO. “The Council worked to help ensure the dispute result was fair, and we look forward to continuing our work with our top U.S. grains-in-all-forms customer.”

In a major win for the nation’s corn growers, a USMCA dispute panel ruled that Mexico violated its commitments under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The violation took place in early 2023 when Mexico issued a decree that banned genetically modified corn imports. “This is an incredible development for the nation’s corn growers and rural communities,” says Kenneth Hartman, Jr., president of the National Corn Growers Association. “The outcome is a direct result of advocacy efforts of corn grower leaders from across the country.” The U.S. Grains Council also hailed the good news. “Mexico has always been a powerful partner to U.S. corn growers and exporters, so when the country tried banning GM imports, it would have severely affected our industry,” says Ryan LeGrand, USGC President and CEO. “The Council worked to help ensure the dispute result was fair, and we look forward to continuing our work with our top U.S. grains-in-all-forms customer.”-NAFB

Groups react to USMCA panel decision

On Monday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Appeals Court lifted a federal district court’s earlier order, which had previously halted the January 1, 2025 deadline for small businesses to file their beneficial ownership information with the Treasury Department. 

The Corporate Transparency Act passed by Congress in 2021 requires the paperwork to be filed by the Treasury’s Finanicial Crimes Enforcement Network. The CTA requires that owners and part-owners of an estimated 32.6 million small businesses, including 230,000 farms, must register their personal information with FinCEN. 

The American Farm Bureau estimates that this appeals court ruling now puts tens of thousands of farms back on the legal deadline to register their businesses with the federal government. Of the 230,000 farms that are likely required to file, only 11 percent had done so as of October.

 Farmers are encouraged to contact an accountant or an attorney if they are unsure about whether they are required to file the information.&nbsp;&nbsp;

On Monday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Appeals Court lifted a federal district court’s earlier order, which had previously halted the January 1, 2025 deadline for small businesses to file their beneficial ownership information with the Treasury Department. The Corporate Transparency Act passed by Congress in 2021 requires the paperwork to be filed by the Treasury’s Finanicial Crimes Enforcement Network. The CTA requires that owners and part-owners of an estimated 32.6 million small businesses, including 230,000 farms, must register their personal information with FinCEN. The American Farm Bureau estimates that this appeals court ruling now puts tens of thousands of farms back on the legal deadline to register their businesses with the federal government. Of the 230,000 farms that are likely required to file, only 11 percent had done so as of October. Farmers are encouraged to contact an accountant or an attorney if they are unsure about whether they are required to file the information.&nbsp;&nbsp;-NAFB

Court reinstates beneficial ownership requirement

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/eganward/">EGAN WARD</a>

DEXTER, Missouri – On an early August morning in 2023, Shawn Hinkle received a call from one of his technicians at Tyson Foods who, through tears, told him the company’s plant in Dexter was shutting down.

Hundreds of jobs at the poultry slaughterhouse would be lost and farmers like Hinkle, who contracted with Tyson to raise egg-laying hens, would be out of business.

A decade earlier, Hinkle borrowed $2.3 million to build two chicken houses on his land. After struggling to keep up with Tyson’s standards and investing in his farm, Hinkle now owed $2.8 million and faced the prospect of losing it all in bankruptcy.

Tyson said the Dexter plant closure was part of a national effort to streamline production and boost profits —&nbsp;<a href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2024/05/08/early-morning-calls-barren-chicken-barns-millions-in-debt/" target="_blank">the company also closed three other poultry plants and two beef packing plants</a>.

But Tyson’s explanation didn’t make sense to Hinkle and several other farmers who, in December 2023, sued the giant meat company for breaking its contracts.

As the lawsuit moves forward, a&nbsp;<a href="https://watchdogwritersgroup.com/" target="_blank">Watchdog Writers Group</a>&nbsp;analysis of documents filed in the case, in partnership with Investigate Midwest, reveals Tyson coordinated closely with Cal-Maine Foods, the company that ended up buying the Dexter plant. That coordination prevented farmers from continuing their same operations with another Tyson competitor.

Documents also show Tyson tried to prevent its former contract farmers from seeking legal remedies over the broken contracts, and has possibly attempted to discourage farmers from speaking with federal officials and journalists.

Tyson Foods declined to answer detailed questions about the allegations of the lawsuit.

After purchasing the Dexter plant, Cal-Maine offered contracts to local farmers if they retrofitted their farms to raise table egg-laying hens rather than chickens for meat. Unlike many area farmers, Hinke raised egg-laying hens to produce more chicks, which were sent to other farmers. Raising hens for Cal-Maine would have required a significant operational overall for Hinkle and other farmers.

But Cal-Maine’s offer came with a catch: The farmers would have to agree not to sue Tyson Foods for any losses because of the plant closure, according to court filings.

In another sign of coordination, Tyson provided the data that Cal-Maine used in its offer to farmers, according to a copy of the offer letter obtained by the Watchdog Writers Group.

By working with Cal-Maine, Tyson prevented the Dexter plant from being purchased by a competing poultry meat company, like *Perdue Foods or Sanderson Foods, according to attorneys representing Hinkle and his neighbors. Local poultry farmers could have transitioned more easily to new contracts with those competitors that produce meat, rather than eggs for consumption.

“Why on earth would Tyson do this?” Russ Oliver, a local attorney representing Hinkle and his neighbors asked during a court hearing in June. “Because if you keep it secret, then Perdue doesn’t find out about your plans. Then Sanderson doesn’t find out about your plans. And you gain a market advantage over the rest of the competition because they have six plants that are a​​ll of a sudden stopping production.”

Tyson Foods, which produces about one-fifth of all meat in the U.S., has faced numerous lawsuits and federal investigations over accusations of price fixing.

In&nbsp;2016, Tyson was sued in civil court by large meat wholesalers who claimed the company cut supplies to inflate chicken prices. Tyson settled that case for $221.5 million.

In&nbsp;2020, the U.S. Department of Justice sued large poultry companies, including Tyson, for allegedly colluding with competitors to raise prices. The case ended in a mistrial in 2022.

In&nbsp;2021, producers in Oklahoma, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, West Virginia and Texas&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/article/2021/09/23/growers-alleged-tyson-perdue-reduce" target="_blank">filed a lawsuit</a>&nbsp;that alleged Tyson and Perdue Foods shared grower pay data in order to suppress wages. Both companies settled for $35.8 million later that year.

None of these actions have significantly curbed Tyson’s market power, which, together with its next biggest competitor, Pilgrim’s Pride, controls about half the national market for chicken. In the&nbsp;late 1970s, more than 40 companies controlled half the market,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/41108/18011_aer785_1_.pdf?v=0" target="_blank">according to the USDA</a>.

The latest class action lawsuit filed by Hinkle and other Missouri farmers claims Tyson and Cal-Maine signed an agreement restricting how the Dexter poultry complex can be used for the next 25 years.

Since the lawsuit was filed, Hinkle and his attorneys also believe Tyson has tried to intimidate farmers and suppress media coverage. Tyson asked the court to compel Hinkle and others to reveal all contacts and conversations with officials at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which regulates antitrust laws on behalf of farmers.

Tyson has also asked the court to make Hinkle and others reveal any and all contacts and conversations with journalists. Hinkle said he is undeterred and will continue seeking compensation through the lawsuit, which does not request a specific dollar amount.

“None of this is anything that we wanted. I didn’t ask for a year’s worth of not sleeping,” he said. “Then again, I’m not going to sit back and get screwed.”

Tyson’s promise of prosperity comes at a cost

Hinkle’s career with Tyson Foods began in 2013 when two managers from the plant said they had an offer that would change his life.

They said Hinkle could build a massive factory farm on his land — using borrowed money that Tyson would help him obtain — where he could raise tens of thousands of chickens at a time under contract for Tyson and earn a stable income for decades.

Hinkle lived on a sprawling cattle farm handed down to him from his father, a farm where Hinkle had been doing daily labor and chores since he was 12 years old. *By the time the Tyson managers came to visit, his 1,200-acre spread was nearly paid off.

Hinkle was hesitant about Tyson’s offer. He had heard stories about farmers being forced to borrow money and upgrade equipment, only to have contracts later terminated without warning.

But the Tyson managers assured him those were old stories.

Hinkle’s original fears came true a decade later when Tyson closed the Dexter plant.

Tyson’s tactics: Countersuits and secret deals

When Hinkle decided to sue Tyson, he wanted a lawyer who understood his perspective. He found that with Russell Oliver.

Born and raised in Puxico, Missouri (15 miles from Dexter), Oliver was a farm boy himself. Before becoming the district’s prosecuting attorney, a young Oliver dreamed of carrying on the legacy of his family’s farm. When Oliver’s father died in 1974, several of his family members dropped their individual pursuits for the sake of the farm. So, when Hinkle approached him, heartbroken and desperate for answers, Oliver felt he had no choice but to help him.

“Everything about this (case) hits so close to home, it’s so much more than lawsuits and money,” Oliver said. “I see my neighbors that share the same identity that I share going through something like this — there’s no way I can’t fight for them.”

In addition to Hinkle, the lawsuit includes four other farmers once under contract with Tyson: Jessie Bridwell, Richard and Samantha Green, as well as R&amp;S Green Farms LLC.​​ The plaintiffs allege that Tyson deliberately misled them by shutting down the Dexter Complex, which caused severe financial damages.

During an April 29 hearing in Stoddard County, Tyson’s lawyers pushed back on the allegation, pointing out that the farmers are still receiving payment from Tyson to this day. This compensation is called outtime payments and refers to the money given to farmers to cover the time it takes to remove birds, clean out their houses and bring in new birds.

Outtime payments are $0.02 per square foot of chicken houses, significantly less than a monthly payment. Hinkle said the payments have been inconsistent and are far lower than what’s needed to cover his debt. He said Tyson technicians assured him that it would take no longer than four to six weeks to receive outtime payments; however, Hinkle said payments sometimes took as long as 20 weeks to show up.’

“My outtime pay doesn’t even cover the electric bill, so what are we supposed to do?” he said. “You’re always in a tumble of not knowing what to do. You can’t budget anything, it’s just a constant state of chaos.”

The lawsuit also claims Tyson knew about the plant closure as early as 2021 when the company filed a disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission stating that it had “identified” and “targeted” $1 billion in recurring savings year to year as part of their new “Productivity Program.”

The lawsuit also claims Tyson tried to thwart competition with its sale of the Dexter plant to Cal-Maine Foods, which included an agreement restricting how the plant could be used.

Hinkle’s lawyers alleged that they have a copy of the agreement, and they quoted from it in a court filing. However, the contract language was redacted in the public court filing.

The agreement between Tyson and Cal-Maine “has eliminated (and will eliminate for 25 years) any competition in the Dexter market area for the services of chicken growers,” the lawsuit claims. The farmers believe Tyson intentionally prevented the sale to a competitor in order to cut supply and raise prices on poultry. The exact mechanisms by which the contract might restrict competition were redacted and remain under seal, according to court filings and Hinkle’s attorneys.

In August, Tyson Foods countersued two Dexter farmers — Elija and Melissa Skaggs — claiming their case should be dismissed because the farmers turned down a chance to sign new contracts with Cal-Maine.

In the countersuit, Tyson acknowledged the agreement’s existence by saying it had terminated it in July. Tyson said that it had originally signed the agreement because it was worried that Cal-Maine might buy the Dexter plant but then quickly sell it to a competing company that would raise “broiler” chickens for food. If that happened, Tyson would have essentially sold the plant to a direct competitor. Tyson said in the court filing that the company later became “comfortable that Cal-Maine was not trying to flip the Dexter complex,” so Tyson terminated the property use-agreement.

*Brandon Boulware, an attorney from Boulware Law representing Dexter’s farmers against Tyson, said terminating the agreement didn’t help the farmers, because the plant had already been transformed into a table-egg producing facility rather than one that produced broilers.

“The damage has already been done,” Boulware said.

Tyson’s agreement with Cal-Maine has also drawn the attention of state and federal lawmakers.

https://embed.documentcloud.org/documents/25449738-us-sen-josh-hawley-letter/?embed=1

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, Missouri’s senior Republican senator, said Tyson’s CEO, Donnie King, personally reassured him in 2023 that Tyson would not prevent a competitor from buying the Dexter plant.

“You misled me,” Hawley wrote in a July 9 letter to King. “These are serious allegations, and the people of Missouri deserve to know the truth.”

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey echoed Hawley in an Oct. 3 letter to King, where he stated that it is “paramount that you do everything in your power to either keep the facilities open or sell to any interested party, including a competitor.”

When Hawley later learned about the property-use agreement between Tyson and Cal-Maine that Tyson kept from public filings, he called for it to be made public. The agreement was part of the larger sales contract between Tyson and Cal-Maine, and was not filed publicly with the county recorder of deeds, according to court documents. Bailey later joined the farmer’s lawsuit.

Confidential or concealed? Tyson’s documents under scrutiny&nbsp;

On June 26, the parties gathered in a small New Madrid County courtroom for a hearing. Behind the four lawyers for Tyson were seven empty wooden benches. On the other side, the plaintiffs’ legal counsel was made up of six lawyers, as well as Oliver’s son. Behind their table sat 11 people, many of them farmers in dirt-ridden boots and plaid dress shirts.

The 9 a.m. hearing was fiery from the outset. Of the 1,325 documents produced by Tyson Foods in the lawsuit, the plaintiff’s attorneys complained all three were being kept confidential. Tyson’s lawyers, led primarily by Zach Chaffee-McClure, argued that the opposing legal counsel had used some of the confidential documents without permission. They asked for the plaintiff’s lawyers, Brandon Boulware and Oliver, to be sanctioned.

Boulware and Oliver were quick to express their disbelief.

“This isn’t how we practice law in the (Missouri) Bootheel,” Oliver said. “(Tyson) wants to deflect, they want this to be about the lawyers and not the crimes.”

Boulware, who was from Kansas City, echoed Oliver’s sentiment. “I’ve been in law since 2005, and I have never been sanctioned; this is a first for me,” Boulware said. “I agree, this is not how things are done in the Bootheel, but it’s not how they are done in Kansas City, either.”

Later, Oliver argued that Tyson was concealing evidence of breaking the law. Oliver asked for four confidential documents to be made public, which included the sale agreement with Cal-Maine.

Oliver also said he had no plans to settle with Tyson and promised the judge that, if given permission, they would disclose these documents to government officials like Bailey, Hawley, USDA and the Department of Justice.

McClure, Tyson’s attorney, responded that his client cooperates with the federal government “all the time,” and that the company is allowed to designate any business or competitive document confidential.

Tyson’s other lawyer argued, using the example of a donut shop, that a business preventing the sale of its property to a competitor happens all the time and is not a crime.

Tyson’s market power under the microscope&nbsp;

If the allegations of antitrust violations are accurate, Tyson Foods could face serious consequences, said Claire Kelloway, program manager for fair food and farming systems at Open Markets Institute, a Washington, DC-based think tank focused on the dangers of monopolization.

“Tyson is a brand that comes with a lot of baggage for those covering the food industry,” Kelloway said. “Tyson gets some of the credit for turning the industry into this really vertically-integrated model that centralizes a lot of control over the supply chain in one company.”

Calling the poultry industry “extremely unfair” and “exploitative” of farmers, Kelloway added that Tyson’s size and political power make it difficult to hold them accountable.

“The industry needs a lot of sunlight and scrutiny,” she said. “Hopefully, the reforms and rulemaking keep coming until these antitrust laws are being enforced as intended.”

Just shy of two months after the hearing, Tyson’s legal counsel said it would depose Hinkle and the other plaintiffs.

Hinkle was also sent a more demanding request. Tyson filed a motion that would compel him to provide complete copies of all recordings and written communications that he and his attorneys had with media outlets. Tyson also demanded all of Hinkle’s communications with the USDA, which enforces antitrust law for farmers.

Boulware said that his law firm had obeyed Tyson’s subpoena and was compelled to hand over documents related to the firm’s communication with journalists.

“It’s unprecedented for a defendant to seek documents, or communication between a lawyer and the press, rather than defend their own misconduct,” Boulware said.

Tyson also subpoenaed two news organizations: KFVS12, a television station in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and Talk Business and Politics, a news website in Arkansas. In the subpoenas, Tyson demanded copies of all communications between reporters and Hinkle. The local media outlets that were subpoenaed refused to cooperate, Boulware said, and Tyson has refused to enforce those subpoenas.

Both KFVS12 and Talk Business and Politics declined to comment.

With a trial date set for next June, a lifestyle of financial and emotional uncertainty persists for many of the farmers of the Dexter complex. For Hinkle and other plaintiffs, this lawsuit is personal. They, along with Oliver and Boulware, insist this has never been about money; it is about what is right and wrong.

“These companies need to understand that the days of building an empire on our backs and then just throwing us out like garbage is over,” Hinkle said. “Not anymore.”

In November, Tyson Foods reported its quarterly earnings. The news was great for Tyson shareholders. Tyson’s poultry division made a profit of $409 million for the quarter, compared to a loss of $267 million the year before.

This&nbsp;<a href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2024/12/17/tyson-foods-cut-contracts-with-poultry-farmers-now-the-company-is-working-to-silence-their-legal-fight/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://investigatemidwest.org/" target="_blank">Investigate Midwest</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734607642518.png" alt=" A farm near Sikeston on April 17 where the owner raised chickens before market changes (photo by Daniel Byrd, for Investigate Midwest)." />
 <figcaption> A farm near Sikeston on April 17 where the owner raised chickens before market changes (photo by Daniel Byrd, for Investigate Midwest).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/eganward/">EGAN WARD</a>DEXTER, Missouri – On an early August morning in 2023, Shawn Hinkle received a call from one of his technicians at Tyson Foods who, through tears, told him the company’s plant in Dexter was shutting down.Hundreds of jobs at the poultry slaughterhouse would be lost and farmers like Hinkle, who contracted with Tyson to raise egg-laying hens, would be out of business.A decade earlier, Hinkle borrowed $2.3 million to build two chicken houses on his land. After struggling to keep up with Tyson’s standards and investing in his farm, Hinkle now owed $2.8 million and faced the prospect of losing it all in bankruptcy.Tyson said the Dexter plant closure was part of a national effort to streamline production and boost profits —&nbsp;<a href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2024/05/08/early-morning-calls-barren-chicken-barns-millions-in-debt/" target="_blank">the company also closed three other poultry plants and two beef packing plants</a>.But Tyson’s explanation didn’t make sense to Hinkle and several other farmers who, in December 2023, sued the giant meat company for breaking its contracts.As the lawsuit moves forward, a&nbsp;<a href="https://watchdogwritersgroup.com/" target="_blank">Watchdog Writers Group</a>&nbsp;analysis of documents filed in the case, in partnership with Investigate Midwest, reveals Tyson coordinated closely with Cal-Maine Foods, the company that ended up buying the Dexter plant. That coordination prevented farmers from continuing their same operations with another Tyson competitor.Documents also show Tyson tried to prevent its former contract farmers from seeking legal remedies over the broken contracts, and has possibly attempted to discourage farmers from speaking with federal officials and journalists.Tyson Foods declined to answer detailed questions about the allegations of the lawsuit.After purchasing the Dexter plant, Cal-Maine offered contracts to local farmers if they retrofitted their farms to raise table egg-laying hens rather than chickens for meat. Unlike many area farmers, Hinke raised egg-laying hens to produce more chicks, which were sent to other farmers. Raising hens for Cal-Maine would have required a significant operational overall for Hinkle and other farmers.But Cal-Maine’s offer came with a catch: The farmers would have to agree not to sue Tyson Foods for any losses because of the plant closure, according to court filings.In another sign of coordination, Tyson provided the data that Cal-Maine used in its offer to farmers, according to a copy of the offer letter obtained by the Watchdog Writers Group.By working with Cal-Maine, Tyson prevented the Dexter plant from being purchased by a competing poultry meat company, like *Perdue Foods or Sanderson Foods, according to attorneys representing Hinkle and his neighbors. Local poultry farmers could have transitioned more easily to new contracts with those competitors that produce meat, rather than eggs for consumption.“Why on earth would Tyson do this?” Russ Oliver, a local attorney representing Hinkle and his neighbors asked during a court hearing in June. “Because if you keep it secret, then Perdue doesn’t find out about your plans. Then Sanderson doesn’t find out about your plans. And you gain a market advantage over the rest of the competition because they have six plants that are a​​ll of a sudden stopping production.”Tyson Foods, which produces about one-fifth of all meat in the U.S., has faced numerous lawsuits and federal investigations over accusations of price fixing.In&nbsp;2016, Tyson was sued in civil court by large meat wholesalers who claimed the company cut supplies to inflate chicken prices. Tyson settled that case for $221.5 million.In&nbsp;2020, the U.S. Department of Justice sued large poultry companies, including Tyson, for allegedly colluding with competitors to raise prices. The case ended in a mistrial in 2022.In&nbsp;2021, producers in Oklahoma, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, West Virginia and Texas&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/article/2021/09/23/growers-alleged-tyson-perdue-reduce" target="_blank">filed a lawsuit</a>&nbsp;that alleged Tyson and Perdue Foods shared grower pay data in order to suppress wages. Both companies settled for $35.8 million later that year.None of these actions have significantly curbed Tyson’s market power, which, together with its next biggest competitor, Pilgrim’s Pride, controls about half the national market for chicken. In the&nbsp;late 1970s, more than 40 companies controlled half the market,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/41108/18011_aer785_1_.pdf?v=0" target="_blank">according to the USDA</a>.The latest class action lawsuit filed by Hinkle and other Missouri farmers claims Tyson and Cal-Maine signed an agreement restricting how the Dexter poultry complex can be used for the next 25 years.Since the lawsuit was filed, Hinkle and his attorneys also believe Tyson has tried to intimidate farmers and suppress media coverage. Tyson asked the court to compel Hinkle and others to reveal all contacts and conversations with officials at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which regulates antitrust laws on behalf of farmers.Tyson has also asked the court to make Hinkle and others reveal any and all contacts and conversations with journalists. Hinkle said he is undeterred and will continue seeking compensation through the lawsuit, which does not request a specific dollar amount.“None of this is anything that we wanted. I didn’t ask for a year’s worth of not sleeping,” he said. “Then again, I’m not going to sit back and get screwed.”<h2>Tyson’s promise of prosperity comes at a cost</h2>Hinkle’s career with Tyson Foods began in 2013 when two managers from the plant said they had an offer that would change his life.They said Hinkle could build a massive factory farm on his land — using borrowed money that Tyson would help him obtain — where he could raise tens of thousands of chickens at a time under contract for Tyson and earn a stable income for decades.Hinkle lived on a sprawling cattle farm handed down to him from his father, a farm where Hinkle had been doing daily labor and chores since he was 12 years old. *By the time the Tyson managers came to visit, his 1,200-acre spread was nearly paid off.Hinkle was hesitant about Tyson’s offer. He had heard stories about farmers being forced to borrow money and upgrade equipment, only to have contracts later terminated without warning.But the Tyson managers assured him those were old stories.Hinkle’s original fears came true a decade later when Tyson closed the Dexter plant.<h2>Tyson’s tactics: Countersuits and secret deals</h2>When Hinkle decided to sue Tyson, he wanted a lawyer who understood his perspective. He found that with Russell Oliver.Born and raised in Puxico, Missouri (15 miles from Dexter), Oliver was a farm boy himself. Before becoming the district’s prosecuting attorney, a young Oliver dreamed of carrying on the legacy of his family’s farm. When Oliver’s father died in 1974, several of his family members dropped their individual pursuits for the sake of the farm. So, when Hinkle approached him, heartbroken and desperate for answers, Oliver felt he had no choice but to help him.“Everything about this (case) hits so close to home, it’s so much more than lawsuits and money,” Oliver said. “I see my neighbors that share the same identity that I share going through something like this — there’s no way I can’t fight for them.”In addition to Hinkle, the lawsuit includes four other farmers once under contract with Tyson: Jessie Bridwell, Richard and Samantha Green, as well as R&amp;S Green Farms LLC.​​ The plaintiffs allege that Tyson deliberately misled them by shutting down the Dexter Complex, which caused severe financial damages.During an April 29 hearing in Stoddard County, Tyson’s lawyers pushed back on the allegation, pointing out that the farmers are still receiving payment from Tyson to this day. This compensation is called outtime payments and refers to the money given to farmers to cover the time it takes to remove birds, clean out their houses and bring in new birds.Outtime payments are $0.02 per square foot of chicken houses, significantly less than a monthly payment. Hinkle said the payments have been inconsistent and are far lower than what’s needed to cover his debt. He said Tyson technicians assured him that it would take no longer than four to six weeks to receive outtime payments; however, Hinkle said payments sometimes took as long as 20 weeks to show up.’“My outtime pay doesn’t even cover the electric bill, so what are we supposed to do?” he said. “You’re always in a tumble of not knowing what to do. You can’t budget anything, it’s just a constant state of chaos.”The lawsuit also claims Tyson knew about the plant closure as early as 2021 when the company filed a disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission stating that it had “identified” and “targeted” $1 billion in recurring savings year to year as part of their new “Productivity Program.”The lawsuit also claims Tyson tried to thwart competition with its sale of the Dexter plant to Cal-Maine Foods, which included an agreement restricting how the plant could be used.Hinkle’s lawyers alleged that they have a copy of the agreement, and they quoted from it in a court filing. However, the contract language was redacted in the public court filing.The agreement between Tyson and Cal-Maine “has eliminated (and will eliminate for 25 years) any competition in the Dexter market area for the services of chicken growers,” the lawsuit claims. The farmers believe Tyson intentionally prevented the sale to a competitor in order to cut supply and raise prices on poultry. The exact mechanisms by which the contract might restrict competition were redacted and remain under seal, according to court filings and Hinkle’s attorneys.In August, Tyson Foods countersued two Dexter farmers — Elija and Melissa Skaggs — claiming their case should be dismissed because the farmers turned down a chance to sign new contracts with Cal-Maine.In the countersuit, Tyson acknowledged the agreement’s existence by saying it had terminated it in July. Tyson said that it had originally signed the agreement because it was worried that Cal-Maine might buy the Dexter plant but then quickly sell it to a competing company that would raise “broiler” chickens for food. If that happened, Tyson would have essentially sold the plant to a direct competitor. Tyson said in the court filing that the company later became “comfortable that Cal-Maine was not trying to flip the Dexter complex,” so Tyson terminated the property use-agreement.*Brandon Boulware, an attorney from Boulware Law representing Dexter’s farmers against Tyson, said terminating the agreement didn’t help the farmers, because the plant had already been transformed into a table-egg producing facility rather than one that produced broilers.“The damage has already been done,” Boulware said.Tyson’s agreement with Cal-Maine has also drawn the attention of state and federal lawmakers.https://embed.documentcloud.org/documents/25449738-us-sen-josh-hawley-letter/?embed=1U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, Missouri’s senior Republican senator, said Tyson’s CEO, Donnie King, personally reassured him in 2023 that Tyson would not prevent a competitor from buying the Dexter plant.“You misled me,” Hawley wrote in a July 9 letter to King. “These are serious allegations, and the people of Missouri deserve to know the truth.”Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey echoed Hawley in an Oct. 3 letter to King, where he stated that it is “paramount that you do everything in your power to either keep the facilities open or sell to any interested party, including a competitor.”When Hawley later learned about the property-use agreement between Tyson and Cal-Maine that Tyson kept from public filings, he called for it to be made public. The agreement was part of the larger sales contract between Tyson and Cal-Maine, and was not filed publicly with the county recorder of deeds, according to court documents. Bailey later joined the farmer’s lawsuit.<h2>Confidential or concealed? Tyson’s documents under scrutiny&nbsp;</h2>On June 26, the parties gathered in a small New Madrid County courtroom for a hearing. Behind the four lawyers for Tyson were seven empty wooden benches. On the other side, the plaintiffs’ legal counsel was made up of six lawyers, as well as Oliver’s son. Behind their table sat 11 people, many of them farmers in dirt-ridden boots and plaid dress shirts.The 9 a.m. hearing was fiery from the outset. Of the 1,325 documents produced by Tyson Foods in the lawsuit, the plaintiff’s attorneys complained all three were being kept confidential. Tyson’s lawyers, led primarily by Zach Chaffee-McClure, argued that the opposing legal counsel had used some of the confidential documents without permission. They asked for the plaintiff’s lawyers, Brandon Boulware and Oliver, to be sanctioned.Boulware and Oliver were quick to express their disbelief.“This isn’t how we practice law in the (Missouri) Bootheel,” Oliver said. “(Tyson) wants to deflect, they want this to be about the lawyers and not the crimes.”Boulware, who was from Kansas City, echoed Oliver’s sentiment. “I’ve been in law since 2005, and I have never been sanctioned; this is a first for me,” Boulware said. “I agree, this is not how things are done in the Bootheel, but it’s not how they are done in Kansas City, either.”The motion was denied by the judge.Later, Oliver argued that Tyson was concealing evidence of breaking the law. Oliver asked for four confidential documents to be made public, which included the sale agreement with Cal-Maine.Oliver also said he had no plans to settle with Tyson and promised the judge that, if given permission, they would disclose these documents to government officials like Bailey, Hawley, USDA and the Department of Justice.McClure, Tyson’s attorney, responded that his client cooperates with the federal government “all the time,” and that the company is allowed to designate any business or competitive document confidential.Tyson’s other lawyer argued, using the example of a donut shop, that a business preventing the sale of its property to a competitor happens all the time and is not a crime.<h2>Tyson’s market power under the microscope&nbsp;</h2>If the allegations of antitrust violations are accurate, Tyson Foods could face serious consequences, said Claire Kelloway, program manager for fair food and farming systems at Open Markets Institute, a Washington, DC-based think tank focused on the dangers of monopolization.“Tyson is a brand that comes with a lot of baggage for those covering the food industry,” Kelloway said. “Tyson gets some of the credit for turning the industry into this really vertically-integrated model that centralizes a lot of control over the supply chain in one company.”Calling the poultry industry “extremely unfair” and “exploitative” of farmers, Kelloway added that Tyson’s size and political power make it difficult to hold them accountable.“The industry needs a lot of sunlight and scrutiny,” she said. “Hopefully, the reforms and rulemaking keep coming until these antitrust laws are being enforced as intended.”Just shy of two months after the hearing, Tyson’s legal counsel said it would depose Hinkle and the other plaintiffs.Hinkle was also sent a more demanding request. Tyson filed a motion that would compel him to provide complete copies of all recordings and written communications that he and his attorneys had with media outlets. Tyson also demanded all of Hinkle’s communications with the USDA, which enforces antitrust law for farmers.Boulware said that his law firm had obeyed Tyson’s subpoena and was compelled to hand over documents related to the firm’s communication with journalists.“It’s unprecedented for a defendant to seek documents, or communication between a lawyer and the press, rather than defend their own misconduct,” Boulware said.Tyson also subpoenaed two news organizations: KFVS12, a television station in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and Talk Business and Politics, a news website in Arkansas. In the subpoenas, Tyson demanded copies of all communications between reporters and Hinkle. The local media outlets that were subpoenaed refused to cooperate, Boulware said, and Tyson has refused to enforce those subpoenas.Both KFVS12 and Talk Business and Politics declined to comment.With a trial date set for next June, a lifestyle of financial and emotional uncertainty persists for many of the farmers of the Dexter complex. For Hinkle and other plaintiffs, this lawsuit is personal. They, along with Oliver and Boulware, insist this has never been about money; it is about what is right and wrong.“These companies need to understand that the days of building an empire on our backs and then just throwing us out like garbage is over,” Hinkle said. “Not anymore.”In November, Tyson Foods reported its quarterly earnings. The news was great for Tyson shareholders. Tyson’s poultry division made a profit of $409 million for the quarter, compared to a loss of $267 million the year before.This&nbsp;<a href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2024/12/17/tyson-foods-cut-contracts-with-poultry-farmers-now-the-company-is-working-to-silence-their-legal-fight/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://investigatemidwest.org/" target="_blank">Investigate Midwest</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<figure>
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Tyson Foods cut contracts with Missouri farmers and is working to silence their legal fight

The National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s Board of Directors sent a letter to Congressional leadership on the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act being included in the Omnibus Continuing Resolution. The CR will be introduced before the end of the Lame Duck Session. The letter points out that for over 80 years, the NAFB’s broadcasters have worked hard to serve rural and urban residents with timely and accurate information in daily programming.

 “Failure to approve this critical AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act will allow automakers to eliminate access to critical information to the people we serve,” the letter says. “Rural and urban residents should not be forced to subscribe to an unreliable data stream for urgent information.” Radio access is especially important for America’s producers and rural audiences in times of emergency. For people working out in the open and miles from home, response time is critical.

The National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s Board of Directors sent a letter to Congressional leadership on the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act being included in the Omnibus Continuing Resolution. The CR will be introduced before the end of the Lame Duck Session. The letter points out that for over 80 years, the NAFB’s broadcasters have worked hard to serve rural and urban residents with timely and accurate information in daily programming. “Failure to approve this critical AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act will allow automakers to eliminate access to critical information to the people we serve,” the letter says. “Rural and urban residents should not be forced to subscribe to an unreliable data stream for urgent information.” Radio access is especially important for America’s producers and rural audiences in times of emergency. For people working out in the open and miles from home, response time is critical.-NAFB

NAFB letter supports AM radio in the continuing resolution

House Speaker Mike Johnson announced a last-minute breakthrough on help for farmers. A must-pass bill to avert a government shutdown will now include farm aid, giving farmers something to celebrate the Christmas season. A high-pressure lobbying effort by multiple farm groups and Johnson himself has paid off. “What you’ll see reflected in this final package is $10 billion to start,” Johnson says. “In addition, USDA moved some things around and has added $2 billion for specialty crops they announced in late November, all of which means help is coming.” 

Johnson hopes with this announcement that a great sigh of relief is coming from farm country. “I’ve talked to several leaders in the ag community who say they’re greatly relieved,” Johnson added. While it’s not the $15 to $20 billion the American Farm Bureau and many others were asking for, Johnson says the new aid comes not a moment too soon.

House Speaker Mike Johnson announced a last-minute breakthrough on help for farmers. A must-pass bill to avert a government shutdown will now include farm aid, giving farmers something to celebrate the Christmas season. A high-pressure lobbying effort by multiple farm groups and Johnson himself has paid off. “What you’ll see reflected in this final package is $10 billion to start,” Johnson says. “In addition, USDA moved some things around and has added $2 billion for specialty crops they announced in late November, all of which means help is coming.” Johnson hopes with this announcement that a great sigh of relief is coming from farm country. “I’ve talked to several leaders in the ag community who say they’re greatly relieved,” Johnson added. While it’s not the $15 to $20 billion the American Farm Bureau and many others were asking for, Johnson says the new aid comes not a moment too soon.

Last minute breakthrough on farm assistance 

Legislators are working to try and pass a continuing resolution to keep the government funded, but there were rumblings over the weekend that essential aid for the nation’s farmers wouldn’t be included. Reports say Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow moved conservation dollars from the Inflation Reduction Act into the baseline for the farm bill. She’d like to take the majority of those funds and put them into a package for farmers immediately. 

However, Speaker Mike Johnson says the majority of the GOP conference wouldn’t support a proposed agreement that adds Inflation Reduction Act funding into the legislation’s baseline. House GOP leadership says this is a Democratic priority, even though many lawmakers on both sides of the aisle support the move. Ultra-conservative GOP members want to outright cut those IRA dollars and block any additional federal spending. Additionally, some key Republican leaders want more money included for direct farmer aid.

Legislators are working to try and pass a continuing resolution to keep the government funded, but there were rumblings over the weekend that essential aid for the nation’s farmers wouldn’t be included. Reports say Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow moved conservation dollars from the Inflation Reduction Act into the baseline for the farm bill. She’d like to take the majority of those funds and put them into a package for farmers immediately. However, Speaker Mike Johnson says the majority of the GOP conference wouldn’t support a proposed agreement that adds Inflation Reduction Act funding into the legislation’s baseline. House GOP leadership says this is a Democratic priority, even though many lawmakers on both sides of the aisle support the move. Ultra-conservative GOP members want to outright cut those IRA dollars and block any additional federal spending. Additionally, some key Republican leaders want more money included for direct farmer aid.