US: CAP proposes antitrust agency at USDA

A prominent liberal group is aiming to combat consolidation in the agriculture industry by lobbying lawmakers to establish an independent antitrust agency within the Agriculture Department (USDA), reported Politico.

The Center for American Progress (CAP) on Tuesday, May 7, floated a novel idea to counter the effects of a rapidly consolidating agriculture industry: establish an independent task force at USDA charged with maintaining competitive markets and protecting farmers from the harms of consolidation. CAP also backed other proposals including upping antitrust enforcement and restructuring farmer contracts with employers.

The proposed “Independent Farmer Protection Bureau” (IFPB) would be modeled after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and led by a Senate-confirmed appointee with a five-year term. The IFPB would have offices across the country that collect data and monitor markets. The agency would also set up a hotline for farmers to issue complaints about anti-competitive practices and would have the authority to enforce antitrust laws and oversee the input side of markets.