Small farmers may get relief from federal bottlenecks in meat processing
A provision in the 2026 Farm Bill would allow local slaughterhouses to operate under state inspection — opening the door to direct-to-consumer sales.
-
-
Consolidation is driving up costs and hollowing out rural America
Zach Lahn says as large agribusiness firms consolidate power, farmers report fewer choices, higher costs, and growing pressure on rural communities.
-
Undercover at CattleCon: Ranchers Say “Big Four” Beef Packers Run the Market
An undercover video at CattleCon 2026 highlights what many ranchers have warned for years: four corporations dominate U.S. beef processing — and independent producers are paying the price.
-
From 300 seed companies to 3
A quiet consolidation has reshaped American agriculture — leaving farmers with fewer choices, higher costs, and shrinking leverage.
-
Super Bowl Ad Calls for Americans to Eat Real Food
A new Super Bowl ad featuring Mike Tyson is fueling a national push to rethink ultra-processed food, public nutrition programs, and the growing distance between Americans and real, nutrient-dense food.
-
European Farmers Protest EU–Mercosur Trade Deal Over ‘Unfair’ Competition
Protests across Europe are reigniting debate over the EU–Mercosur trade deal, as farmers warn that looser environmental standards in South America could undercut European agriculture and reshape global food markets.
-
Farmers Under Pressure: Economic Stress and Isolation Fuel a Growing Mental Health Crisis
An Iowa Public Radio report follows the story of an Iowa farmer grappling with depression and loss, revealing how market volatility, rising costs, and isolation are pushing farmers into a mental health crisis — with suicide rates far higher than the national average.
-
Food freedom is becoming a national security issue
John Klar and Meryl Nass talk about how food policy is quietly crushing small farmers — and why fixing local meat processing could lower prices, improve health, and strengthen food security.
-
American farmers are being crushed — and it isn’t the trade war
A new investigation shows how decades of consolidation have trapped U.S. farmers in a system designed for them to lose.
-
Farmers shut down Brussels as backlash grows over trade deal
After years of warnings, farmers say they are being forced to compete against products made with chemicals and practices banned in their own fields.
