 |
| Corey Booker |
That defies two sets of World Trade Organization rulings that COOL breaks the rules and WTO orders that the legislation be dropped, else Canada would be in a position to impose punitive tariffs.
But Booker is also seeking a number of other measures bound to be popular with farmers across the United States.
They are:
- Phase out CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations) by 2040;
- Hold corporate integrators responsible for pollution caused by CAFOs;
- Provide a voluntary buyout for farmers who want to transition out of a CAFO;
- Prohibit the use of tournament or ranking systems for paying contract growers;
- Protect livestock and poultry growers from retaliation, and
- Create market transparency and protect farmers and ranchers from predatory purchasing practices.
Booker’s bill would also strengthen the Packers and Stockyards Act “to crack down on the monopolistic practices of multi-national meatpackers .”
The new bill uses the Environmental Protection Act’s definition of a CAFO, which includes farms with at least 700 dairy cows, 2,500 hogs, 1,000 cattle and 125,000 broiler chickens.
Up to $100 billion over a decade would be set aside for voluntary buyouts to owners who want to transition to other types of agriculture, or to help pay off any outstanding debt.
“Our independent family farmers and ranchers are continuing to be squeezed by large, multinational corporations that, because of their buying power and size, run roughshod over the marketplace. We need to fix the broken system – that means protecting family farmers and ranchers and holding corporate integrators responsible for the harm they are causing,” Booker said in a news release. “Large factory farms are harmful to rural communities, public health, and the environment and we must immediately begin to transition to a more sustainable and humane system.”
Booker has been a vegan since 2014.
Among those supporting his proposed legislation are Family Farm Action, Indiana Farmers Union, Pennsylvania Farmers Union, American Grassfed Association, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, Women Food and Agriculture Network, Missouri's Food for America, Family Dairy Farms LLC, American Public Health Association, Food & Water Action, Center for Food Safety, Public Justice, Waterkeeper Alliance, Natural Resources Defense Council and Mighty Earth.
