To: The United States House of Representatives
Protect Chicken Farmers from Big Poultry Retaliation
Chicken farmers are being bullied by Big Poultry corporations — and Congress has failed to protect them.
The poultry sector is dominated by a few large poultry processing companies that control every step of chicken production. Farmers who raise chickens do not even own the birds, though they do own the waste they create and are responsible for making costly upgrades to their farms, as dictated by these companies.
Chicken companies often retaliate against farmers who speak out against unfair and abusive conditions by terminating their contracts, leaving farmers unable to pay their mountains of debt.
Representative Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) recently introduced an amendment to the 2016 Agricultural Appropriations Bill that would protect farmers who speak out about unfair treatment and abusive practices by poultry companies. As your constituent, I urge you to support this amendment.
Why is this important?
Watch John Oliver's revealing piece on the secret reality behind America's favorite meat, then send a message to Congress to protect chicken farmers from retaliation by Big Poultry companies.
http://act.foodandwaterwatch.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&id=2109
The poultry sector is dominated by a few large poultry processing companies that control every step of chicken production. Farmers who raise chickens do not even own the birds, though they do own the waste they create and are responsible for making costly upgrades to their farms, as dictated by these companies.
Farmers borrow massive amounts of money -- sometimes more than a million dollars -- to build and upgrade the chicken houses as directed by the companies. Though the farmers must make payment on these loans for a decade or more, they often are dependent on getting the next delivery of chicks under a short-term, flock-to-flock contract to repay their debt.
Chicken companies often retaliate against farmers who speak out against unfair and abusive conditions in the poultry industry by terminating their contracts, leaving farmers unable to pay their mountains of debt.
Farmers should not be betting the farm if they exercise their First Amendment right to speak out or talk to public officials about the unfairness in the poultry industry. Please support Representative Kaptur's efforts to help level the playing field and protect chicken farmers from retaliation by Big Poultry corporations.