Press Releases

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) last week introduced the Packers and Stockyards Improvements Act, legislation to address rising meat and poultry prices due to corporate mergers and takeovers. The bill would improve the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) enforcement tools under the Packers and Stockyards Act and prohibit anti-competitive behavior in the meat and poultry industry. 

“As mergers and corporate takeovers have consolidated power in the meat and poultry industry, consumers and producers have paid the price. The Packers and Stockyards Act has been crucial for enforcing compliance, but lacks sufficient tools to protect Americans from paying outrageous costs,” said Rep. Scanlon. “The Trump administration’s deregulation of the industry will only help his corporate buddies to maximize profits while continuing to hurt ranchers, farmers, and American families. I’m proud to introduce the Packers and Stockyards Improvements Act to lower costs for consumers and strengthen protections for our ranchers and farmers.”

In recent years, the meat and poultry sector has undergone a drastic shift with just four major corporations - Tyson Foods, JBS, Cargill, and National Beef - controlling about 85% of the U.S. beef packing, 67% of the pork market, and 60% of poultry processing, resulting in skyrocketing prices for consumers. The Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 was passed to promote fair competition and trade practices, but has been unable to prevent increasing consolidation and subsequent price increases. This has further exacerbated the cost of living crisis as working class Americans struggle to put food on the table. In August 2026, the cost of ground beef reached a record high of $7.158 per pound. Beef prices have risen more than 22% since January 2025, as the Trump administration continues to pursue trade wars and failed to prevent a screwworm outbreak. 

To address major changes from the first Trump administration, including the weakening of Packers and Stockyards protections, the USDA released a study entitled Agricultural Competition: A Plan in Support of Fair and Competitive Markets as part of President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy to use existing authorities to promote competition and protect ranchers and farmers from abusive meatpacker practices. Based on the report’s findings, the USDA implemented two rules and proposed a third. However, in July 2026, the Trump administration announced that it was rescinding those rules.

To address these insufficiencies, the Packers and Stockyard Improvements Act would:

• Add poultry growers to administrative litigation authority under USDA.

• Allow the Packers and Stockyards Division to have regular access to Livestock Mandatory Reporting Data to better monitor for violations.

• Give USDA civil investigative demand authority for potential violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act.

• Provide a standard whistleblower protection for employees and contractors of regulated businesses who report suspected violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act.

The Packers and Stockyards Improvements Act would further strengthen our ability to combat contemporary anticompetitive practices in meat and poultry markets, and add a new list of per se violations to address commonly used practices that lessen competition and punish suppliers, growers, and farmers.

The bill is endorsed by the American Economic Liberties Project, Campaign for Contract Agriculture Reform, National Farmers Union, Farm Aid, National Family Farm Coalition, RAFI, and Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance.

Find the full bill text here.

###