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Stand up for rural AmericaFor decades, corporate mergers in agribusiness have proceeded, virtually unchallenged, at breakneck speed. All who live in rural America are paying the price for inaction by USDA and the U.S. Department of Justice. Corporate consolidation and vertical integration have decimated family farmers and ranchers and destroyed their livestock markets. On March 5th, JBS-S.A of Brazil announced the acquisition of National Beef, America's fourth largest beef packer. If approved, the three largest packers will control 73 percent of U.S. beef packing. JBS will own one third. There is no indication that the Justice Department or USDA will do anything about it. Will you? Farmers, ranchers and rural communities have lost too much of the economic benefit of raising cattle and hogs. And we will all be left to endure the environmental nightmares that accompany the industrial livestock production owned and controlled by packers. For 35 years the Center for Rural Affairs has stood with family farmers, ranchers and rural communities throughout rural America. We have fought for reform to stop the corporate takeover of agriculture. Rural America's future can and should include thriving family farms and ranches and vibrant rural communities. Stand up for rural America and go to http://www.cfra.org/JBS and tell the Justice Department to stop the JBS merger. --Elisha Greeley Smith, elishas@cfra.org, Center for Rural Affairs 7/14/08 Date: 7/9/08
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