Oregon farmers are criticizing the Trump administration’s repeal of three Biden-era rules aimed at boosting competition and fairness in the meat industry.

One 2024 rule barred meat processing facilities from discriminating or retaliating against producers based on race, gender or co-op membership.

Alice Morrison, co-executive director of the advocacy group Friends of Family Farmers, warned limited access to USDA-inspected facilities already stifles independent meat producers and the rollback will only worsen the bottleneck.

Image

"Our farmers are getting 12- to 18-month wait times quoted to them for processing slots," Morrison reported. "Before you even start the farm, you need to figure out your processing because if there's no way to bring your product to market, you shouldn't dig yourself into that financial hole of raising those animals."

Morrison argued rescinding the rules will allow processing facilities to favor farmers with corporate contracts over smaller operations. National Chicken Council President Mike Brown called the rules “anti-business” and said they would lead to higher prices for consumers.

Emily Miller, staff attorney for the nonprofit Food and Water Watch, said the rules were put in place in order to counter the effects of “hyperconsolidation” in the meat industry.

Miller noted just four companies control the majority of chicken and pork processing and 85% of beef processing, adding removing the rules will prioritize corporate interests.

"We need robust enforcement of antitrust and fair trade practice laws to finally protect producers from unfair and illegal conduct," Miller asserted. "Unfortunately, these rollbacks will do just the opposite."

Morrison pointed out one solution is for Oregon to open up more state-operated facilities but budget shortfalls have limited the state’s investment.