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National Farmers Union opposes consolidation in Ag industry

The National Farmers Union is in Washington D.C. this week meeting with government leaders and one of their main issues this year is consolidation in the ag industry. Zack Clark, Government Affairs Associate with the Farmers Union says consolidation limits choice for farmers.

“We get a little concerned in the seed sector when the big six can go to the big three or four. That doesn’t give our producers a whole lot of choice and it opens up the door to some activities” says Clark.

Clark says pending mergers including Dow Chemical Company’s plans to merge with DuPont, ChemChina’s proposed bid for Syngenta AG and Bayer AG’s offers to buy Monsanto concern union members. He tells Brownfield they could also bar new companies from entering the market.

“If there’s only three and they control all the germ plasma, all the traits, and all the research, it’s a very very high bar for new enterences and we believe new entrences provide a very meaningful aspect of the marketplace.

Clark says the union was pleased the Senate Judiciary Committee announced it will hold hearing on the mergers later this month.