Corporate Farming ~ What Are The Issues?: PROCEEDINGS OF NORTH CENTRAL WORKSHOP CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, APRIL 21-23, 1969

Authors

Date of this Version

1969

Citation

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS REPORT NO. 53

CO-OPERATlVE EXTENSION SERVICE, UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND HOME ECONOMICS AND U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE COOPERATING. E. F. FROLIK, DEAN; J . L. ADAMS, DIRECTOR

Abstract

Foreword

Summary

CORPORATIONS IN AGRICULTURE ● William H. Scofield

SUMMARY OF REMARKS ● Honorable Gaylord Nelson

CAN THE ANTITRUST LAWS PREVENT MONOPOLISTIC FOOD PRICES? ● Willard F. Mueller

WHY CORPORATE FARMING ● David William Seckler

FACTORY FARMS VERSUS FAMILY FARMS … SOME CONCERNS ● Glen J. Vollmar

CAN FAMILY FARMS COMPETE? -- A FARMER'S VIEWPOINT ● Ralph Raikes

CAN FAMILY FARMS COMPETE? - AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS ● David L. Armstrong

FARM CORPORATIONS - PRESENT AND PROPOSED RESTRICTIVE LEGISLATION ● Neil E. Harl

FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAW AS AN INCENTIVE TO CORPORATE FARMING ● Donald R. Levi

This publication contains the major papers presented and summary of group discussion at a Workshop on Corporation Farming -- What Are the Issues?, held in Chicago, Illinois on April 21-23, 1969.

The purposes of this workshop were:

1. To present latest available information on:

a. Nature, extent and growth rate of such farming enterprises in the Region and the Nation;

b. Reasons why non-farm corporations are going into farming, including farm programs, and possible tax, cost and marketing advantages over family farms;

c. Ability of large-scale family farms to compete successfully now and in the future;

d. Applicability of existing anti-trust laws to monopolistic food pricing;

e. Existing and proposed state and federal laws to prohibit or limit corporation farming.

2. To identify emerging policy issues if this form of business organization seems likely to become increasingly important in American agriculture.

3. To determine existing gaps in information and needed research and education as the basis for public policy decision-making.

The need for such a workshop is demonstrated by widespread concern among farm people, state and federal legislators, church groups and others interested in rural welfare as expressed in public statements; in questions asked of agricultural economists, and in the recent series of hearings held by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin.