Paul Sobocinski attends competition hearing in Washington
By Janet Kubat Willette
jkubat@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 12/23/2010 9:46 AM
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WASHINGTON. — Wabasso farmer Paul Sobocinski spoke in favor of open and competitive markets at the joint U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Justice workshop, "Agriculture and Antitrust Enforcement Issues in Our 21st Century Economy: Margins."
Sobocinski was not on a panel, but provided testimony and gave public comments at the Dec. 8 meeting, the fifth or five joint workshops on competition issues. About 400 people registered to attend, Sobocinski said.
The workshops began in Iowa in March. About 750 people participated, wrote Christine Varney, Department of Justice assistant attorney general for antitrust, in prepared remarks. There were about 450 participants in Alabama, 650 in Wisconsin and 1,700 in Colorado, she wrote.
In addition to open and competitive markets, Sobocinski spoke in favor of fair market access for all players and better transparency so farmers can discover the best available price.
Some of his comments echoed those of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, he said.
Vilsack said, "I realize agriculture can't be exactly like it was 40 years ago, but warning signs shouldn't be ignored, either."
"In the past 40 years, the United States has lost 800,000 farmers and ranchers," Vilsack said. "And our remaining farmers are aging. From 2002 to 2007, the average age of a farmer increased from age 55 to 57."
More than half of the nation's rural counties are losing population, Vilsack said.
He also discussed how there are fewer livestock farms and the unique economic pressure livestock producers have been under, Sobocinski said.
Sobocinski said he is the only hog farmer left among of his nine closest neighbors. Some have sold their livestock and focused on crop production. Others have found jobs in town.
He said livestock farmers are not getting their fair share, comparing it to the pieces of a pie. At home, everyone got an equal slice, he said. That's how it should be with livestock producers and everyone in the supply chain. He also asked for timely action.
Sobocinski, who produces pork for Niman Ranch, said he's concerned that hog and beef production will move into the tightly vertically integrated system of poultry growers, who have been contract growers for some time and feel they are losing personal freedoms.
He was referencing a poultry grower who testified at one workshop and expressed fear of losing his contract because he spoke at the hearing.