Joe Biden meets with farmers, ranchers, meat processors to discuss competition in meat, poultry supply chain

US President Joe Biden started off the first week of the new year by meeting a group of farmers, ranchers, and independent meat processors. The meeting was to discuss efforts to create a more competitive market for meat and poultry and its supply chain.

Biden met with the farmers, ranchers, and independent meat processors Monday in a virtual meeting. The US leader was with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Justice Department Attorney General Merrick Garland during the meeting. The Biden administration is looking to invest $1 billion from the funds of the American Rescue Plan in the initiative.

A readout by the White House said that this plan would increase processing options for farmers and ranchers, as well as create a fairer and more competitive market, resulting in lower prices for consumers and making sure farmers and ranchers get a fair price for their products. The US leader also highlighted the executive order he signed back in July on Promoting Competition in the American Economy, where he noted that the administration was looking to address the lack of competition in agricultural markets.

Biden pinned the blame on a small group of companies that control the majority of the beef, pork, and poultry markets, leading to high prices and farmers and ranchers not getting fair prices for their products.

“Capitalism without competition isn’t capitalism – it’s exploitation,” said Biden during the meeting. “That’s what we’re seeing in meat and poultry and those industries now. Small independent farmers and ranchers are being driven out of business, sometimes businesses that have been around for generations.”

In other related news, Biden, along with vice president Kamala Harris, is set to deliver remarks marking one year since the violent Capitol insurrection on January 6. A mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on that day in an attempt to derail Congress’ certification of Biden’s election victory over Donald Trump. Biden and Harris are set to deliver remarks at the Statuary Hall of the Capitol.

Biden previously called the insurrection “one of the darkest days” in the country’s history. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that Biden’s speech will reiterate the existential threat that now exists to political freedoms and the historical significance of the riots.