• Programs
• Contract Agriculture Reform
• Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Initiative
• Farm Sustainability
• Just Foods
• Publications
• What's New
• About Us
• Staff
• Board of Directors
• Directions
• Our Green Buildings
• Conference Center
• Blog
• Search RAFI

site updated 8/23/10

Privacy Policy

Contract Agriculture Reform Program

In the face of record low commodity prices and ever increasing market concentration, many U.S. farmers are turning to contracting for economic security. This program works to ensure these contract arrangements between individual farmers and processors are fair and equitable.

Contract Growers Bill of Rights USDA has proposed rules that would protect growers' rights end many of the unfair practices that have become commonplace in poultry. Read more about what these rules and what they would do to protect poultry farmers.>> The USDA is accepting comments on these rules until November 22, 2010. Send a letter to the USDA to support these rules.	USDA/Justice Department Hearings The United States Justice Department and the United States Department of Agriculture hare holding hearings on competition and concentration of ownership in agriculture. Read our recommendations for the USDA and DOJ. The hearing on issues in the poultry industry was May 21 in Arkansas. Read more about the hearing..>> Send a letter in support of competitive agricultural markets.
Take Action Support the Contract Growers' Bill of Rights. Tell the USDA that farmers deserve fair contracts, and that the proposed rules should be adopted and strengthened. Take action. Support competitive agricultural markets. Our food supply, from seed to grocery store shelf, is essentially controlled by a handful of companies. We have a historic opportunity to challenge consolidated control and give American farmers and consumers the open, fair marketplace they deserve. Take action.	News Releases August 19, 2010: Companies use intimidation to oppose rules (.doc) (PDF) June 18, 2010: Rules would level playing field for poultry farmers (PDF) May 20, 2010. Poultry growers demand federal action to restore fair markets. (PDF) December 19, 2009. USDA issues new regulations protecting contract farmers. (PDF)
Newest Protections for Growers As of January 4, 2010, USDA regulations require poultry companies to provide growers with more information and recognize the right of growers to discuss a poultry growing arrangement with certain parties. Read more.>> Download a fact sheet for growers. (PDF)(.doc)	Dealing with Mass Poultry Mortalities For poultry growers, the dreaded sound of the poultry house alarm going off means lost income and days of work ahead. Contract poultry farmers have tens of thousands of birds in each barn. When natural disaster, weather, equipment failure or disease threatens, farmers find themselves with the financial and logistical responsibility of disposing of large numbers of dead birds in a timely and safe way. Find resources on how to prepare for this kind of emergency and learn why mass mortality plans matter.>>
2008 Farm Bill The 2008 Farm Bill established new rights for poultry and livestock producers, including the right to decline to agree to mandatory arbitration in the event of a conflict with the company. Arbitration is usually more expensive than going to court. Basic legal processes, such as discovery, which allows the farmer to access the company’s documents, are very limited. Appealing an adverse decision is nearly impossible. Arbitration is governed by procedures and rules chosen by the company that wrote the contract. Read more.>>	More about the Program The RAFI Contract Agriculture Reform Program is an expansion of our decades of support for contract poultry farmers trapped in bad contracts. The poultry industry has been fully vertically integrated and dominated by contract production for almost forty years. Read more about the program. For more information, contact Becky Ceartas, Contract Agriculture Reform Program Director, at (919) 542-1396 x209 or becky@rafiusa.org.