Fairness for Small-Scale Farmers and Ranchers Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Welch, Peter [D-VT]
Introduced
Summary
Reining in consolidation across meat, dairy, and broader agriculture markets. This bill targets mergers, tightens Packers and Stockyards rules, restores country-of-origin labeling, and funds small processors and antitrust enforcement to shift market power back toward farmers and local markets.
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- Farmers and ranchers: Gives regulators power to review and unwind mergers dating back to January 1, 2006, and imposes a moratorium on many large deals to protect competition and farmers from concentrated buyers.
- Small processors and rural communities: Authorizes grants and grant‑backed loans to expand small meat, dairy, and poultry processing and prioritizes geographic spread; includes a $500 million authorization for fiscal year 2028 and a five-year Food Safety and Inspection Service pilot to add inspections and technical help.
- Market rules and enforcement: Strengthens Packers and Stockyards protections against unfair practices, restores mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef, pork, and dairy, requires covered packers to increase spot-market purchases (20% in 2026 to 50% by 2029), and funds antitrust work with $50 million annually each for the FTC and DOJ.
*Adds new federal spending and dedicated enforcement funding, including $50 million annually for both the FTC and DOJ, $100 million annually for 2026–2030 for programs for beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers, and $500 million authorized for FY2028, so it increases federal outlays.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
More funding for new and disadvantaged farmers
If enacted, the bill would add mandatory funding of $100 million each year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 for programs that help beginning, retiring, and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. The funding would take effect on enactment and replace prior statutory amounts.
More support for small processors
If enacted, the bill would create a 5-year FSIS pilot to expand inspector time, technical help, and no-cost overtime for eligible small processors that have a labor peace agreement. The USDA would also be able to give grants or make or insure loans to help build, expand, or market small meat, dairy, and poultry processors. The bill would set program support for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 and provide $500 million for fiscal year 2028.
Country-of-origin labels for dairy
If enacted, the bill would require retailers to list each country where dairy ingredients were produced or where the product was processed. For dairy made only in the United States, a retailer could list the State, region, or locality instead. The rule would take effect on enactment.
Limits and reviews on big mergers
If enacted, the bill would impose a moratorium on large agribusiness mergers above set sales or asset thresholds until further legislation, with narrow waivers for extraordinary cases. The Attorney General and FTC would review mergers back to January 1, 2006 and could unwind deals that materially harmed competition, farmers, workers, or consumers. The bill would authorize $50 million a year each for the FTC and the DOJ Antitrust Division starting in fiscal year 2026 and allow agencies to use fine and settlement funds for enforcement.
New rules for packers and growers
If enacted, the bill would sharply rewrite Packers and Stockyards rules to ban many unfair, discriminatory, and price-manipulating practices by packers, swine contractors, and live poultry dealers. It would require firm base prices and open bidding for many forward contracts, limit packer control of farms, and add detailed protections for poultry contract growers. The bill would let courts award reasonable attorney fees to prevailing plaintiffs and require covered packers to buy a set share of animals on the spot market (default 50%, with a phase-in schedule for some firms through 2029).
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Welch, Peter [D-VT]
VT • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
VT • I
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov