Stories like John’s demonstrate that it's time for a change in the contract agriculture business. This becomes more urgent as the contract model spreads from chickens to other industries like tobacco and hogs. Several organizations are working to try to make this change. The Campaign for Contract Agriculture Reform is a coalition of organizations that works to provide a voice for farmers and ranchers involved in contract agriculture, as well as the communities in which they live. Their goal is to ensure that the processor to producer relationship serves as a fair partnership, rather than a dictatorship. One of these organizations is RAFI-USA, a nonprofit that seeks to assist in maintaining sustainable agriculture. RAFI’s contract agriculture department attempts to gain grassroots support for contract reform legislation as well as providing a forum for growers like John to share their stories.

Contract reform legislation is the only way to ensure growers have a fair chance in their contract relationships. Several policies are currently on the table that could benefit growers. Amending the Agricultural Fair Practices Act to protect the ability of farmers to negotiate fair contracts with processors would balance the contract relationship by ensuring that both processors and integrators have bargaining power. Currently all poultry growers are not covered under the Grain, Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration (GISPA) within the USDA because the law defines a “poultry grower” as “any person engaged in the business of raising and caring for live poultry for slaughter by another.” Breeder and pullet growers are not covered by this act because the chickens they raise are not for slaughter. Changing the act to include all growers of poultry would give GISPA more control in monitoring fair contract practices. The greatest legislative benefit to growers would be the establishment of minimum standards for agricultural contracts and reasonable government oversight. These standards should include a clear disclosure of producer risks, prohibition on confidentiality clauses, prohibition on binding arbitration in contracts of adhesion, recapture of capital investment policies, and a ban on unfair trade practices (including tournament pay).

This legislation is not too much to demand. Asking for fair practices in business is a reasonable request. This type of legislation would not harm the companies, but would simply give growers a fighting chance and more control over their own business. It is one way to help create sustainable agriculture in our country. If you feel strongly about this issue I urge to you call your congressional representatives and tell them that you support legislation for agricultural contract reform. Strong constituent support is the only way that our congressmen will know that it’s time to make a change.