November 27, 2001

The Honorable Daniel K.Akaka 
Hart Senate Office Building 
Room 141 
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Akaka:

We are writing to urge your opposition to any amendments to the farm bill that would create special antitrust or contracts requirements for agricultural businesses.

Earlier this month, the Senate Agriculture Committee voted to strike a proposed "Competition Title" from the farm bill. We hope that you will follow the committee's lead and reject any amendments that segregate agriculture for unique business practice restrictions.

Fair competition is important to all businesses -- including agriculture. But it is wrong to single out any business sector for separate and different legal standards or restrictions related to accepted business practices.

We represent thousands of businesses and millions of workers in all 50 states whose earnings depend upon a strong, free and fair marketplace. We believe existing laws adequately ensure that such a marketplace continues. Saddling our businesses with the cumbersome and unnecessary rules could cause a flight of capital investment from U.S. agriculture, hurting rural America and its workers at a time when the Senate is wrestling with strategies to strengthen these communities. 

We live in uncertain economic times. Please don't worsen agriculture's lot by imposing new and unnecessary hurdles on our businesses. Please vote against any farm bill amendments that would create separate contracts or antitrust standards for agribusinesses.

American Bakers Association
American Cotton Shippers Association
American Crop Protection Association
American Feed Industry Association
American Frozen Food Institute
American Meat Institute
American Seed Trade 
Animal Health Institute
Cargill, Inc.
CGB Enterprises, Inc.
Chicago Board of Trade
Corn Refiners Association
Food Distributors International 
Food Marketing Institute
Grocery Manufacturers of America
International Dairy Foods Association
Louis Dreyfus Corporation
Monsanto Company
National Association of Manufacturers
National Chicken Council
National Food Processors Association
National Grain and Feed Association
National Grain Trade Council
National Meat Association
National Renderers Association
National Turkey Federation
North American Export Grain Association
North American Millers' Association
Oklahoma Fertilizer and Chemical Association
Oklahoma Grain and Feed Association
Oklahoma Seed Trade Association
Pacific Northwest Grain and Feed Association
Pioneer Hi-Bred
Seaboard Corporation
Smithfield Foods, Inc.
Syngenta
Texas Grain and Feed Association
Tyson Foods, Inc.
United Egg Association
United Egg Producers
U.S. Chamber of Commerce