Op-ed: If American farms belong to the American farmers, stop the EATS Act

Farmers across the nation face a vicious attack on their farms and freedom. As a poultry farmer, cattle rancher, the President of the Alabama Contract Poultry Growers Association, and a patriotic American, I feel it is my duty to warn my countrymen against the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act, H.R. 4417/S. 2019.

This perilous piece of legislation—brought before Congress by Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) and Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS)—states that it will take away farmers’ burdens by eliminating many state agricultural laws. In reality, the EATS Act gives foreign corporations like the Chinese-owned Smithfield Foods the opportunity to take over our property and businesses, and therefore our livelihoods.

If the EATS Act is enacted, it would abolish state laws that prioritize family farms, and manage the health of our children, and prevent the spread of disease. Instead, it would give these aforementioned foreign entities control over American livestock production. Instead of American farmers controlling the industry, corporations from across the world would be deciding the fate of American agriculture.

My business has suffered from my advocacy for American farmers, but I will not let it stop me from speaking out for what is right. Family farmers deserve to control their livelihoods and should not fear their business dwindling because of foreign influence. Lawmakers should answer to their constituents, not the corporations signing their paychecks.

The EATS Act is a dire threat to rural communities. We must prevent this legislation from obstructing the forthcoming Farm Bill. If the bill were to pass with the EATS Act addition, it would destroy American agriculture as we know it.

I plead with you to reach out to your Congressmen and Senators and express your concern for the EATS Act. Our mission is obvious, we must come together to prevent corporate greed from tainting our farms.

The EATS endangers our way of life. We cannot let the Farm Bill pass with it attached as an amendment and must put all differences aside and remind Congress that American agriculture belongs to American farmers. It is essential that they protect and prioritize the family farms that make American agriculture so great.

U.S. Sens. Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt, as well as Reps. Barry Moore, Dale Strong, Terri Sewell, Robert Aderholt, Jerry Carl, Mike Rogers and Gary Palmer should all stand strong and vocally oppose the inclusion of the EATS Act and other measures like it from being included in the upcoming Farm Bill.

Jonathan Buttram is president of the Alabama Contract Poultry Growers Association and board treasurer at the Organization for Competitive Markets. He resides in Albertville, Alabama.