The bill (LB 176) that would allow foreign corporations — like the Chinese-owned meatpacking company Smithfield — to own pork in Nebraska has already been approved on a first vote in the Legislature, and the second and final vote could come as early as this week.
This corporate-friendly bill would put family farmers out of business.
If the meatpackers own our livestock, corporate-raised pork will dominate our grocery store shelves. This means less care for the animal, more water pollution, and lower-quality food.(1)
LB 176 also gives the vertically-integrated corporate “factory farming” system more economic power over Nebraska’s family farmers.(2)
We must send our Senators a strong message that we want to see family farmers and our water protected.
TELL the Legislature: Stand with family farmers, not corporate pigs.
Click here to sign the petition.
Smithfield also recently made campaign donations to a number of Nebraska state senators who are now backing the corporate-friendly LB 176, including:(3)
- Sen. Heath Mello ($500)
- Sen. Rick Kolowski ($750)
- Sen. Patty Pansing-Brooks ($500)
- Sen. Burke Harr ($500)
If pigs go down the route of contracted ownership, then beef will be next. Raising livestock is the job of the family farmer, not Chinese-owned multi-nationals!
Help protect our family farms and our food system in Nebraska.
Tell Nebraska Senators: Stand with family farmers, not corporate pigs.
Click here to add your name to the petition.
Thanks for all you do.
Jane and the Bold Nebraska team
REFERENCES
1. “Boss Hog: The Dark Side of America’s Top Pork Producer,” RollingStone.com, 12/14/06.
2. “Opponents catch whiff of bought influence with pig packer bill,” Lincoln Journal Star, 1/20/16.
3. “Money Behind Corporate Pigs,” BoldNebraska.org, 1/20/16.
