The Lacuna Project

lacuna (n.) a gap in a record where something should be

Independent research. Not affiliated with any government, agency, or company.

Agency

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (including the Packers and Stockyards Division)

Findings that rest on exhibits naming this entity

  • AGR-5.1: USDA data show that the four largest packers' share of steer and heifer slaughter rose from 36 percent in 1980 to 85 percent in 2019, and their share of hog slaughter rose from 34 percent to 67 percent. In 2019 the four largest firms held 53 percent of broiler chicken and 55 percent of turkey production.
  • AGR-5.3: USDA rules defining unfair practices under the Packers and Stockyards Act were proposed in 2010, limited by a 2011 appropriations rider, issued in 2016, withdrawn in 2017, finalized in 2020, expanded in 2024 and, for broiler grower payments, delayed in 2026 to December 31, 2027. Administrations and Congresses of both parties acted at each step, and White Houses of both parties described meat processing as insufficiently competitive in January 2022 and September 2026.
  • AGR-5.10: Two seed companies accounted for 72 percent of planted U.S. corn acres and 66 percent of soybean acres in 2018-20. USDA's 2023 seed competition report counts Bayer, Corteva, ChemChina and BASF as owning 95 percent of corn, 84 percent of soybean and 74 percent of cotton plant intellectual property.

Exhibits naming this entity

  • Exhibit 609 2020 (data through 2019). USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, Packers and Stockyards Division: Packers and Stockyards Division Annual Report 2020
  • Exhibit 616 11 December 2020. USDA Agricultural Marketing Service: Undue and Unreasonable Preferences and Advantages Under the Packers and Stockyards Act (85 FR 79779)
  • Exhibit 617 6 March 2024. USDA Agricultural Marketing Service: Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity Under the Packers and Stockyards Act (89 FR 16092)
  • Exhibit 618 1 June 2026. USDA Agricultural Marketing Service: Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems; Delay of Effective Date (91 FR 32314)
  • Exhibit 632 March 2023. USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (with USPTO), report under Executive Order 14036: More and Better Choices for Farmers: Promoting Fair Competition and Innovation in Seeds and Other Agricultural Inputs