The original draft of the farm bill in the House included a provision to require that arbitration be voluntary in poultry and livestock contracts. Strongly supported, it gives farmers logical business choices.

Poultry farmers go far into debt to grow chickens. They are held hostage to the companies through mandatory arbitration clauses in their contracts. These clauses require them to sign away fundamental rights to defend themselves in public court against abusive business practices, and compel a secretive private system favored and flavored by industry.

Rep. Mike Rogers led an effort to erase the farmer-supported voluntary arbitration provision with an industry-drafted amendment to keep it mandatory. Rogers wrongly stated that he never heard from farmers on the issue. He said his amendment represented a "compromise."

Source: MontgomeryAdvertiser.com