Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 11/7/17

A coalition of 82 agricultural organizations including National Farmers Union, the National Family Farm Coalition, and Organization for Competitive Markets is sending a letter today asking President Trump to implement proposed GIPSA rules.

What happened? On Oct. 17, Perdue decided to end the Obama-era proposals that were aimed to help protect livestock and poultry growers, farmers and ranchers. They're now even more concerned about what may happen to the ranking system draft GIPSA rule that remains.

What farmers have lost: In its release, the coalition quoted some startling figures about the grim conditions. Since 1980, 90 percent of U.S. hog farmers and 41 percent of U.S. cattle producers have gone out of business. Over one million U.S. family farmers and ranchers also have lost their land. Poultry growers are suffering even more: 71 percent currently live below the federal poverty level.

Perdue's decision to withdraw from GIPSA "is releasing the abusive market power of foreign corporations and foreign countries onto family farmers and consumers alike," according to the letter. "We call on you, by executive order, to do what others have failed to do and are unwilling to do: return justice to the marketplace."