Trump Must Choose Between Farmers and ‘Big Meat’
Rural America was instrumental to his election, but some worry he’ll shelve rules meant to help them in favor of big business.
Broiler chickens at a commercial poultry farm near Taylorsville, Miss., Nov 1, 2016.
Photographer: William Widmer/The New York Times via ReduxThis article is for subscribers only.
In November, farmers voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump. Now they’re waiting to see if it pays off.
Among the final actions of the Obama administration were new rules making it easier for chicken farmers—who exist inside a commercial vise constructed by agribusiness—to sue the companies for anti-competitive behavior. The big meat lobbying firms oppose any new rules, and now that the Trump administration has frozen all regulations, it’s unclear if those protections will ever take effect.