Byron Dorgan: “I want to follow on, just briefly, on the question of trade. It relates to this entire issue of how farmers are doing…”

“I want to follow on, just briefly, on the question of trade. It relates to this entire issue of how farmers are doing, because farmers are told by some: You go ahead and compete in the free marketplace. We will set you loose. Go ahead and compete in the free market. Then farmers discover there is no free market. When they market up, the large grain trade firms have their fists around the neck of the body of a few firms that control all that. Four firms control most of the flour milling; four firms control most of the meat packing--you name it. I have shown the list out here. In every area where farmers market, there are four firms that control the majority of the processing. With respect to trade--the Senator from Minnesota mentioned trade-- farmers are told: You compete in the free market system. Let me tell you just about the United States-Canadian situation. The vote on the United States-Canada Free Trade Agreement, when I was in the House of Representatives and on the Ways and Means Committee, was 34 to 1; 34 to 1. Guess who the ``1 '' was. Yes, that's me.”