Cattle Ranching, Market Concentration and Wild Horses — Marty Irby

The Government Mechanic

Episode 7 could also be titled Do You Know Where Your Hamburger Comes From? This is the third of five episodes about our food supply system here in America. The accomplished and surprisingly talented guest is Marty Irby, the director of the Organization for Competitive Markets based in Lincoln Nebraska, though he works and lives in Washington, D.C. Marty Irby was born in southern Alabama and grew up on a farm with horses, cattle and other animals. Flash forward to 2024, Marty is a lobbyist in Washington DC, demanding our elected officials do the right thing. For example, he helped pass 42 different federal and state laws, including the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act. Before two wonky questions – about corporate food monopolies and government agriculture agencies – Dr. Kahn asked about Irby’s 2021 film showing American wild horses being eradicated from federal lands! Then they discussed concentration in the food industry and how that impacts choices for the average consumer, and the roles of the US Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. Irby closed with some advice for grassroots organizations who want to lobby Congress for changes to specific legislation and then how consumers and shoppers can help farmers and ranchers.

For more information:

Website https://martyirby.squarespace.com