This legislation, known as the "Fairness for Small-Scale Farmers and Ranchers Act of 2026," aims to address significant market concentration and anti-competitive practices within the food and agriculture sector. It highlights findings that accelerating concentration since the 1980s has negatively impacted family farmers, food chain workers, consumers, and the environment. The bill seeks to reverse these trends and restore competition to benefit various stakeholders across the food system. Title I imposes a **moratorium** on large agribusiness, food and beverage manufacturing, and grocery retail mergers, preventing entities above specified financial thresholds from acquiring others until comprehensive legislation addressing market concentration is enacted. It also mandates a **retroactive review** by the Attorney General and Federal Trade Commission of relevant mergers since 2006, with authority to unwind those found to have caused material harm to competition, farmers, workers, or consumers. Significant funding is authorized for these review efforts. Title II introduces several **farm system reforms**, including amending the **Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921** to broaden definitions and prohibit various unlawful practices. These include engaging in unfair or discriminatory practices, manipulating prices, or conspiring to apportion territory or purchases. The bill specifically outlaws forward contracts that lack a firm base price, are not offered publicly, or are based on formula prices, and restricts packer ownership of livestock, with some exceptions. Furthermore, the bill requires covered packers to make a certain percentage of their livestock purchases through **spot market sales** from nonaffiliated producers, with applicable percentages starting at 20-30% and increasing to 50%. It also restores mandatory **country of origin labeling** for beef and pork, and extends it to include dairy products, requiring retailers to designate the origin of these commodities. The Secretary of Agriculture is directed to implement the "Unfair Practices and Undue Preferences in Violation of the Packers and Stockyards Act" rule without amendment, and prevailing plaintiffs in civil actions under the Act may be awarded attorney fees. Title III focuses on providing resources for beginning, retiring, and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, reauthorizing and increasing funding for related programs to $100 million annually through fiscal year 2030. Title IV addresses livestock, dairy, and poultry supply chain infrastructure by authorizing grants and loans to assist farmers and rural businesses in increasing the production, processing, and marketing of value-added products. Priority is given to projects that enhance small processing facilities. Finally, the bill establishes a 5-year pilot program within the Food Safety and Inspection Service to expand the availability of processing inspectors and technical assistance for eligible processing facilities, including no-cost overtime inspections. This program also aims to identify and train part-time inspectors and technical assistance providers, with eligible facilities required to have a labor peace agreement in place. The Comptroller General is also mandated to review and report on the fragility and national security implications of concentration in the meat, poultry, and dairy sectors.