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In his opening testimony, Vilsack includes "[redesigning] laws to promote openness and fairness" and improve competition as one of his top four priorities
The Secretary indirectly acknowledged some of the criticism around his nomination, making a joke about him coming back to lead the agency on Groundhog Day and arguing "this is a fundamentally different time and I am a different person and this is a different department"
Using competition policy to build a more resilient food system in the wake of the COVID crisis also got a nod
When asked by Sen. Hoeven what he will do about the "incredible concentration" in meat processing, Vilsack said there's "no question, we need to strengthen the laws that are designed to create more openness and transparency and more price discovery. But that's not enough."
"I think we need alternative processing opportunities. Why? Not just from the competitive standpoint but also from the resilience standpoint." Resiliency getting some recognition! Still little detail on what promoting alternative processing or market fairness looks like.
Sen. Sherrod Brown asks about promoting local food systems, Vilsack emphasizes many options including farm-to-school (and other institutions) and building local food hubs and processing. "You have to give people the opportunity to not rely on a handful of processing facilities."
An important antitrust angle to consider with farm-to-institution: wherever institutions are served by private cafeteria contractors, a system of kickbacks and de-facto exclusive deals with Big Food shut out local producers. https://www.foodandpower.net/latest/2020/05/20/report-exposes-system-of-big-food-kickbacks-to-cafeteria-contractors-cutting-out-local-producers?rq=aramark
The FTC can ban exclusive dealing and @openmarkets along with many food and farming allies have petitioned the agency to do so.
Sen. Grassley asks Vilsack directly if he will re-instate the Farmer Fair Practices Rules (GIPSA rules passed at the end of the Obama admin). Vilsack says "we will take a close and detailed look at every tool USDA has available" to ensure open, fair, transparency markets etc.
Vilsack also says he will work with the DOJ where antitrust violations may be involved. These statements are very similar to what he's told news outlets leading up to this hearing. https://www.stormlake.com/articles/vilsack-sees-big-shift-in-ag-induced-by-climate/
