packing capacity . That ’ s because there ’ s basically one buyer in some areas , not necessarily because of some grand design , but just the way it has worked out over time .
Producers are THAT concerned
Producer frustration grew to the point that leaders of usually antagonistic organizations met in May and found some points of mutual consensus .
The Livestock Marketing Association organized the unprecedented meeting , which also included representation from , in alphabetical order :
American Farm Bureau Federation , National Cattlemen ’ s Beef Association , National Farmers Union , R-CALF USA , and the United States Cattlemen ’ s Association ( USCA ).
According to Brett Crosby of Custom Ag Solutions , a USCA board member attending the meeting , the group talked candidly about a wide range of market-based issues , including , packer concentration , price transparency and discovery , packer oversight and enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act , as well as packing capacity and captive supplies .
The group reached consensus on the following points and agreed to take them to their respective organizations for consideration :
• Expedite the renewal of USDA ’ s Livestock Mandatory Reporting ( LMR ), including making formula base prices subject to the same reporting requirements as negotiated cash prices , and create a contract library .
• Demand the Department of Justice issue a public investigation status report and as warranted , conduct joint U . S . Department of Justice ( DOJ ) and USDA oversight of packer activity moving forward .
• Encourage investment in , and development of , new independent , local , and regional packers .
None of those suggestions is new . However , the collective voice of cattle producers represented by the organizations at the meeting is brand new — one cattle producer voice saying the same thing .
The letter Bohn referred to at the outset includes some of the same recommendations .
Specifically , NCBA pushed Sen . Debbie Stabenow ( D-MI ), Sen . John Boozman ( R-AR ), Rep . David Scott ( D-GA-13 ), and Rep . Glenn “ GT ” Thompson ( R-PA-15 ) to consider swift Congressional action to :
• Expand beef processing capacity .
• Broaden labor policies to strengthen the beef processing workforce .
• Increase transparency in cattle markets by reauthorizing Livestock Mandatory Reporting .
• Support industry efforts to reform “ Product of the USA ” generic labeling .
• Ensure proper oversight of cattle market players by concluding the ongoing U . S . Department of Justice investigation into the meatpacking sector .
Legislative Interest Grows
Lawmakers seem to be listening . In June , Vicky Hartzler ( R-MO ) introduced the Optimizing the
Cattle Market Act of 2021 in the U . S . House . continued on page 76
Hit it Out of the Park
Jim & Amy Anderson 8325 Boe Rd • Stanwood , WA 98292 425-238-4772 • TripleACattleCo @ yahoo . com www . TripleACattleCo . com
• JULY 2021
BEUS Homerun 194H
79 % Limousin • Homo Polled • Het Black • 1 / 23 / 20 MAGS Aviator x BEUS Fresca 190F
CE : 13 BW : 0.4 WW : 78 YW : 121 MK : 26 SC : 0.07 DC : 21 YG : - . 29 RE : 1.05 MB : 0.21 $ MI : 64
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