(May 21, 2020) – Our annual Washington, DC fly-in will look a little bit different this year. Due to the ongoing stay-at-home orders in effect throughout the city, we elected to cancel the 2020 Washington, DC Fly-In. BUT, that doesn’t mean our advocacy efforts are on pause! We’re proud to host the first virtual Cattlemen’s Washington, DC Fly-In this upcoming …
USCA Statement on House Energy & Commerce Forum with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai
(May 19, 2020) – The United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) believes the current health crisis has made it imperative that the millions living in rural America are not left behind by an ever-growing digital divide. Congress can help ensure that U.S. cattle producers and their families will be provided the safety, security, and connectivity needed to endure this crisis and …
White House, USDA Announce Details of Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
(May 19, 2020) – On Tuesday, President Donald J. Trump announced details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). The announcement detailed the distribution of up to $16 billion in direct payments to producers experiencing COVID-19 related losses. Full program details are below. Sign-up will begin May 26th and run until August 28th. President Trump also said that the U.S. …
MEMBER ALERT: Details Released on Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
(May 19, 2020) – Today, President Donald J. Trump and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). USCA’s Marketing and Competition Committee is reviewing the details released this morning and will provide our members with additional information and clarification on the process soon. Here’s what we know so far: CFAP provides vital financial assistance …
Senators Introduce Spot Market Bill
(MAY 12) – On Tuesday, U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Jon Tester (D-MT) introduced a bill to require each U.S. meat processing facility that slaughters over 125,000 head of cattle each year to purchase fifty percent of their weekly volume of beef slaughter on the open or ‘spot’ market. The lack of cash negotiated sales in recent years has …
USCA Encouraged by Senate Commerce Committee Hearing on Broadband Expansion
The United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) is encouraged by the Senate Commerce Committee’s leadership on the issue of broadband expansion to address some of the challenges associated with COVID-19. The pandemic has made it clear that U.S. cattle producers must be able to access reliable broadband service to preserve their livelihoods. The benefits of expanded broadband go beyond agricultural business …
USCA: Prioritize the U.S. Beef and Cattle Industry
(WASHINGTON) – On Wednesday, the United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue urging the prioritization of the U.S. beef and cattle industry over foreign product during the COVID-19 pandemic. USCA President Brooke Miller issued the following statement to accompany the letter: “If bold and immediate action is not taken in the coming weeks, …
USCA Continues its Focus on True Price Discovery
(MAY 6, 2020) – Momentum continues to build for the proposal to require a minimum percentage of cash negotiated cattle to be bought by each U.S. meat processing facility that is large enough to report to USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) President Brooke Miller issued the following statement: “Nearly 4,000 individual producers have signed on in …
Bipartisan Letter Urges HOS Reform in Surface Transportation Reauthorization
(APRIL 30) – U.S. Senators John Hoeven and Michael Bennet led a bipartisan letter this week to Senate Commerce Committee leaders requesting consideration of hours-of-service rules (HOS) reform for livestock haulers within surface transportation reauthorization legislation. The letter states,”…in the absence of congressional action, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (Public Law 114-94) is set to expire on September …
President Trump Utilizes Authority Under Defense Production Act to Keep Meatpacking Plants Open
(APRIL 29) – On Tuesday, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order which invoked his authority under the Defense Production Act to secure the food supply chain during the current national emergency caused by COVID-19. The executive order signed late Tuesday afternoon at the White House specifically directs Secretary Sonny Perdue to “take all appropriate action under that section …
MEMBER ALERT: Truth in Labeling Update
(APRIL 27) – In 2015, USCA Director Emeritus Leo McDonnell testified in front of the Senate Agriculture Committee against the repeal of mandatory country-of-origin labeling. USCA knew at that time that if the program were to be stripped clean from the books at USDA, there would be no recourse for packers claiming the “Product of the U.S.A.” label on imported …
MEMBER ALERT: CFTC Agricultural Advisory Committee Meeting
(April 21, 2020) – The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC) will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, April 22, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. EDT via teleconference. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue will address the meeting, which will focus primarily on the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and its impact on agricultural commodity markets. “Agriculture, like so many sectors …