(AUGUST 7) – On Tuesday, on the floor of the U.S. Senate, Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Jon Tester (D-MT) championed the cause of #FairCattleMarkets for U.S. cattle producers. Specifically, the pair urged support for their “50-14” or spot market bill (S. 3693 | HR 7501). Watch Senator Grassley’s speech. | Watch Senator Tester’s speech. Earlier in the week, Senator Grassley told …
USDA Announces Changes to Livestock Gross Margin Insurance Program
(JULY 24) – USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced changes to the Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) insurance program for cattle and swine beginning in the 2021 crop year. Changes include adding premium subsidies to assist producers and moving premium due dates to the end of the endorsement period for cattle. Prior to this change, LGM-Cattle and Swine did not have …
USDA Releases Report on Historic Market Disruptions
(JULY 22) – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its highly anticipated report covering two market distorting events in the past year in the U.S. cattle industry – the fire at a Tyson Foods’ processing facility in Holcomb, Kansas in August 2019 and the ongoing food supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19. United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) President …
Apply for a Position on the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board
(JULY 17) – The Beef Checkoff Program is currently recruiting 24 individuals to fill vacancies on the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board. Vacancies for producer and importer member positions are available in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, the Southwest Unit (California and Nevada). The deadline for nominations …
USCA Comments on Petition for Referendum on the Beef Promotion and Research Order
(JULY 16) – As conversations surrounding the Beef Checkoff Program continue, the United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) would like to clarify our formal position. USCA’s policy explicitly states support for a periodic referendum. Our Checkoff Committee will soon review the recently introduced petition for a referendum on the Beef Promotion and Research Order and, as aligns with our stated policy, will make …
Member Alert: Livestock Stimulus Payments, DoJ Investigation & Increased Cash Trade
(JULY 15) – Hopefully those of you that filed for the first round of CFAP payments had a smooth process. There are several issues that still need to be addressed – USCA outlined those in a letter to Congressional leaders last month. USCA also hosted a virtual fly-in last month with nearly 50 participants to raise this issue directly with members …
USCA, NFU, and Others Request Hearing on Livestock Reporting Rule
(JULY 1) – On Wednesday, the United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA), National Farmers Union (NFU), and eleven other organizations sent a letter to the Senate Agriculture Committee requesting a hearing on livestock mandatory price reporting reauthorization. The Livestock Mandatory Reporting rule, established in 1999, mandates price reporting for cattle, boxed beef swine, and lamb. It is reauthorized every five years, with …
USCA Design Contest: Summer 2020
(June 25, 2020) – Calling all creatives! We are soliciting supporters to submit apparel designs for our summer line. Winners will receive THEIR design printed on the tee or tank of their choice (and credit/link to their page on the site). We’ll pick winners in three categories: – Designs featuring cattle phrases/imagery ???? – Beef-centric Designs ??? – …
USCA Hosts Virtual Capitol Hill Meetings
(JUNE 22) – Despite an ongoing global pandemic, national stay-at-home orders, and spring cattle work, members of the United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) still found a way to “travel” to Washington, D.C. and meet with their Members of Congress. From June 15-17, nearly 50 cattle producers from 15 states participated in the first-ever virtual Washington, DC “Fly-In”. This year proved …
USCA Sends Letter to Congressional Leaders on COVID-19 Relief
(WASHINGTON) – On Wednesday, the United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) sent a letter to Congressional leaders on concerns associated with the current framework of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). The letter also requests additional funding for U.S. cattle producers in the next coronavirus relief package. Specifically, USCA recommended the following changes to lessen the economic impact of COVID-19 on …
MEMBER ALERT: Justice Department Issues Subpoenas to “Big Four”
(JUNE 8) – On Friday, the Department of Justice issued civil subpoenas to the four biggest beef processors, JBS USA Holdings Inc., Tyson Foods Inc., Cargill Inc. and National Beef Packing Company. The move comes as the Department ramps up its examination into anticompetitive practices in the U.S. livestock industry. Just on Wednesday, four poultry industry executives were indicted on …
MEMBER ALERT: CFAP Webinars for Producers Announced
(JUNE 4) – Join the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) for a webinar designed just for you. Webinars for producers, farmers and ranchers will begin on June 9. Ag producers can learn more about the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program directly from agency officials. Webinar Dates & Topics: June 9 at 3:00 p.m. EDT – Outreach CFAP Webinar for Specialty Crops …