(NOVEMBER 9, 2023) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a package of rules and orders that seek to increase competition in the livestock industry. The package establishes a Chief Competition Officer at USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). This position – which will be hired as a career, rather than a political, appointee – will help to elevate and …
Livestock Indemnity Program Updated to Reflect Current Market Conditions
(AUGUST 29, 2023) – On Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that they will be updating the 2023 Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) payment rate for beef calves over 800 pounds will increase from $1244 per head to $1618, an increase of $374. The payment will apply retroactively to all qualifying losses since January 1, 2023. No action …
USCA Attends White House Roundtable on Competition
(JULY 14, 2023) – On Thursday, the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) participated in a meeting hosted by the White House and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to discuss legislative competition priorities. USCA Executive Vice President Lia Biondo, who attended the convening, issued the following statement: “Today’s discussion marks continued progress on the Biden-Harris Action Plan for a fairer, more competitive producer marketplace. Since …
Senate Champions for Competition reintroduce the Meat Packing Special Investigator Act
(FEBRUARY 10, 2023) – On Wednesday, Senators Jon Tester (D-MT), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Mike Rounds (R-SD) reintroduced the Meat Packing Special Investigator Act. The bill would create the “Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters” within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which would be comprised of a team of investigators, with subpoena power, responsible for targeting and …
Cattle Price Discovery And Transparency Act Reintroduced In 118th Congress
(FEBRUARY 2, 2023) – Today, Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) reintroduced the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act. The bill would establish minimum levels of fed cattle purchases made through approved pricing mechanisms, which includes negotiated cash, negotiated grid, at a stockyard, and through trading systems that multiple buyers and sellers regularly can …
USCA Will Host Top Agriculture Antitrust Leaders at 15th Annual Meeting
(DECEMBER 1, 2022) – The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) is pleased to announce a panel discussion of two leading voices for a competitive agricultural marketplace at the 15th Annual Meeting & Cattle Producer’s Forum this December 10 in Nashville, TN. Michael B. Kades, Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Antitrust Division at the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Andy Green, Senior Advisor …
Cattlemen’s Association Encouraged by Funding Delivered to Local Meat Processors
(NOVEMBER 3, 2022) – On Wednesday, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced the first-round recipients of the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) grants and loans. Phase I of MPPEP consists of $73 million in 21 grant projects intended to increase competition across the cattle marketplace and support increased producer opportunities. Additionally, these grants will work towards strengthening the food supply chain, …
Cattlemen Raise Concerns with White House Executive Order on Biotechnology
(SEPTEMBER 16, 2022) – On Monday, the White House announced an Executive Order on Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy. It outlines a “a whole-of-government approach to advance biotechnology and biomanufacturing towards innovative solutions in health, climate change, energy, food security, agriculture, supply chain resilience, and national and economic security.” On its face, …
Cattle Market Reform Cannot Wait
(SEPTEMBER 8, 2022) – A blog post published by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on July 12, 2022, claimed that Congress is “rushing” to consider “aggressive legislation to regulate beef markets.” Boy, if only that were true. In February 2020, the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) hosted its annual Cattle Producer’s Forum at the Public Auction Yards in Billings, Montana. It was there …
Farm Service Agency Updates Livestock Indemnity Program Payments
An affiliate update from the Independent Beef Association of North Dakota (JULY 20, 2022) – Recently, I-BAND was instrumental in urging the Farm Service Agency (FSA), State and National offices, to re-evaluate the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) payment rate and normal mortality rate for beef cattle that are under 250 lbs. Prior to 2020, there was one weight class for non-adult …
USCA Commemorates Anniversary of Executive Order on Competition
(JULY 12, 2022) – Today, the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) commemorates the one-year anniversary of President Joe Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy. The Order included over 70 initiatives to be undertaken by a dozen federal agencies to tackle some of the most pressing competition problems, including directing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to consider issuing …
Consumers Fork Over More for Beef this Independence Day
By Jack Payne, Region II Director, U.S. Cattlemen’s Association Consumers will pay 17 percent more – or about $10 – for their Fourth of July cookouts this year, according to a marketbasket survey completed by the American Farm Bureau Federation. The largest year-to-year price increase is for the ground beef Americans will use to shape their hamburger patties. The survey …