(JANUARY 19, 2024) – On Friday, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced a pilot program to make accessing carcass quality grades – such as Prime, Choice, and Select – available and affordable for small and mid-sized processors. Through the pilot program, processors will be able to take a picture of the ribeye loin and upload it from their phone to …
(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 …
(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 …
(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 …
(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 …
(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 …
(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 …
(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, …
(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, …
(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 …
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 …
(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 …