White House Launches Action Plan to Restore Competition in the U.S. Cattle Industry

(JANUARY 3, 2022) – On Monday, the Biden-Harris Administration published its Action Plan for a Fairer, More Competitive, and More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply Chain. The four core strategies that make up the Action Plan seek to strengthen the bottom line of independent producers and processors, while also providing more choices and affordable prices for U.S. consumers. The United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) participated in …

Agreement Reached on Cattle Market Reform Legislation

(NOVEMBER 9, 2021) – On Tuesday, U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act.  Specifically, this legislation accomplishes the following: Requires the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the USDA Chief Economist, to establish mandatory levels of negotiated cash and negotiated grid trade for each USDA AMS …

Legislation Introduced to Establish a Cattle Contract Library

(OCTOBER 20, 2021) – On Wednesday, Ranking Member of the Livestock & Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee Dusty Johnson (R-S.D) and Representative Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) introduced the bipartisan Cattle Contract Library Act of 2021 (H.R. 5609), which would create a library for cattle contracts within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Agriculture Marketing Service Department. The bill instructs USDA to regularly update the library in …

Join the Conversation with Oklahoma Farmers Union President Scott Blubaugh

On Thursday, the House Agriculture Committee held a hearing to review the state of the livestock hearing. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Senator Chuck Grassley testified on their own before a panel of industry witnesses took the stand.  One of those witnesses included Mr. Scott Blubaugh of Tonkawa, Oklahoma and President of the Oklahoma Farmers Union. Please join us for our monthly Horn Wrap call on …

Livestock Mandatory Reporting Authorization Extended to Dec. 3

(SEPTEMBER 30, 2021) – With only hours to spare, Congress on Thursday passed legislation to avoid a government shutdown. The continuing resolution, which funds the government through December 3, passed the Senate 65-35 and cleared the House on a 254-175 vote. The measure temporarily extends authority for the Livestock Mandatory Reporting program through December 3. Additionally, it provides $10 billion in producer assistance for 2020 …

Senate Ag to Consider Bill to Extend Authorization for Livestock Mandatory Reporting

(SEPTEMBER 29, 2021) – The Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) program expires this Thursday, September 30. On Monday night, the Senate failed to move forward a continuing resolution (CR) that would have kept the government funded until December 3. Included in that CR was also an extension for the LMR program. So, where does that leave us now? Ideally, Congress finds a …

Biden Administration Sends Strong Message on Consolidation and Competition

(SEPTEMBER 10, 2021) – On Wednesday, the White House hosted a press briefing with Press Secretary Jen Psaki, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, and Director of the National Economic Council Brian Deese to discuss the impacts of a highly concentrated meatpacking sector for American producers and consumers.  In an accompanying article, titled Addressing Concentration in the Meat-Processing Industry to Lower Food Prices …

USDA Issues New FAQ Document on Enforcement of Packers & Stockyards Act

(AUGUST 24, 2021) – On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document related to the enforcement of “undue and unreasonable preferences” under the Packers and Stockyards Act. The FAQ document explains how USDA will address the December 2020 final rule on undue preferences (read the final rule HERE). The announcement comes before two expected proposed rulemakings on …

USDA Will Begin Issuing New Market Reports following USCA Request for Greater Transparency

(AUGUST 5, 2021) – On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that beginning Monday, August 9, 2021, it will issue two new Market News reports based on Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) data. The news follows a letter the United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) sent to USDA on July 13, 2021 requesting the publication of additional data collected under the …

Member Alert: Livestock Hauling Provisions, Disaster Aid Funding, and more.

(AUGUST 4, 2021) – Two key bills moving through the U.S. Senate this week contain provisions that will work to strengthen the U.S. cattle producer’s bottom line. These ‘wins’ are the result of countless hours of volunteer work with Congress and other stakeholders by members of the United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA).  First, included in the 2,072-page bipartisan infrastructure bill is a portion of …

Cattlemen Applaud Biden Executive Order to Restore Competition in U.S. Economy

(JULY 9, 2021) – On Friday, President Joe Biden issued an Executive Order to establish a government-wide effort to promote competition in the American economy. The Order includes 72 initiatives by more than a dozen federal agencies to tackle some of the most pressing competition problems across the U.S. economy. Of particular importance to U.S. cattle producers, the President’s Executive Order: …