(WASHINGTON) – On January 19, USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced that further changes to its Livestock Risk Protection insurance plan will take effect on January 20 for crop year 2021 and succeeding crop years (view release HERE). The policy language and procedures surrounding these changes include the creation of new livestock types to allow for unborn livestock to be insured …
Join the Livestock Marketing Association to Learn More about Dealer Statutory Trust
With former President Trump’s signature on December 27, 2020, Livestock Dealer Statutory Trust is now law! Dealer Trust gives sellers of livestock (often livestock auction markets or producers) the legal priority to get livestock back when a livestock dealer fails to pay. If the cattle have been resold, the unpaid sellers are now first in line for the proceeds. But …
USCA Comments on Latest Change to Packers & Stockyards Act
(DECEMBER 10) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) issued a final rule to ensure fair trade and competitive marketing of livestock and poultry. The rule clarifies the types of conduct prohibited by the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act and sets forth several criteria the Secretary of Agriculture will consider when determining whether conduct by packers, swine …
USCA Member Selected to Serve on CFTC Subcommittee
(DECEMBER 7, 2020) – Last week, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Heath P. Tarbert announced the members of the Agricultural Advisory Committee’s (AAC) new Agricultural Futures Contracts with Open Interest Subcommittee (Ag-OI Subcommittee). United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) Marketing and Competition Committee Member Brett Crosby of Cowley, Wyoming was among the 22-members selected. The subcommittee was established to provide …
USCA Comments on PRICE Act
(OCTOBER 2, 2020) – On Thursday, Congressman Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and others introduced the Price Reform in Cattle Economics Act or PRICE Act. Cosponsors include Representatives Darren Soto (D-FL), Mike Conaway (R-TX), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Frank Lucas (R-OK), Roger Marshall (R-KS), David Rouzer (R-NC), Glenn Thompson (R-PA), Rick Crawford (R-AR), Greg Gianforte (R-MT), Mike Hagedorn (R-MN), Tom Emmer (R-MN) and Jason Smith …
USCA to Host Senators Jon Tester & Mike Rounds for #FactsOnlyFriday
(SEPTEMBER 23, 2020) – The United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) is pleased to host U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-MT) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) for a live, virtual discussion on the state of the U.S. cattle market and the role of Congress in bringing forth solutions. The conversation will take place on USCA’s Facebook page and YouTube channel this Friday, September 25 at …
Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer Introduces Cattle Market Transparency Bill
(SEPTEMBER 22, 2020) – On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Deb Fisher (R-NE) introduced the Cattle Market Transparency Act of 2020, which focuses on two main elements: ensuring regionally sufficient negotiated cash trade, and equipping producers with more information. United States Cattlemen’s Association Board Member Lee Reichmuth issued the following statement on the bill: “As a Nebraska cattle producer, I echo the same …
U.S. Cattlemen’s Association Responds to Open Letter from Certified Angus Beef
(August 26) – The United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) responded to a letter from the leadership of Certified Angus Beef (CAB) addressed to “Fellow Beef Industry Stakeholders” and regarding “Questions from The Brand About The 50-14 Legislation“. The open letter specifically asked three questions regarding the 50-14 or “spot” market legislation, including: How will negotiated grids be handled under the …
USCA Joins Letter to Secretary Perdue on U.S. Beef
(AUGUST 24) – On Monday, the United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) joined eleven other national, regional, and state groups in a letter to Secretary Sonny Perdue requesting that U.S. meat and meat processors be prioritized within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farmers to Families Food Box Program. The program supplies food boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, …
Senators Bring #FairCattleMarkets to Capitol Hill
(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 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 …
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 …