USCA Commends USDA for Steps to Improve Competition and Fairness

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

October 9, 2024

 

CONTACT

Kalina Reini
USCA Director of Policy and Public Affairs
kalina@wssdc.com

(202) 870-0156

 

USCA Commends USDA for Steps to Improve Competition and Fairness

USCA is Eager to Submit Comments and Continue Momentum

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, USDA announced several steps to improve competition and ensure fairness in the livestock marketplace.  Among those was the interim report of the investigation into competition in the meat retail industry and a rulemaking effort under the Packers & Stockyards Act of 1921 to enhance price discovery in fed cattle markets.

United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) is currently reviewing the report and the proposed rulemaking and released the following statement shortly after USDA’s announcement.

“We commend USDA for their investigation into competition and fairness in the meat industry and hope identifying the trend of continued consolidation will help inform future decisions.  We look forward to their continued investigation efforts, to further research the concerns raised, largely by small and mid-sized, independent farmers and ranchers and processors like those that make up USCA.   As we further analyze the interim report, we will begin drafting comments for the upcoming AMS proposed rulemaking,” USCA President Justin Tupper said.

“USCA is also carefully reviewing the preview of the price discovery options to be presented in the Price Discovery and Competition in Markets for Fed Cattle Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR).  For years, our group has sought avenues to increase price discovery and transparency in fed cattle markets and we look forward to submitting comments to further our efforts to foster a fair and competitive market for all cattle producers. 

“USCA appreciates the efforts by USDA to gather input from our industry on both the investigation and for the proposed price discovery options.  Their willingness to connect with producers and organizations like USCA is appreciated and helps yield rule making procedures that make a difference for those of us in the countryside.”

Read USDA’s full announcement here.  A preview of the Cattle Price Discovery ANPR can be found here.