A
Anonymous
Guest
Producers divided on government's role in livestock markets
By Carol Ryan Dumas, For The Prairie Star
Friday, May 25, 2007 12:12 PM MDT
TWIN Falls, Idaho - With a handful of Senate bills afloat that address concentration in livestock markets, producers were in Washington recently to speak their piece to the Senate and House ag committees.
While all acknowledged concentration in the industry, they differed on what should be done about it.
The National Farmers Union, American Farm Bureau Federation and R-CALF USA sat squarely on one side of the issue, while the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Pork Producers Council and American Meat Institute sat squarely on the other.
The crux of the matter is whether the government should get involved. NFU, AFBF and R-CALF say yes, the other groups say no.
The Senate bills proposed would ban packer ownership of animals, reform the Captive Supply Act regarding formula pricing, strengthen the Packers and Stockyards Act by establishing a department to investigate mergers and sales, and increase competition and transparency among packers.
http://www.theprairiestar.com/articles/2007/05/25/ag_news/local_and_regional_news/local04.txt
By Carol Ryan Dumas, For The Prairie Star
Friday, May 25, 2007 12:12 PM MDT
TWIN Falls, Idaho - With a handful of Senate bills afloat that address concentration in livestock markets, producers were in Washington recently to speak their piece to the Senate and House ag committees.
While all acknowledged concentration in the industry, they differed on what should be done about it.
The National Farmers Union, American Farm Bureau Federation and R-CALF USA sat squarely on one side of the issue, while the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Pork Producers Council and American Meat Institute sat squarely on the other.
The crux of the matter is whether the government should get involved. NFU, AFBF and R-CALF say yes, the other groups say no.
The Senate bills proposed would ban packer ownership of animals, reform the Captive Supply Act regarding formula pricing, strengthen the Packers and Stockyards Act by establishing a department to investigate mergers and sales, and increase competition and transparency among packers.
http://www.theprairiestar.com/articles/2007/05/25/ag_news/local_and_regional_news/local04.txt