Concerns with Proposed GIPSA Rules

Randall Weiseman Cattle, Livestock, Pork, Poultry

farm-billMany agriculture groups are concerned with USDA’s proposed changes to the Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) final interim rule.

The National Turkey Federation is concerned with two proposed regulations possibly upending contract relationships in place between turkey growers and processors. The USDA wants to make changes with GIPSA rules that would govern those contracts. The Turkey Federation says the changes would increase costs, reduce overall productivity, and lead to a lot of uncertainty and unintended consequences that would outweigh any potential benefits to changing the rules. National Turkey Federation President Joel Brandenberger said “GIPSA’s proposed regulations governing poultry and livestock contracts and marketing could wind up hurting the very producers the department claims it’s trying to protect.”

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association agrees, saying the rules are “destructive.” NCBA President Tracy Brunner said, “USDA is going well beyond their statutory limitations, limiting marketing options for a product that America is demanding.” Brunner says if the USDA was interested in real solutions, they wouldn’t rush the rules out the door at the end of the current administration. He adds, “Cattlemen and women don’t appreciate Secretary Vilsack throwing a grenade in the building as he abandons it.”

National Pork Producers spokesman Dave Warner says the rules will mean more lawsuits and less competition, and his group will fight for repeal in the new congress and administration.

Congressional leaders and livestock groups plan a strong push next month to repeal USDA’s last-minute interim final rules aimed at discriminatory practices in livestock and poultry sales.

Lawmakers have 60 days under the congressional review act to repeal a new rule once published, which the Obama USDA plans before the administration leaves office and before a 60-day comment period ends.

(From the National Association of Farm Broadcasters News Service)