Vilsack Weighs in on PSA Investigator Bill

Dan Beef, Cattle, Legislative, Livestock, Marketing, Regulation, USDA

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack weighed in this week on a bill to create a Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA) investigator at USDA to boost price discovery and transparency in the highly concentrated livestock sector. He says a Packers and Stockyards Act investigator could be part of broader USDA action to deal with unfair market practices harming small independent producers. “I …

Senate Ag Scheduled Hearing on Cattle Markets

Dan Cattle, Legislative

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow Thursday announced a hearing titled “Examining Markets, Transparency, and Prices from Cattle Producer to Consumer.” The Michigan Democrat, along with the committee’s ranking Republican John Boozman of Arkansas, scheduled the hearing for the afternoon of Wednesday, June 23. Cattle market transparency is a priority for cattle producers as disruptions in the market, along with …

DeSantis Could Bypass Cabinet on DEP Pick

Dan Florida, Legislative

(NSF/June 15, 2021) — Gov. Ron DeSantis suggested he might not get sign-off from the state Cabinet for his next appointee to run the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). In what would be a precedent-setting action, DeSantis indicated he might only need approval of the appointee from the Legislature. The issue came up during a Cabinet meeting when Agriculture Secretary …

New Bill Addresses Anti-Competitive Practices in Meat Processing Industry

Dan Beef, Cattle, Legislative, Livestock, Pork, Poultry, Sheep-Goats

Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley joined fellow Republican Mike Rounds of South Dakota and Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, in introducing legislation on meatpacking. The bill would address the anti-competitive practices in the meat and poultry industries that threaten the nation’s food supply and national security. The legislation comes on the heels of a recent ransomware attack on JBS, one …

Cattle Market Legislation Introduced in U.S. House

Dan Beef, Cattle, Legislative

For quite some time, cattle producers have seen the decline of a negotiated fed cattle trade, an issue the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has been discussing on how to increase opportunities for producer profitability. This week, Representative Vicky Hartzler (R-MO-4) introduced the Optimizing the Cattle Market Act of 2021 in the U.S. House of Representatives. If enacted, the bill would direct …

White House Task Force to Examine Supply Chain Disruptions

Dan Beef, Cattle, Legislative

The White House Tuesday announced a task force focused on short-term supply chain disruptions. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was named co-chair of the task force, along with the Secretaries of Commerce and Transportation. The Department of Agriculture says the task force will convene stakeholders to diagnose problems and find solutions that could help alleviate bottlenecks and supply constraints related to …

Florida Immigration Fight to be Heard in September

Dan Florida, Labor and Immigration, Legislative

(NSF/June 6, 2021) — A federal appeals court will hear arguments in September in Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s challenge to immigration-enforcement moves by the Biden administration. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has scheduled arguments the week of Sept. 20 in Miami, according to court documents. Moody went to the appeals court last month after U.S. District Judge …

Gary Black Launches Senate Campaign

Dan Georgia, Legislative

Asks GOP Convention: “Are You Satisfied or Sickened by Liberal Agenda of Inflation, High Gas Prices, Erosion of Constitution?” JEKYLL ISLAND, GA – Gary Black, GA’s Agriculture Commissioner who received more votes than any candidate for U.S. Senate or Governor in 2018 and 2014, launched his campaign for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Raphael Warnock. “Warnock and Biden …

DeSantis Signs Budget, Vetoes $1.5 Billion

Dan Economy, Florida, Legislative

(TALLAHASSEE/June 2, 2021) — While pointing to an economic resurgence amid the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday used his line-item veto power to slash $1.5 billion as he signed a record $100 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year. DeSantis described the spending plan as reflecting “a state government that is meeting the core concerns of Floridians,” during …