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Competitive Markets
During
consideration of the 2002 Farm Bill there was much debate
about the competitive operation of livestock markets. For
example, the Senate version of the Farm Bill included an
amendment which would have prohibited packer ownership of
livestock within 14 days of slaughter. Though there was
considerable debate and disagreement about the consequences of
this amendment, most observers understood that the amendment
would have had a profound effect on livestock markets. During
the House and Senate Farm Bill Conference, the Conferees
agreed to put this amendment aside, pledging to conduct a
sustained and comprehensive examination of our nation's
livestock markets and consideration of potential legislative
solutions.
House
Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest asked state and
national producer groups, agricultural economists, national
farm groups, packers and the Secretary of Agriculture to
respond to specific set of 23 questions that will lay the
foundation for House hearings on the current state of
livestock markets. http://agriculture.house.gov/press/pr020812.html
Senate
Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin held a hearing on
July 16, 2002, at where testimony was presented by several
U.S. Senators; Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory
Affairs/USDA; and two witness panels. http://agriculture.senate.gov/Hearings/Hearings_2002/July_16__2002/july_16__%202002.html
Country
of Origin Labeling
Links:
U.S.
Department of Agriculture
http://ers.usda.gov/Features/farmbill/analysis/cool.htm
http://www.ams.usda.gov/COOL/
Livestock Markets
Links:
House
Agriculture Committee
http://agriculture.house.gov/press/pr020812.html
Swine
Contract Library
The Grain
Inspection Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA)
provides a catalog of the types of contracts offered by
packers to swine producers for the purchase of swine
(including swine that are purchased for future
delivery).
http://scl.gipsa.usda.gov/
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