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Reaction to USDA’s GIPSA move is mixed

Ag groups are reacting to the USDA’s latest step on the GIPSA rule.

In general, supporters of the rule aren’t happy and those who wanted to kill the rule remain wary.

USDA on Friday submitted modified sections of the proposed livestock marketing rule to the Office of Management and Budget.  But the agency also threw out some portions of the original proposal—including the sections that prohibit packer-to-packer sales—and postponed decisions on other provisions.

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association spokesman Colin Woodall tells Brownfield that while USDA’s actions are positive, the fight is not over.  Woodall points out that USDA still must define competitive injury, undue preference and unfair practices.

”We’re encouraged at where they’re going and some of the provisions they’ve already thrown out,” Woodall says, “but there is still some very significant concern with what they could do on competitive injury, unfair practices and undue preference. 

“Those could have a very devastating impact on the ability of cattle producers to market cattle how they want to, when they want to, and where they want to.”

Meanwhile, R-CALF is critical of USDA’s actions, saying that USDA appears to have put the interests of cattle producers on hold, which the group calls “a huge mistake given the ongoing manipulation-caused volatility in our fed cattle market.”

The National Farmers Union was also critical of USDA for not addressing any of the issues facing beef producers, but said it was encouraged to see parts of the GIPSA rule advanced.

AUDIO: Colin Woodall (4:55 MP3)

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