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NCBA outlines 2018 Farm Bill priorities

The president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says the cattle industry will oppose any inclusion of a livestock title in the 2018 Farm Bill and any attempts to restrict the ownership of livestock in a so-called “packer ban.”

Craig Uden, a Nebraska cattle producer, testified before the House Ag subcommittee on livestock earlier this week, “The vast majority of my fellow livestock producers believe the livestock industry is best served by the process of free enterprise and free trade. We continue to oppose attempts to narrow business options or limit the individual freedom of livestock producers to market their product.”

Uden testified that NCBA opposes any government attempts to influence how cattle are marketed – and that’s why they oppose the “GIPSA” interim final rule on competitive injury. If implemented, Uden told the committee, “The packers will offer one price for all cattle regardless of quality. Packers have indicated they will not be willing to open this up to these frivolous lawsuits that this change in the competitive injury standard would create.” Uden warned that the rule would eliminate value-based marketing programs.

The other NCBA farm bill priorities Uden named are support of the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) repeal, protection of conservation programs, protection of the National Beef Checkoff, and a stronger FMD vaccine bank.