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OCM: GIPSA ruling disappoints but glad USDA will revisit

The executive director of the Organization for Competitive Markets, OCM, says they’re disappointed an appeals judge has sided with the USDA in its decision to pull GIPSA rules. Joe Maxwell tells Brownfield Ag News without those rules, livestock producers are bound by the Packers and Stockyards Act without any recourse when harmed, unlike any other industry, “If they’re short paid like what happened at JBS here a few weeks ago – where JBS admitted they were co-mingling carcasses, under-weighing carcasses… If that was any other industry and you weren’t getting paid for full value of your product, you could bring litigation. We do not think farmers should be denied the same opportunity.”

Maxwell says OCM is pleased that Ag Secretary Perdue, during oral arguments last year, said the USDA plans to address the GIPSA rules in 2019, “We were disappointed that the court didn’t go ahead and agree with us. We think these rules are absolutely necessary but look forward to seeing what Secretary Perdue has in mind.” Maxwell says the USDA will likely have something in their spring regulatory agenda about GIPSA and the OCM will be closely watching, looking for litigation and legislative options.

AUDIO: Interview with Joe Maxwell ~