Source: Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 10/5/10

More than 100 U.S. House members have sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack asking that USDA conduct additional analysis of the economic impacts that would result from passage of new livestock marketing rules proposed by the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration.

In their letter, the lawmakers contend that proposed new regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act exceed Congress’s mandate of the 2008 Farm Bill and would cause major changes to livestock and poultry marketing in the United States that requires a “vigorous” economic analysis. (Click here to download a .pdf of the letter.)

“The analysis contained in the proposed rule fails to demonstrate the need for the rule, assess the impact of its implementation on the marketplace, or establish how the implementation of the rule would address the demonstrated need,” they wrote in the letter.

The lawmakers are asking USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist to conduct a “thorough” economic analysis.

Meat industry groups, including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and National Pork Producers Council, have voiced their support for the letter.

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