Source:  Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 5/19/11

Beef, pork and poultry industry groups on Wednesday applauded and trumpeted a letter signed by nearly 150, or more than one-third of the members, of the House of Representatives urging Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to revise proposed changes to livestock marketing rules under Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards act.
 
“Withdrawing the June 22, 2010, proposed rule and re-proposing a revised rule once the Department completes its economic analysis would allow stakeholders the opportunity they deserve to comment on what we hope will be substantial changes to the proposed rule more consistent with the intent of Congress outlined in the 2008 Farm Bill,” the lawmakers wrote in the letter.

The American Meat Institute, the National Chicken Council and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association were among the industry associations to laud the letter. All have adamantly opposed the propose rule, arguing, among other things, that it would effectively eliminate marketing agreements between packers and producers that have worked to lower the cost and boost the quality of their products for consumers.

In October, 115 House members wrote Vilsack to urge an analysis of the economic impact of the proposed rule and the secretary agreed to conduct one. In this most recent letter, the lawmakers are asking for a timeline and for a withdrawal and re-proposal of GIPSA revisions that exceeded the intent of Congress in the 2008 farm bill.
 
AMI estimates the proposal’s cost at $14 billion.

“The sheer number of signatories on this letter is a testament to the growing concern on Capitol Hill about the proposed GIPSA rule.  Congress is asking a fundamental and essential question:  when will USDA tell us the price tag on this rule?” AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle said in a news release.  “We applaud the lawmakers, also, for reiterating that USDA exceeded its Congressional mandate in the proposed rule and that the proposal must be redrawn and re-written consistent with that mandate.”

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