R-CALF USA 's comments state: "This entire argument by NCBA et al is outrageous and deceitful. Packers already are required to maintain records on premiums and discounts paid for steers, heifers, cows and bulls, as well as on a variety of other livestock transaction characteristics under the Agricultural Marketing Service's regulations for Livestock Mandatory Reporting. In addition, hog packers are required to report non-carcass merit premiums that include any price premiums added to the base price based on any factor other than the characteristics of the carcass."
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"NCBA et al's entire opposition against the GIPSA rule is baseless and their only true reason for opposing the GIPSA rule is to prevent GIPSA from stopping the beef packers from chickenizing the cattle industry as these same packers have already accomplished in the pork and hog industries," said Bullard.
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The group's comments also accuse AMI of deceitfully claiming the Packers and Stockyards Act was intended only to prevent overall harm to competition and not to regulate the fairness of the packers' trade or business practices, which is a key component of the GIPSA rule. R-CALF USA's comments state: "The packers are well aware that it was the intent of Congress to regulate unfair trade practices targeted at livestock producers as evidenced by AMI's, the meatpackers' trade association's, acknowledgment that the purpose of the P&S Act was to ensure fair trade practices in addition to assuring fair competition in 2002 when it stated, "[The P&S Act] is an additional layer of fair business practice mandates on meatpackers, above and beyond the Sherman Act and Clayton Act. . ." Â
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"Our comments are hard-hitting and well documented," said Bullard. "Our goal is to provide the entire industry with information it can use to determine who is telling the truth. This is the first time R-CALF USA information and NCBA information have been provided side-by-side, and we hope every cattle producer will take the time to give our comments a very critical review. Â
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"The GIPSA rule represents the first opportunity in the past 90 years of our industry's history to stop the packers' unscrupulous efforts to further control and shrink our industry," he concluded. "The GIPSA rule is far too important for any representative of the cattle industry to not be putting all their cards on the table for everyone to see." Â Â Â Â Â
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R-CALF USA (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America) is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring the continued profitability and viability of the U.S. cattle industry. R-CALF USA represents thousands of U.S. cattle producers on trade and marketing issues. Members are located across 47 states and are primarily cow/calf operators, cattle backgrounders, and/or feedlot owners. R-CALF USA directors and committee chairs are extremely active unpaid volunteers. R-CALF USA has dozens of affiliate organizations and various main-street businesses are associate members. For more information, visit www.r-calfusa.com  or, call 406-252-2516.  Â
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