Other provisions in the proposed rule include a requirement that meatpackers retain written records to justify differential prices offered to livestock sellers, a prohibition to prevent two or more meatpackers from using a single cattle buyer to procure cattle, and a prohibition to prevent meatpackers from trading live cattle among themselves.
"Taken together, the long-awaited provisions in the proposed rule are monumental and represent a genuine effort to reverse the ongoing loss of competition that has ravaged Rural America for well over a decade. While more must be done to reestablish a fully functioning competitive market for independent U.S. cattle producers, this is definitely a positive start," Thornsberry concluded.
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R-CALF USA (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America) is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the continued profitability and viability of the U.S. cattle industry. R-CALFUSA 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-CALFUSA directors and committee chairs are extremely active unpaid volunteers. R-CALFUSA 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.
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