The dire need for GIPSA to immediately address such additional problems is evidenced by a 2006 audit conducted by USDA's Office of Inspector General (OIG) that found not only was the Packers and Stockyards Program (PSP) not performing competition and complex investigations, but also, the PSP had failed since 1997 to remedy substantive deficiencies in its operations.
"Thus, disaggregated independent livestock producers and poultry producers have been deprived of the congressionally mandated protections contained in the PSA for well over a decade"because the PSP did not provide proper oversight or enforcement of the PSA, and presumably allowed the concentrated meatpacking industry, with its considerable market power, to operate in the marketplace with impunity," the letter continues. "Independent livestock and poultry producers have an absolute right to the market protections afforded by the PSA, and GIPSA should proceed posthaste to expeditiously catch up on its responsibilities to independent producers that for so long have been ignored."
"GIPSA should not facilitate an undue delay of its current rulemaking process by granting an extension of time to groups that already have signaled contempt for any competition-related reforms," the letter concludes. "For the foregoing reasons, R-CALFUSA respectfully requests that GIPSA stand firm on its original, 60-day comment period as established in its Proposed Rule, thus leaving intact the Aug. 23, 2010, deadline for receiving public comments."
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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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