3. Livestock competition comments to be considered in proposed GIPSA rule

Sally Schuff
Feedstuffs
August 27, 2010

USDA will make all remarks made at the Ft. Collins livestock competition workshop part of the official comments to be considered on the proposed GIPSA rule, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said this morning.

Following the first panel on Aug. 27, Vilsack acknowledged that he had heard several western politicians tell him there was "a delicate balance" on the rule. He referred to remarks made by Rep. Betsy Markey (D., Colo.), Colorado's Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter, and Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture John Stulp that indicate that an attempt to over-regulate the livestock markets could stifle market innovation. All of the speakers pointed out that there was a balance between "providing a level playing field" for all sellers and over-regulating market signals and forces.

While Vilsack spoke passionately about fairness in livestock marketing as a key part of his vision of restoring rural America and bringing young people back into agriculture, the state politicians added that the key to doing that was "an opportunity of profitability" on family farms.

The Coloradoans urged Vilsack to look to market access for exports as a means to support economic development throughout rural America.

But, Deputy Attorney General for Antitrust Christine Varney said the "recurring theme we've heard at all the workshops is that the system is broken." She said that at each of the four workshops, Department of Justice officials have heard concerns about issues of unfairness. Varney said she has assigned 15 Justice Department lawyers to the joint USDA-DOJ task force on antitrust.

She reported that each complaint that has been brought to their attention been explored, but she did not comment of if any had gone into official investigations. But, she concluded, "it's keeping a lot of people very busy."

Attorney General Eric Holder's formal remarks at the Ft. Collins workshop are online at: http://www.doj.gov. Search "agriculture, competition."