Last week the American Farm Bureau issued an executive order with the help of the Biden Administration to propose rule changes to increase competition in livestock markets. The Farm Bureau Congressional Relations Director, Scott Bennett says the proposal will focus on the transparency of fairness.
Bennett shares how the order will impact livestock producers, “What we see in the executive order is much more attention being drawn to the potential for some of our livestock markets being unfair. We also see $500 million in regional packing capacity expansion, as well as $100 million for overtime relief for FSIS inspectors at small and regional packing facilities.”
The executive order proposes alterations of the rules under the Packers and Stockers Act. “We know that there will be three proposed rules that rework the competition and undue preference. While we currently don’t have the text, we await the administration to publish that text, which in the executive order said would be done within the next 150 days,” Bennett shares.
The Farm Bureau and Bennett will be active in the rulemaking process. He explains the decision-making process, “we do know that this administration is seeking information as to how that $500 million will be spent to in fact expand regional packing capacity. American Farm Bureau will certainly comment and provide feedback to the administration on how that money could best be spent in order to accomplish those goals.”
Changes to this act will be finalized in mid-December.
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