Mr. Secretary, please address abusive and anticompetitive trade practices
February 25, 2016
The Honorable Tom Vilsack
Secretary
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington DC 20250
Dear Mr. Secretary:
We are writing on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of farmers, ranchers and consumers represented by our organizations to urge you to move expeditiously to finalize key Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA) regulations proposed in 2010 to address abusive and anticompetitive trade practices in the poultry and livestock sectors.
The market and contracting conditions that led to the initial PSA regulation proposal persist, and in many cases, have worsened. The retaliatory actions against growers, farmers and ranchers who speak publicly about these conditions have multiplied. Deceptive pricing mechanisms continue to shift risk unfairly onto the backs of farmers, and the general lack of transparency in these markets remains.
In the Fiscal Year 2016 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Congress removed any restrictions on your rulemaking authority under the Packers and Stockyards Act. After years of debate on this matter, it is time to complete the regulatory process that you initiated in 2010.
We appreciate your leadership on this matter, and stand ready to help in any way possible in your efforts to complete the task.
Sincerely,
Alabama State Association of Cooperatives
American Grassfed Association
Campaign for Contract Agriculture Reform
Social Services Office-Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri
Catholic Rural Life
Cattlemen’s Texas Longhorn Registry
Center for Rural Affairs
Church Women United in New York State
Contract Poultry Growers Association of the Virginias
The Cornucopia Institute
Family Farm Defenders (WI)
Farm Aid
Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance
Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund
Food Democracy Now!
Independent Cattlemen of Wyoming
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future (MD)
Land Loss Prevention Project (NC)
Land Stewardship Project (MN)
Midwest Organic Dairy Producers Association
Minnesota National Farmers Organization
Missouri Rural Crisis Center
National Family Farm Coalition
National Farmers Organization
National Farmers Union
National Latino Farmers & Ranchers Trade Association
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
National Women Involved in Farm Economics
Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society
Nebraska Women Involved in Farm Economics
Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance
Northeast Organic Farming Association, Interstate Council (NOFA-IC)
Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (NESAWG)
Northern New Mexico Stockman’s Association
Operation Spring Plant, Inc. (NC)
Organic Farmers’ Agency for Relationship Marketing (OFARM)
Organization for Competitive Markets
R-CALF United Stockgrowers of America
Rural Advancement Foundation International – USA (RAFI-USA)
Rural Coalition
Rural Development Leadership Network (NY)
South Dakota Stockgrowers Association
Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC)