Grassley Works to Ban Packer Ownership of Livestock

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley today said he's introducing his bill that would make it unlawful for a packer to own or feed livestock intended for slaughter.

"The 2012 farm bill is a great opportunity to deal with vertical integration before it's too late.  The ag concentration forums provided a real opportunity to make progress, but unfortunately the administration failed to follow through on any of the grass roots input and we're still at square one." Grassley said.  "Outlawing packer ownership of livestock would make sure the marketplace works for the farmer just as much as it does for the slaughterhouse."

Grassley's Packer Ban excludes single pack entities and packers that are too small to participate in the Mandatory Price Reporting program.  The bill also exempts farmer cooperatives where the members own, feed, or control the livestock themselves.

Grassley said that the CEO of a major slaughter house once told a group of farmers:  You wonder why we own livestock?  Well, we own livestock so that when prices are high we can kill our own and when prices are low we can buy from the farmer.

"This statement shows their intent and unfairness to the family farmer," Grassley said.  "Vertical integration leaves the independent producer with even fewer choices of who to buy from and sell to.  And, it hurts the ability of farmers to get a fair price for their products."

Here is a copy of the statement Grassley entered into the Congressional Record upon introduction.

Prepared Floor Statement of Senator Chuck Grassley

Introduction of the Packer Ban

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation designed to help family farmers across this nation have a more level playing field when it comes to livestock markets.  The bill would prohibit meat packers from owning livestock.  The ownership of livestock by packers compromises the marketplace and hinders the ability of the farmer to receive a fair price.  It is simple, as one meat-packing executive once told me, packers own livestock so that when prices are high, they slaughter their own livestock.  When prices are low, they buy from farmers.

I would love to say opportunities for independent producers have gotten better since the last time we debated this bill during the 2008 Farm Bill.  But that simply isn't the case.  We are to the point where most farmers have to deliver their livestock to one of a few very large packers.  Farmers' bargaining power is diminished by the sheer size and economic position of the packers.  But beyond that, farmers have to compete with the livestock owned by the packing plant itself.  The packer ban would make sure the forces of the marketplace work for the benefit of the farmer as much as it does for the slaughterhouse.

I'm sure there will be folks in the packing industry that point out that farmers are doing okay right now, and that's great that farmers are experiencing a good period.  I am pleased anytime the hard work of livestock farmers results in a good price.  But I don't want my colleagues here in the Senate to be lulled to sleep and think just because prices are good right now means we don't have competition issues in the livestock industry that need to be addressed.  This is about ensuring farmers are able to get fair prices for years to come.  We need to work today, and implement this reform, to ensure the next generation of independent farmers has an opportunity to raise livestock and receive fair prices as a result of their hard work.

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HF 589 Criminalizes Investigations of Animal Cruelty and Other Serious Crimes at Factory Farms

(February 29, 2012) -- The Humane Society of the United States urged Gov. Terry Branstad to veto notorious Iowa "ag gag" bill, HF 589, that would criminalize the investigation of animal cruelty, worker abuse, sexual harassment and other serious crimes at farming operations.

"The intent of this bill is simple: shield animal agribusiness from public scrutiny by punishing whistleblowers and protecting animal abusers," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States in a letter urging Gov. Branstad to reject the bill. "By signing this bill into law, animal agribusiness will have unbridled and unchecked power over worker safety, public health and animal welfare."

On Tuesday, the Iowa state legislature rushed the bill through both the Senate and House of Representatives at a speed rarely found in the legislative process. Normally, deliberations of such consequence take weeks, or at least several days.

Critics question the constitutionality of HF 589 as an infringement on the First Amendment, and a broad spectrum of national interest groups have spoken out against state ag gag bills, including organizations for animal protection, civil liberties, public health, food safety, environmental, food justice, legal, workers' rights and First Amendment interests.

Undercover investigations in Iowa over the past three years have consistently revealed alarming conditions on factory farms, causing a public backlash and demands for higher standards on farms.

Undercover investigations have also played a vital role on the national level in exposing animal welfare and food safety issues related to industrialized agriculture. In 2008, an HSUS undercover investigation of a slaughter plant in Chino, Calif. resulted in the largest meat recall in the nation's history. The meat suppliers faced a $150 million lawsuit for sending meat from sick and injured animals to the federal school lunch program and the investigation revealed horrific animal abuse.

Facts

• Last year, special interests in four states succeeded in having ag gag bills introduced. None passed.
• A similar bill was defeated in Florida in January 2012, but other ag gag bills remain active in Utah, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri, Illinois, New York and Indiana.

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WASHINGTON, D.C., February 28, 2012 ?  The U.S. Grains Council, which develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products, has launched a significantly enhanced website at grains.org.

The website, a component of the Council's branding and communications initiative, presents the latest news and data relating to the U.S. and global grain trade. The site includes charts that present current FOB reference prices and market spreads for several commodities at port, as well as top U.S. export customers and additional information that is helpful for foreign buyers and those monitoring grain markets and exports.

"The U.S. Grains Council gathers a significant amount of information every week, and this new website helps us present that information to members and interested parties in a more timely and more organized fashion," said Don Fast, USGC vice chairman and barley farmer from Glasgow, Mont. "We also highlight key issues and policy positions taken by the Council to make it clear what the Council and its members believe ?  that open, liberalized trade of all goods and services is vital to the prosperity of the world economy."

Included on the site are details from each of the Council's 10 foreign offices, as well as a market overview, supply and demand information and market growth potential for more than 25 countries.

"News and information is integrated throughout the site and our new Word from the Ground post offers a place for our professional staff and consultants to provide additional insight on pressing issues on a daily basis," said Fast.

A new members-only area will debut later this year. The My USGC member center, formally known as The GRAIN Center, will allow members to renew membership, update information, register for events and download members-only documents from the Council's extensive resource library.

For more information, contact Marri Carrow, USGC manager of communications, at mcarrow@grains.org or 202-789-0789.

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The U.S. Grains Council is a private, non-profit partnership of farmers and agribusinesses committed to building and expanding international markets for U.S. barley, corn, grain sorghum and their products. The Council is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has 10 international offices that oversee programs in more than 50 countries. Financial support from our private industry members, including state checkoffs, agribusinesses, state entities and others, triggers federal matching funds from the USDA resulting in a combined program value of more than $28.3 million.

ST. LOUIS (February 24, 2012) - John Becherer, CEO of the United Soybean Board (USB) and national soy checkoff, has been named the 2012 Agribusiness Leader of the Year by the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA). This award, NAMA's highest honor, will be presented at the opening general session of the 2012 Agri-Marketing Conference, "Acres of Innovation," on April 19 in Kansas City, Missouri.

The award honors outstanding leaders in agribusiness, education, government service or other agribusiness-related areas who exemplify excellence in agribusiness by their significant contributions to the industry.

"This is NAMA's highest award, and it honors executives throughout agriculture for their leadership and innovation," said Vanessa Kummer, a soybean farmer from Colfax, N.D., and USB chair. "On behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers, I want to thank John for his unwavering commitment to creating profit opportunities for every U.S. soybean farmer. We should all feel proud of our great USB achievements with John serving as our CEO." 

For nearly 18 years, John Becherer has guided a board of more than 60 volunteer U.S. soybean farmer-directors through times of growth and change. The soy checkoff organization marked its 20th anniversary in 2011. Global demand for soybeans has increased more than 150 percent since the soy checkoff began in 1991. Becherer helped build this growth at a pace that has outperformed global demand for any other major U.S. row crop. 

Last year alone, Becherer helped USB farmer-leaders create a new long-range strategic plan; develop a new effort that could redefine how the marketplace determines the value of U.S. soy and reward U.S. soybean farmers for quality; and direct the first formal, independent, third-party assessment of USB's governance and structure in the organization's 20 years of existence.
Becherer also engaged private industry to more effectively build confidence among consumers about today's agriculture and our food supply by helping to create the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance. The organization has grown to include more than 70 major U.S. farm and commodity organizations from just 20 when it began in 2010.

The soy checkoff leads the world in farmer-funded soy research and promotion and provides U.S. soybean farmers with an advantage in an increasingly competitive international agricultural sector.
In addition to leading the soy checkoff, Becherer continues to identify needs throughout the agriculture and soy industry. He was instrumental in forming organizations such as QUALISOY and Commodity Checkoff Roundtable to bring allied U.S. agricultural interests together.
Becherer received the 2009 Agribusiness Leader of the Year Award from the St. Louis club.

USB is made up of 69 farmer-directors who oversee the investments of the soybean checkoff on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers. Checkoff funds are invested in the areas of animal utilization, human utilization, industrial utilization, industry relations, market access and supply. As stipulated in the Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soybean checkoff.

For more information on the United Soybean Board, visit www.unitedsoybean.org
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