06.27.22

Hoeven Working to Expand Opportunities for Ranchers to Sell Their Products, Improve Market Competition

JAMESTOWN, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today met with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small, North Dakota meat processors and members of the North Dakota Farmers Union to discuss efforts to expand and diversify options for ranchers to sell their products and improve competition in cattle markets. To this end, the senator, who serves as the lead Republican on the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and is a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, has:

  • Secured language in Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 funding legislation to establish a pilot program at the Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS) for a cattle contract library, which would help improve price transparency in cattle markets.
  • Provided an additional $2 million in FY22 for AMS to enforce the Packers and Stockyards Act. 
  • Helped introduce legislation to:
  • Establish a new office at USDA to investigate, prosecute and bring civil or administrative actions for violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act.
    • Expand ranchers’ ability to provide more locally-produced meat to consumers by utilizing custom slaughterhouses. 

“Our ranchers produce the best beef in the world, and they deserve access to fair and competitive markets where they can sell their high-quality products,” Hoeven said “Our efforts are both about improving price transparency and competition in cattle markets, as well as expanding meat processing capacity to give livestock producers more options.” 

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