Packers & Stockyards Act To Be Reviewed

During the Livestock Marketing Council meeting at the 2003 Cattle Industry Convention, GIPSA Deputy Administrator Joann Waterfield offered an overview of the Packers and Stockyard Program. She announced that in the next couple of weeks her agency will embark on an extensive review of the Packers and Stockyard Act.

NCBA Director of Legislative Affairs, Bryan Dierlam, commented that the review of this law is significant. "The Packers and Stockyards Act was written in 1921. Captive supply didn’t exist when the law was written."

Waterfield added, "We look forward to working with your industry on this because the statute is there to protect producers and stockers."

She also informed attendees that packers are moving toward electronic carcass evaluation technology to evaluate carcasses and determine payment. "We need to develop standards for this area, and the fairest way to audit these methods. We’re going to start regulating this area because transparency is important. We’ll welcome your input."

Other topics discussed during the council meeting included a review of national standards for truck size and weight limitations and comments regarding benefits and limitations of country-of-origin labeling.

The session concluded with a panel of five industry representatives discussing value based marketing programs. Jackie Moore with Joplin Regional Stockyards summarized the panel’s comments by saying, "In our business it is all about getting value for our customer. Vaccination and nutrition programs will help the producer get that value. It’s the thing to do."

He added that in the last six months he’s noticed that producers have been more willing than in the past to make the investment in vaccination and health protocols. "They understand it’s making them money," Moore said.

—- By Kindra Gordon