packers

As lawmakers and the Ag industry look to determine how to ensure beef producers and the packing houses both receive fair pay, and have a good working relationship, one University of Idaho assistant professor said it all starts with communication ...

Introduction of the Butcher Block Act in the House of Representatives last week received a warm welcome from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. The legislation would establish a stand-alone loan program through the Department of Agriculture to help processors expand capacity, improve marketing options for cattle producers and encourage competitive markets and pricing for live cattle. The

Back to 2011, as Ag Secretary, Tom Vilsack said. "Livestock and poultry marketplaces now only become more concentrated they've become vertically integrated and with that there is the risk of folks being treated unfairly" And so he announced rules to correct that ...

A bipartisan effort is underway in Washington D.C. to manage what some have called a food crisis when it comes to the prices livestock producers receive. R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard said consumers are paying rapidly higher prices at the store, but cattle prices are collapsing ...

Over the past 18 months, the voices calling for changes in the packing industry have become louder and more numerous. Many livestock producer organizations say ranchers enjoy the profits or margins they should since there are only four major packing companies in the U ...

The Justice Department has made a formal demand for information from the country’s four biggest meatpackers as they investigate potential antitrust violations. A Bloomberg article said that deepens the scrutiny of an industry that’s already been hit hard by plant shutdowns due to the coronavirus. The depar ...

Recent discussions in D.C. anticipate loosening Canada-U.S. border crossing restrictions beyond essential travelers and trade. Dennis Guy takes a look at when that change could take place. If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekradio... Read More ...

Truth in Labeling has been a topic of discussion during the short 2020 legislative session in Olympia, leading to several proposed bills that will impact the farm community.  One, proposed by Representative Joel Kretz looks to require retailers to post a sign in the immediate vicinity to distinguish between “USA beef and “imported” products.  For beef to quality ...

Hundreds of cattle producers rallied recently, calling on President Trump to fire Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue.  Joe Maxwell is the Executive Director for Organization For Competitive Markets.  Maxwell said more and more commodity groups feel Perdue does not have their best interest at heart.   “...

Are prices in the beef market being manipulated by packing industry?   Many on the production side will say yes.   The issue truly came to light after a fire heavily damaged a Tyson packing facility in Holcomb, KS.  Jerome Rosa, President of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association said something does not add up where consumer prices have increased, packers are enjoying excellent margins, and producers