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South Dakota Stockgrowers thank senators for support
South Dakota Stockgrowers are proud of Senator Johnson and Senator Thune for their support of market reforms in Senator Harkins' mark up of the Senate version of the farm bill as it was debated in the Senate Ag Committee in mid-October. Senator Johnson is an original co-sponsor of a bill to limit packer ownership of cattle (Senate bill 305) and Senator Thune led the charge Oct. 24 as it was introduced and passed in the Chairman's Manager's Amendment. This amendment will prohibit packer ownership of cattle for more than 14 days prior to slaughter and thus restrict the large packers' ability to manipulate the market by using their own cattle when the market is up. We also wish to thank Shane Kolb, Stockgrowers Marketing Committee Chairman, from Meadow, S.D., who along with representatives from several other agricultural organizations, spent most of the week in D.C., lobbying for this bill along with other anti-competition bills. Shane is very knowledgeable in this area and it was certainly to our advantage to have him there. Kolb believes the farm bill is the best avenue to get the much needed market reforms and said "It's encouraging to see livestock reforms included in the whole farm bill debate." He further stated "Although we may not be getting all we want, this is very promising and I feel positive that we will be seeing good results." Other changes in the "Livestock Title" of the farm bill include: The Competitive and Fair Agricultural Markets Act which establishes an Office of Special Counsel to provide investigation and prosecution of violations in competition matters, bringing about better enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act and Agricultural Fair Practices Act; the House version of Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling with some clarification as requested by Senator Thune; a market reform that amends the Agricultural Fair Practices Act by requiring companies to bargain in good faith; voluntary arbitration in livestock and poultry contracts; and a provision for USDA enforcement over live poultry dealers. Kolb said "These are vitally important to the producers and we must use every avenue to get the job done, also a lot will be accomplished by the western and Midwestern states working together to bring about these changes." South Dakota Stockgrowers again say "thank you" to our senators for the support and action taken on these bills which are so vitally important to the viability of our producers and our rural economy. Date: 11/20/07
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