Obama and USDA Secretary Vilsack Give up Protecting Livestock Producers against Meat Packers

[The Straight Story]

Obama and USDA Secretary Vilsack Give up Protecting Livestock Producers against Meat Packers

After vowing to make significant changes, the Obama administration has given up on its own rules affecting the meat-packing industry.

Years of complaints from small- and medium-sized farmers prompted the administration to do something about an industry where four companies control 90% of all beef processing, 70% of all pork processing, and nearly 60% of all poultry processing.

Part of the mission of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard Administration (GIPSA) is to investigate complaints about anti-competitive practices. So the Obama administration proposed rules last year to protect cattle ranchers, as well as poultry and hog farmers, from unfair contract terms pushed on them by meat packers. The proposed changes would have curbed the power of big packers such as Tyson Foods and Cargill Inc., to control the prices paid to livestock producers. It would also have provided poultry growers and cattle farmers with new protections against larger agribusiness operations, including making it easier for livestock raisers to sue the industry giants that control the nation’s meat markets.

But fierce opposition from meat packing companies and Republicans in the U.S. House convinced the USDA to gut its own regulations.

http://www.allgov.com/Controversies/ViewNews/Obama_and_USDA_Secretary_Vilsack_Give_up_Protecting_Livestock_Producers_against_Meat_Packers_111120

[Sanity Claws]

1. more small slaughterhouses are required

Maybe the way to protect the livestock producers, particularly the small ones, is to encourage the growth of small slaughterhouses. I chat with the small farmers who come to the farmers markets. They tell me how they have to book appointments way in advance to get their chickens slaughtered. With more small producers, it seems that there should be more small meat-packers.
How can their growth be encouraged?

[eilen]

2. Perhaps by creating farmer (member)-owned coops

similar to the NYS dairy cooperatives which range from bargaining to operation services.

http://dyson.cornell.edu/outreach/extensionpdf/2007/Cornell_AEM_eb0703.pdf

[court jester]

3. "the mission of the USDA Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard Administration"

is clear these days.

"USDA Secretary Vilsack"-Change we can believe in

Organic Consumers Association
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_15573.cfm

(2 of)Six Reasons Why Obama Appointing Monsanto's Buddy, Former Iowa Governor Vilsack, for USDA Head Would be a Terrible Idea

"...* Vilsack was the origin of the seed pre-emption bill in 2005, which many people here in Iowa fought because it took away local government's possibility of ever having a regulation on seeds- where GE would be grown, having GE-free buffers, banning pharma corn locally, etc. Representative Sandy Greiner, the Republican sponsor of the bill, bragged on the House Floor that Vilsack put her up to it right after his state of the state address.

* Vilsack has a glowing reputation as being a schill for agribusiness biotech giants like Monsanto. Sustainable ag advocated across the country were spreading the word of Vilsack's history as he was attempting to appeal to voters in his presidential bid. An activist from the west coast even made this youtube animation about Vilsack..."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hmoc4Qgcm4s

The healing of a nation (and it's animals):

[roody]

4. The tofu is likely made from GMO soy.

[court jester]

5. if it is labeled organic it is not (at least until the USDA changes their definitions), which

will happen, thanks in part to the Honorable Vilsack.
The Tofu I buy has the label Organic.

Do you think that GMO products should be labeled GMO?

That is pretty important. I will not eat GMO products.

And if GMO products can not be identified that is a failure of the USDA.

In that case, we would be better off without them, because private enterprises can and would be sued out of existence. Try to sue the USDA for just one of their many fark ups. Have any idea what it would cost?

[roody]

6. Californians are putting GMO labeling on the ballot.