It’s been almost exactly a year since USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) published a controversial proposed rule that would fundamentally change the way livestock is marketed in this country, and those opposed to it remain hopeful that the proposal itself will be fundamentally changed – or just eliminated. Colin Woodall with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) …
I Am Angus Spotlights Temple Grandin
Temple Grandin is a doctor of animal science and professor at Colorado State University, bestselling author, and consultant to the livestock industry on animal behavior. She is also widely noted for her work in autism advocacy and is the inventor of the hug machine designed to calm hypersensitive persons. Her autism advocacy has made her famous in the general population, …
Winter Weather Woes for Livestock
Cattle producers around the country have been busy this winter trying to care for their animals in particularly harsh weather. Ice, snow and freezing temperatures mean lots of extra work to feed and water cattle and there were lots of producers who were unable to make the trip to Denver last week for the Cattle Industry Convention because of that. …
Using Alge to Improve Ag Sustainability
Agriculture often gets a bad wrap on the sustainability scale but growers know that they aren’t going to jeopardize their livehoods and they are great stewards of the land. But for those growers who are still looking for some unique ways to be a little “greener” with their operations, they should consider algae. Kent Bioenergy has its roots in aquaculture. …
NCBA Submits Comments on GIPSA Rule
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) today submitted official comments on behalf of its membership to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) regarding its proposed rule on livestock and poultry marketing. Colin Woodall, NCBA vice president of government affairs, says the comments submitted to USDA represent a thorough review of the potential consequences …
Informa Study Finds Economic Losses Under GIPSA Rule
An Informa Economics study on the economic impact of the proposed GIPSA rules finds it could cost the economy $1.5 billion and nearly 23,000 jobs. The study, which was conducted on behalf of meat industry organizations, was released today in Kansas City by representatives of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Pork Producers Council, National Turkey Federation and National Meat …
Novus Celebrates Green Acres Farm
Novus International employees from around the world joined with the community of Montgomery County, Missouri and the agriculture industry statewide to celebrate the opening of their new research facility Green Acres Farm. “It was really important for us to find a welcoming community,” said Novus CEO Thad Simons at the ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday. With him were Missouri Director …
Vagueness of GIPSA Proposal Concerns Montana Producer
The basic problem with the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule as far as Montana cow-calf producer Bill Donald is concerned is that it is just too vague. “We can have intelligent people that read it and come up with a very different analysis of what it will or won’t do,” Bill says. “It’s so hard to …
Three Weeks Until GIPSA Comment Deadline
Livestock producers – and anyone in the meat industry, including those who eat it – have just three weeks left to make comments on the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule designed to “provide significant new protections for producers against unfair, fraudulent or retaliatory practices,” according to USDA. As of right now, nearly 13,800 comments have been …
DC Media Question Motives of GIPSA Boss
The head of USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) has been the subject of two recent articles by Washington DC watchdog reporters who are questioning his objectivity when it comes to writing new rules for the livestock industry. J. Dudley Butler, a Mississippi trial lawyer, was appointed by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in May of 2009 to serve …