The next USDA/DOJ public workshop on competition in the livestock industry is scheduled for next week in Ft. Collins, CO, and I will be attending. The session will be held on Friday and there will be a separate session the evening before hosted by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and National Pork Producers Council which I will also be attending. So what is so important about this session? The main issue that will probably be discussed is the proposed rule making by USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration which was published in June. This proposed rule has huge implications for both livestock producers as well as packers and others. It’s not a simple issue either. On the surface you’ve got the intention, “. . . improve fairness in the marketing of livestock and poultry,” but underneath there’s a whole lot more to it. You can download all 17 pages of the proposed rule here (pdf) or an outline here (pdf).

To get some perspective on just what this proposed GIPSA rule making is all about I spoke with Allie Devine, VP and General Counsel, Kansas Livestock Association. I think Allie provides a good background on “how we got here” and what some of the specific concerns are, especially for cattle producers. I heard a presentation on the rule at the BIVI Swine Health Seminar last week and I can tell you it has pork producers concerned too. So to better understand what this think means please give my interview with Allie a listen. Allie Devine Interview

You can register for the USDA/DOJ Public Workshop on August 27 here. During the events next week I’ll be providing full coverage here and via my Twitter account so I hope you’ll tune in. My participation is being made possible with support from NCBA. We’re going to be conducting some additional interviews in advance of the events to provide further background and information on this very important issue.