Live Audio From R-Calf GIPSA Forum

Chuck Zimmerman

Now I’m attending the R-Calf GIPSA forum. Got here a little late. They’ve got an overflow crowd. There are several speakers to go. The language being used in the presentations is very different. Lots of references to factory farms and corporate control. No definition given though. I tried to live stream the audio but I couldn’t get on the hotel …

Ag Groups, Audio, GIPSA, Livestock

Live Audio GIPSA Forum With NCBA/NPPC

Chuck Zimmerman

I’ve been live streaming the audio from this evening’s forum and press conference on the proposed GIPSA rule. I’ll be posting selected audio and interviews at some later time since I have another forum to try to attend this evening and then an all day workshop tomorrow. I hope all you who listened got something out of it. It’s always …

Ag Groups, Audio, GIPSA, Livestock

Learning More About GIPSA

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s time for some livestock industry forums in Ft. Collins, CO. I’m attending the first one which is the NCBA/NPPC GIPSA Rule Press Briefing. We’re in the Hilton for this session. I’ll be attending another one later this evening too. It looks like we’ve got people rolling in and the room is set up for a big crowd. Media are …

Ag Groups, GIPSA, Livestock

Legislators Question USDA Objectivity On GIPSA/Workshops

Chuck Zimmerman

The forums and USDA/DOJ public workshop I’ll be attending in Ft. Collins, CO get more interesting by the minute it seems like. Today a letter was sent to Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack from Senators Pat Roberts (R-KS), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Mike Johanns (R-NE), Sam Brownback (R-KS), and Tom Coburn (R-OK) expressing some concerns about a USDA official helping to …

Livestock, USDA

Some Groups Support GIPSA Rule

Cindy Zimmerman

We’ve been hearing a lot from producers and organizations with concerns about the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule, but there are some groups in favor of the rule. The most vocal is R-CALF USA, led by CEO Bill Bullard, who calls the proposed rule “critical” to help “an industry in crisis.” Bullard contends that the rule …

Audio, GIPSA, Livestock, USDA, Video

NCBA President Urges Piecemeal Approach To GIPSA Rule

Chuck Zimmerman

He’s a western Illinois cattle and hog producer and also has a feed yard. He’s Steve Foglesong, President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. I spoke with Steve today for our series on the proposed GIPSA rule making. The picture is Steve during a press conference at this summer’s Cattle Industry Conference. He says that when you read the proposed …

Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, GIPSA, Livestock

NPPC Calls Proposed GIPSA Rule a “Disaster”

Cindy Zimmerman

Go to the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) homepage and you will see a prominent link to information about the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule with the bold headline “Proposed GIPSA Rule a Disaster.” Strong words from the organization, but that is how many producers feel about the rule that they believe will limit their ability …

Audio, GIPSA, Livestock, NCBA, Pork, USDA

NCBA Urges Producer Comment on GIPSA Rule

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is urging all producers, from the biggest to the smallest, to get engaged in the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule and make their voices heard. “Every producer should be concerned because the trickle down effect from everything that’s going to result from this rule is going to impact the way we …

Audio, Beef, GIPSA, Livestock, NCBA, USDA

GIPSA Rule Causes Concern For Pork Producers

Cindy Zimmerman

When Iowa hog farmer Sam Carney got his first look at the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule released on June 22, he was shocked. “I thought it would be something to get rid of vertical integration,” Sam says. “And to me, this is just something that looks like they’re encouraging vertical integration.” Sam is president of …

Audio, Beef, GIPSA, Livestock, NCBA, Pork, Poultry, USDA

GIPSA Rule Could Set Beef Industry Back 25 Years

Cindy Zimmerman

At least one pure bred Angus breeder is concerned that the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule could set the beef industry back 25 years. Bill Rishel of North Platte, Nebraska is president of the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Association and owner of Rishel Angus. He’s among the nation’s top Angus breeders and was one of the first to …

Audio, Beef, GIPSA, Livestock, NCBA, USDA