NORTH DAKOTA ( KXNET ) — The North Dakota Farmers Union (NDFU) has released a statement in support of recent steps taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to create fair markets in the beef industry.

The USDA announced a new rulemaking effort to enhance price discovery and fairness in cattle markets, after releasing a report that NDFU leaders say showed unjust and anticompetitive pricing strategies in the beef industry.

“Increased transparency in cattle pricing is essential for cattle markets to be fair and competitive in this country,” NDFU President Mark Watne said. “With just four packers controlling more than 80% of the beef packing industry, we have to take steps to ensure markets are fair and transparent.”

Watne said the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act in 2022, but the bill was never brought to the floor.

“We urge Congress to act now to protect the cash market and the price transparency it provides,” Watne said. “In the face of Congressional inaction, we applaud USDA’s efforts to keep this conversation going and look at all the ways we can ensure alternative marketing arrangements are fair to the producer.”

In 2020, NDFU’s Ad Hoc Livestock Committee presented recommendations to reform the livestock industry. The Farmers Union says that in addition to improving price discovery, they also support the reinstatement of mandatory country-of-origin labeling and efforts to increase local and regional slaughter capacity.

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