News
NAMI, R-CALF USA present different versions of cattle markets in letters to Congress
R-CALF USA continues to push for reforms in the nation’s cattle and beef markets.
The group sent a letter to Congress refuting information from the North American Meat Institute claiming livestock suppliers ‘benefit from a fair and competitive’ market.
CEO Bill Bullard tells Brownfield a document from NAMI distributed in Congress is an attempt to derail efforts to address the food crisis. “And it’s had a chilling effect on our ability to get members of Congress to join onto the Senator Rounds and Senator Smith letter that’s calling for immediate and decisive action.”
Last week, Senators Mike Rounds, Repbulican from South Dakota and Democrat Tina Smith of Minnesota sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland for a review of anti-trust laws in the beef processing industry.
Senator Tina Smith tells Brownfield the letter highlights problems cattle producers are facing. “And help us come up with a plan. Do we need to either better enforce the laws that we have or strengthen the laws so that the market works better for producers?”
In an email to Brownfield, NAMI says their document ‘uses public sources to give an accurate picture of the dynamic beef market, especially’ because of COVID-19.
Bullard said NAMI’s letter has dissuaded members of Congress from signing onto the Rounds/Smith letter to the AG.
