Vilsack pressed on GIPSA rule

From the California Cattlemen's Association:

Last week, during a House Agriculture Committee hearing about the state of the U.S. farm economy, Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA) and Rep. Larry Kissell (D-NC) questioned United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack about a timeline for completion of an economic analysis regarding the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule.

Vilsack responded by saying that he did not have a definite timeframe in place for completion of the economic analysis of the proposed rule, being conducted by USDA Chief Economist Joseph Glauber, Ph.D., and that the more than 60,000 public comments submitted were still being "categorized and reviewed" by the department which is "interested in getting this process completed as appropriately and quickly as possible."

Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) also asked Vilsack if the department would go through a notice and comment period on a completed economic analysis before moving forward on a final rule. Vilsack replied that he would need to consider the request internally before responding.

CCA was among a number of industry groups and more than 100 members of Congress who asked USDA to conduct a more thorough economic analysis prior to considering advancement of the proposed rule and will continue to monitor the situation closely to support CCA’s position opposing the insertion of additional government intervention between willing buyers and willing sellers in the cattle market.