Political Quotes

“I wish to speak on the introduction of the Livestock Marketing Fairness Act. I want to also acknowledge that I am joined in introducing this legislation by Senators Tim Johnson, Grassley, and Tester. Without their support this bill would not be possible. We have always enjoyed bipartisan support on this issue and I want to thank them for their work in making sure that our livestock markets remain competitive. Our Nation's ranchers and family farmers aren't looking for handouts when they take their animals to the auction barn, they simply expect that they will receive the price they deserve for the quality they produce. However, there is evidence that there are bad actors out there who stack the deck when it comes to the prices they use in livestock contracts. The Packers & Stockyards Act was enacted at a time when there was significant concentration in the livestock and poultry industry. That law since that time has provided protection and remedy from manipulative market practices but the growth of our markets in recent decades has opened up opportunities for new abuses that the original law never could have expected. These opportunities for manipulation have developed as our markets have become increasingly more consolidated. The top four firms control over 69 percent of the domestic cattle slaughter and this statistic doesn't even include the acquisitions that have taken place in the industry in recent years.…”