A cattle producers rally is scheduled for Wednesday October 2 in Omaha at the Ramada Inn. Originally sponsored by the Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska and Organization for Competitive Markets, more have joined in including R-CALF USA, Farm Aid and both the Wisconsin and Illinois Farmers Unions. OCM Executive Director Joe Maxwell says their biggest concern is how cattle prices have been dropping since COOL was repealed and a fire destroyed the Tyson Meatpacking plant in Kansas.
He says they’re urging the administration to take action to help out independent cattle producers who are suffering from depressed prices.
Maxwell says both President Trump and Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue need to make sure cattle producers have transparency in the market and that Country of Origin Labeling is included in the USMCA trade agreement.
Maxwell says during the week of September 23 through the 27 this year, cattle producers lost more than $200 per head while meatpackers were making more than $400 per head based on USDA price information.
