A coalition of 150 rural groups including Nebraska Farmers Union have written farm bill conferees urging them not to weaken the Grain Inspections Packers and Stockyard Act rules.  Farmers Union President John Hansen says the meat packers lobby have gotten a provision included in the farm bill that would limit the authority of the Ag Secretary to enforce GIPSA.

Hansen says originally GISPA was created to protect farmers and ranchers and give them a competitive and fair market. He says without proper enforcement of it anticompetitive, deceptive, fraudulent and abusive practices will reign.

He says Section 12102 that imposes severe limitations on the authority of the Ag Secretary to enforce the Packers and Stockyards Act is part of the House farm bill but not included in the Senate measure.