Late last week the Senate Appropriations Committee approved funding for the GIPSA rule, which was left out of the House Appropriations bill. R-CALF was pleased with the move by the Senate. CEO Bill Bullard says the GIPSA rider included in the House measure would remove protections for livestock producers, so his group will work to see the Senate appropriations measure is upheld.

He says without the GIPSA rule funded, livestock producers will be at the mercy of the meatpacking industry.

Bullard says his group will work to convince the House Senate conference committee to include the Senate appropriations measure in the final bill, which includes funding for the GIPSA rule.

Besides R-CALF, the National Farmers Union is also supporting the Senate Appropriations language calling for funding of the GIPSA rule.