A coalition of Agricultural groups led by the Organization for Competitive Markets went on Capitol Hill this week to push for tougher protections for producers from processors and more stringent Packers and Stockyards Act rules. OCM Executive Director Joe Maxwell says they’ve come up with provisions they want the USDA to include as they rewrite the Farmer Fair Practice Rules. He says one main one comes from where a recent case involving JBS.
He says the USDA also needs to include a provision which protects farmers and ranchers from retaliation by packers.
Maxwell expects the Ag Department to come out with their new rules next month.
Maxwell says while on Capitol Hill, their group picked up support for their provisions from Senators Chuck Grassley of Iowa and John Tester of Montana as well as Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur of Ohio.
