OCM sends letter to President Trump urging support for GIPSA’s Farmer Fair Practices Rules

On Friday, March 9th, OCM sent the following letter to President Trump, urging him to support the new Farmer Fair Practices Rules to strengthen the Packers & Stockyards Act. These much-needed marketplace safeguards would help level the playing field for family farmers, ensuring they have the opportunity to feed us here at home and to compete in the global market.

Enclosed with our letter to President Trump are copies of our comments in support of each of the three rules, which we have also posted to the Federal Register:

OCM comments on GIPSA Interim Final Rule_Scope of Section 202(a) and (b)
OCM comments on GIPSA Poultry Grower Ranking Systems
OCM comments on GIPSA Unfair Practices and Undue Preferences 

March 9, 2017

President Donald Trump
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
1st Floor, West Wing
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Trump,

The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) represents independent family farmers and ranchers. The foundation of OCM is to reclaim competitive markets in agriculture for farmers, ranchers and rural communities. True competition reduces the need for economic regulation. Our mission, and our duty, is to define and advocate the proper role of government in the agriculture economy as a regulator and enforcer of marketplace safeguards necessary for markets that are fair, honest, accessible and competitive for all citizens.

To that end, OCM stands in strong support of the recently released Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rules.

• Farmer Fair Practices Act; Unfair Practices and Undue Preferences in Violation of Packers and Stockyards Act; Docket No. GIPSA_FRDOC_0001-0316
• Farmer Fair Practices Act; Poultry Grower Ranking Systems; Docket No. GIPSA_FRDOC_0001-0317
• Farmer Fair Practices Act; Scope of Section 202(a) and (b) of Packers and Stockyards Act; Docket No. GIPSA_FRDOC_0001-0315

While these rules were issued in 2016 under the prior administration, their development has been an ongoing process since 2010. The prior administration simply could not get the job done. We are hopeful you and your administration can take these rules across the finish line on behalf of America’s independent family farmers and our rural communities.

Enclosed with this letter are OCM’s comments on the rules which were filed in the Federal Register on 2/21/17. We hope to have your support in reclaiming America’s agriculture markets on behalf of America’s rural communities and the farmers who live there.

Thank you for your consideration,

Mike Weaver
President
Organization for Competitive Markets

Cc: Charles Herbster

Enclosures:
OCM comments on GIPSA Interim Final Rule_Scope of Section 202(a) and (b)
OCM comments on GIPSA Poultry Grower Ranking Systems
OCM comments on GIPSA Unfair Practices and Undue Preferences