Fair Competition Rules for Livestock and More

Posted on January 14, 2020 by Taylor in Animal Husbandry, Farming Resources, Livestock, News, Organic, Policy, Politics, Sustainable Agriculture // 0 Comments

Featured on the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) Blog this week – Fair Competition Rules for Livestock, Organic Research Funding, and Animal Raising Label Claims Clarification…

LIVESTOCK NEWS  

COMMENT: New Fair Competition Rules for Livestock and Poultry Industry Advanced

After years of strong advocacy efforts from farmer advocates like NSAC, RAFI-USA, and CCAR, the Trump Administration took a small step forward today toward enhancing farmer protections through fair competition rules for livestock by introducing a proposed change to language in the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 that deals with undue preference. NSAC is pleased to see AMS moving forward on the undue preference rule, but remains concerned about the criteria language in the rule judging undue preference based on whether or not behaviors exhibited by processors can be considered customary for the industry. Unfair competition and undue preference have become customary for the industry, but these practices should not be endorsed. NSAC, working with our membership, will provide further analysis on the fair competition rules for livestock in upcoming weeks.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

2020 Opportunities for Organic Research Funding Now Available

USDA released two FY 2020 Request for Applications with $20 million available for OREI and $5.8 million available for ORG to support organic research. The programs provide long-term research for organic systems that enable the development of new tools and practices that can help organic farmers be more competitive in a changing global market. Organizations interested in applying for OREI grant funding must submit an application by January 30, 2020, those interested in applying for ORG grant funding must submit an application by February 27, 2020.

USDA NEWS

RELEASE: Additional Clarity on Animal Raising Label Claims in Time for the New Year

USDA’s FSIS closed 2019 by issuing long delayed guidance on meat and poultry labels that make claims about how the animals were raised, such as grass-fed beef or pasture raised poultry. Overall, NSAC is pleased with some of the changes, such as clarity around the organic label and the prohibition of labeling feedlot beef as grassfed, but remains concerned that the overall labeling approval process remains fundamentally flawed. FSIS also released an updated guideline for statements pertaining to products derived from animals that were fed GMO feed, which continues to lack clarity. NSAC will continue to advocate for animal raising and non-GMO labeling that is clear and transparent to consumers, and support producers that actually follow sustainable, humane standards.