KLA president: Government shouldn’t interfere in cattle marketing

The U.S House Agriculture Committee held a field hearing in Dodge City Friday (4/20) to discuss the 2012 Farm Bill. KLA President Frank Harper provided testimony on issues important to livestock producers.

The Sedgwick rancher highlighted the risks of provisions that would restrict ranchers' freedom of choice in how cattle are marketed. He said cattle producers have embraced alternative marketing arrangements as a way to capture more value from their cattle.

“The GIPSA rule would require purchasers of my cattle to justify paying more than a standard price for my livestock. This means I'll be back to selling cattle at a price based on averages instead of actual value,” said Harper.

Harper asked for the committee’s support in maintaining conservation initiatives important to livestock producers, like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Grassland Reserve Program. He also asked the committee to support language making the U.S. country-of-origin labeling program compliant with international trade obligations.

For more information visit www.kla.org.

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