New USDA role to enhance fair competition in livestock sector

In a move lauded by cattle producers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released a package aimed at increasing competition within the livestock industry.

A central feature of this initiative is the creation of a Chief Competition Officer role within the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). This career appointee will be pivotal in addressing competition concerns, thereby institutionalizing these issues within the Department. 

The package also includes crucial updates to AMS Institutional Meat Purchase Specifications. These revisions will ensure that meat and meat products procured by large volume purchasers like government agencies and schools are exclusively from animals born, raised, and slaughtered in the U.S.  

This change is a direct response to an audit report from the USDA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG), which identified significant deficiencies in verifying the origin of commodities purchased through the Food Purchase and Distribution Program (FPDP). 

The OIG’s findings revealed that a substantial portion of the $140 million worth of commodity purchases lacked proper origin verification, with at least $16.7 million worth of orders having unverifiable origin claims. This issue was prominently raised by Justin Tupper, president of the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA), and has been a major concern for the USCA’s Independent Beef Processors Committee. 

Tupper praised the administration for this move, considering it a significant accomplishment in their ongoing efforts to ensure a fairer marketplace for U.S. cattle producers. The USCA looks forward to continuing its collaboration with USDA officials like Tom Vilsack to develop and implement policies that uphold the interests of American ranchers and consumers alike.