Tuberville Urges USDA to Reverse Decision Impacting Cattle and Cotton Reports

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) and a bipartisan, bicameral group of congressional colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack requesting the department reverse a recent decision to discontinue the publication of certain livestock and crop reports. The reports that USDA recently discontinued due to supposed financial constraints include the July Cattle Report, Cotton Objective Yield Survey, and County Estimates for Crops and Livestock. Livestock and cotton producers heavily rely on these reports for data as they make management and financial decisions on their operations, including predicting harvests and developing market forecasts.

The Agricultural Statistics Board (ASB) claims budgetary constraints are the primary reason for the decision. While there has been a modest appropriations reduction over the years, the opportunity cost of discontinuing the publication of the reports is far more consequential and threatening to cotton and beef producers.

“The reports slated for discontinuation are highly valuable to the entire U.S. agricultural sector, and particularly producers of cattle and cotton,” the senators wrote. “For example, the July Cattle report offers producers and market analysts key insights into herd size, calf crop, and heifer retention, all of which are paramount to making sound business and marketing decisions. Relatedly, the reports offer a great deal of transparency and market anticipation for the entire agricultural sector.”

Full text of the letter can be found here. 

The letter is supported by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Cotton Council, National Grain and Feed Association, Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries, Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, and Alabama Farmers Federation (ALFA).

The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association praised Senator Tuberville’s efforts.

“It’s unfortunate that the USDA has discontinued these timely reports that assist cattlemen in marketing decisions,” said Erin Beasley, Executive Vice President for Alabama Cattlemen’s Association.“We appreciate Coach and other colleagues for their call to reverse this decision as they recognize the importance of timely and transparent data for producers.”

Background:

As Alabama’s voice on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, Senator Tuberville is committed to supporting Alabama’s farmers, foresters, and producers. He held Farm Bill listening sessions across Alabama, and used input to craft his priorities for the upcoming Farm Bill.

He is committed to creating a Farm Bill that puts our agriculture community first. One of his priorities is working to increasing reference prices for Title 1 commodities, like peanuts and cotton, and protecting crop insurance. Current reference prices were established using 2012 data and have not been adjusted despite record inflation. 

Senator Tuberville recently joined his colleagues in urging U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to increase U.S. agricultural exports and improve the competitiveness of U.S. products abroad. Alabama’s exports topped $1.7 billion in 2022, including ranking 8^th in nationwide cotton exports.

Senator Tuberville also recently voted in favor of overturning U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) rule to resume Paraguayan beef imports as the U.S. Senate passed a Congressional Review Act resolution by a bipartisan vote of 70-25. The USDA rule would pose severe economic harm to Alabama’s $2.5-billion cattle industry.