TOPEKA, Kan. — The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry this week held a hearing to specifically discuss the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act (S.4030) and additional oversight through the Office of the Special Investigator (S.3870). KLA President-Elect and NCBA member Shawn Tiffany, a cattle feeder from Herington, testified in opposition to a government mandate as it potentially could result in fewer marketing opportunities and less incentive for producers to invest in genetics and innovative production techniques that lead to higher-quality beef. Both KLA and NCBA member-driven policy oppose market mandates.

“Every producer wants fair market value for the animals we raise and produce and many of us achieve that true value through value-based alternative marketing arrangements. Accordingly, I do not support a government mandate, of any kind,” Tiffany said during his testimony. “Regardless of how well-intentioned the concept of helping producers obtain fair market value for their animals, the end result will be fewer marketing options for U.S. producers.”

The U.S. House Agriculture Committee also held a hearing this week on issues surrounding cattle markets. During his testimony, NCBA President and Minnesota rancher Don Schiefelbein urged committee members to support policies with broader industry support, including the cattle contract library pilot project, livestock mandatory reporting reauthorization and investments in small regional processing capacity expansion, instead of belaboring the same divisive issues.

“The only people who know exactly how cattle producers should navigate these uncertain times are the individuals who work around the clock, day in and day out, to raise the safest and highest quality beef in the world—in other words: cattle producers,” he said.

— Kansas Livestock Association