Minnesota Farmers Union

John F. Kennedy once said, "The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways." The dinner tables of America need farmers to receive a fair price, and that is why Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) was pleased to hear that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a proposed rule change to the Grain Inspection Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA).

The proposed rule would bring common sense to GIPSA and change the current system of how livestock are procured and marketed by meat packers. The rule includes several new provisions that will grant protection to producers from previous marketing barriers, which have favored the packers, with a goal of defining and changing unfair and unreasonable practices in the industry.

Advocating for fair, transparent and competitive markets has always been a core issue for MFU, and these proposed rule changes is a step in the right direction. MFU is pleased to see that finally there is a legitimate department and administration level proposal to correct the many years of one-sided marketing that farmers have faced when selling their farm products.

Key elements that MFU supports are: