Peace Garden News

At a recent Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, Senator John Hoeven addressed efforts to enhance market opportunities for the U.S. cattle industry. During discussions with Dudley Hoskins, nominee for Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Hoeven emphasized the importance of enforcing the Packers and Stockyards Act to promote competitive and transparent cattle markets.

Hoeven, as chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, has advocated for increased funding for the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to enforce this law and investigate anti-competitive practices. Hoskins highlighted Hoeven's Cattle Contract Library pilot program as a model for improving price transparency for cattle producers.

The senator also discussed securing fair access to foreign markets for U.S. beef producers while addressing artificial barriers affecting exports. This initiative aligns with his efforts to bolster the domestic market by introducing bipartisan legislation to reinstate mandatory country of origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef.

“There is a real need for greater price discovery in cattle markets, which would provide our ranchers with more transparency and access to a more competitive market. That’s a win for both producers and consumers,” said Hoeven. “Between our efforts to ensure enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act, advance my Cattle Contract Library pilot program and reinstate MCOOL, we’re working to strengthen the U.S. domestic cattle market. At the same time, we need to remove artificial trade barriers used to block U.S. livestock producers from accessing foreign markets."

Hoeven expressed support for "the Trump administration as it works to secure better trade deals for U.S. ag producers" and looks forward "to working with Mr. Hoskins to continue advancing these priorities."

Additionally, Hoeven invited Dr. Scott Hutchins, nominee for Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education and Economics, to visit North Dakota. The visit aims at showcasing:

- The state's leadership in precision agriculture technology development through partnerships like those under the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) at Grand Farm.

- The Agricultural Risk Policy Center (ARPC) at North Dakota State University (NDSU), established by Hoeven to address farm challenges through policy and economic analysis.