The Virginia secretary of agriculture is calling for a comprehensive economic analysis of USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration’s proposed livestock marketing rule.
Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore says the fear of both producers and agribusiness representatives is that the proposed rules would have a negative impact on Virginia’s livestock and poultry industries.
“Producers and agribusinesses fear that the proposed rules will have negative and unintended consequences that should be avoided,” he says. “For example, they expect that the changes being proposed could lead to the removal of incentives for investments in innovation that are needed for U.S. agriculture to remain competitive in the global marketplace. These principals also fear that if these rules become final, they will lead to litigation that might be time-consuming and costly to Virginia’s agricultural interests.
Because of these concerns, I respectfully request that the United States Department of Agriculture conduct a comprehensive economic impact analysis before proceeding further with the proposed rules. In addition, I recommend that information about your analysis and the data generated be shared with the industry for review and comment. Finally, I respectfully request that you seek input and guidance from the state departments of agriculture during this process,” the letter concludes.