The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock plans to hold a hearing on the livestock and meat industries on April 17. A portion of the meeting will focus on USDA’s "Livestock and Meat Marketing Study" released in February.
The congressionally mandated study found that alternative marketing arrangements (AMAs) increase the economic efficiency of the cattle, hog and lamb markets, and that these economic benefits are distributed to consumers, as well as to producers and packers who use AMAs.
The Senate Agriculture Committee plans to hold a hearing on April 18 to discuss competition issues and the farm bill. The issues of concentration, vertical integration, packer ban, spot market requirements and arbitration will likely be discussed.