ROCKINGHAM, NC - Congressman Larry Kissell (NC-08) met with area poultry growers last week to discuss pending changes in law that will affect the industry, including the new Farm Bill as well as GIPSA regulations.
"The poultry industry is very important to our District’s economy, and I wanted to hear directly from those who will be most affected by proposed changes in the way businesses operate." said Kissell. "I want to make sure the true experts on these matters — the producers — have a voice in Washington. As providers of quality, safe food, as well economic growth and products for export, family farms are key to America’s well-being and our national security. And they deserve to be heard on the policies impacting their industry."
Much of the discussion at the recent meeting focused on the ongoing debate over a proposed US Department of Agriculture rules with the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA). GIPSA facilitates the marketing of livestock, poultry, meat, cereals, oilseeds and related agricultural products, and promotes fair and competitive trading practices intended to benefit both consumers and members of the agriculture community.
“The poultry industry in North Carolina and our local area is a vital part of our economy,” said Richard Goforth, Area Poultry Specialist of the N.C. Cooperative Extension. “The growers appreciate the opportunity to relay their concerns personally to Mr. Kissell about the proposed GIPSA rules and the effects the rules may have on the overall industry, and their farms. Cooperative Extension would like to thank Congressman Kissell and his staff for working with us to arrange this meeting.”
Last year, Kissell called on the USDA to extend the public comment period on the GIPSA rule, which was granted, extending comments through late November of 2010. Kissell also joined his colleagues on both sides of the aisle in calling for an extensive economic analysis to be conducted regarding the effects of these rule changes on local industry. During a recent House Agriculture Committee meeting on the state of the U.S. farm economy, Kissell pressed USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to provide the public with a timeline for completion of this important economic analysis.
"While there are certainly some positive aspects of the GIPSA rule, I believe that the USDA has addressed issues that are clearly outside of their authority," said Kissell. "I support provisions that allow producers to speak their mind without fear of retaliation from the integrator, as well as language to ensure that our producers are properly compensated for mandatory upgrades they must make. I feel that the USDA's foray into base prices, packer-to-packer sales, and competitive harm are serious overreaches against our local producers. I will continue to fight to make sure that the concerns of the farmers, ranchers and producers of our district are heard loud and clear, and that their livelihoods are protected."
