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Barack Obama  |
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Rob Kailey is a working schmuck with no ties or affiliations to any governmental or political organizations, save those of sympathy.
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Wed Jun 23, 2010 at 18:32:55 PM MST
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| Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock scored another victory for family farms and ranches this week when federal regulators included many of his demands in a proposed rule to reform the industry. Bullock is leading a 16-state effort to save small farmers and ranchers by pushing the federal government to use antitrust weapons to fight increasing consolidation in agriculture.
The toothless anti-trust regulations that Bullock is trying to reform have "contributed to the exodus of about 150,000 cattle operations since the mid-1990s, which has, consequently, caused the hollowing out of rural communities all across America." according to R-CALF USA.
The proposed reforms would improve market transparency and further define practices that are unfair, discriminatory or deceptive, including efforts by big packers that would limit the legal rights of small producers.
The draft rules have been praised by industry experts across the U.S.:
John Crabtree of the Center for Rural Affairs said that the rule isn't perfect, "but it is the most aggressive, significant livestock market reform to come out of Washington, perhaps since the passage of the Packers and Stockyards Act itself.
"This rule will breathe some life, some competition back into our livestock markets," he said. "And we're going to work hard to keep improving it, and we're going to fight -- tooth and nail -- to ensure that the packers cannot weaken the rule." |
| Montana Cowgirl :: Washington heeds Bullock in fight to save MT's small farms and ranches |
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| Tags:
Anti-trust laws,
Agriculture,
R-CALF USA,
ranching,
Montana,
farming,
Montana AG,
Steve Bullock,
Economics,
Attorney General,
Democrat,
(All Tags)
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