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“SOUTH DAKOTANS LEAD EFFORT TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF LOW CATTLE PRICES” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Senate section on pages S6277-S6278 on June 14, 1996.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
SOUTH DAKOTANS LEAD EFFORT TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF LOW CATTLE PRICES
Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, the Advisory Committee on Agricultural Concentration has submitted its final report to Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman. The committee has been investigating the relationship between concentration in the livestock processing and packing industry and the record low prices in the cattle market. It did a tremendous job identifying the problems facing our Nation's livestock producers, and its recommendations have been widely praised within the agricultural community.
The success of the advisory committee was in no small measure attributable to its membership. The panel consisted of 21 individuals from across the country who represent a cross section of the livestock industry. It included farmers, ranchers, meat packers, processors, poultry growers, retailers, and economists.
While all committee members should be commended for their determination to get to the bottom of the livestock concentration issue, I want to single out for special mention the two members from South Dakota: Herman Schumacher and Tyrone Moos.
Herman Schumacher, who served as vice-chair of the advisory committee, lives in Herried, SD. He owns and operates the Herried Livestock Auction, is past president of the South Dakota Livestock Auction Markets Association, and is part owner of a cattle feedlot.
Without question, Herman is one of the most tenacious and persuasive advocates for cattle producers I have ever met. He understands American agriculture and never stops looking for ways to address problems facing farmers and ranchers. Herman's expertise and leadership were instrumental to the development of the committee's consensus findings and recommendations. In addition, he helped craft additional minority views that are more prescriptive than the consensus views in outlining responses to problems identified in the report.
Tyrone Moos is a grain and livestock producer from Philip, SD, who also serves as director of the Harvest States Cooperative. Tyrone's expertise in both grain and livestock issues were invaluable to the committee's deliberations.
One focus of the committee's review was the impact of concentration in the agricultural transportation industry. The century-old problem of insufficient access to rail cars contributes to the determination of the final price a producer receives for his or her commodities, and Tyrone's experience helped shape the committee's findings in this area. Additionally, Tyrone's influence was evident in the tone and substance of the final recommendations for both the consensus and minority views sections of the report.
When Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman called to solicit Herman's and Tyrone's service on this important committee, it would have been easy for them to decline the invitation. The commitment and sacrifice asked of them was significant.
The Department of Agriculture did not offer compensation, not even for travel expenses. But it did ask for a significant commitment of time. Herman, Tyrone and their colleagues served countless hours on the panel's work--time that could have been spent looking after their own business interests or with their families.
The advisory committee's inquiry directed needed attention to the serious problem of stagnating cattle prices, provided insights on the nature of that problem and offered recommendations for what might be done about it. Farmers and ranchers in South Dakota and elsewhere should be thankful for that effort.
The work of the Advisory Committee on Agricultural Concentration is done. It is now up to our Nation's policymakers to evaluate the panel's findings and act on its recommendations. I look forward to taking the baton passed on by Herman Schumacher and Tyrone Moos, and I thank them for pointing the way to a solution to the problem of concentration in agriculture.
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