Gianforte Urges Swift Action to Promote, Protect Montana Beef Producers

Press Release

Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.) today urged officials in the Trump administration and leaders of the House Agriculture Committee to promote and protect Montana beef producers.

Gianforte's efforts focused on investigating the beef industry for anti-competitive practices that disadvantage and harm producers as well as improving "Product of USA" labeling.

First, Gianforte asked U.S. Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue and U.S. Attorney General William Barr to investigate the state of the beef industry and market, including circumstances and practices as the U.S. confronts the COVID-19 crisis. Gianforte recommended the officials consult with industry leaders and associations in Montana as part of any investigation.

Gianforte wrote to Secretary Perdue and Attorney General Barr: "I urge you to work together to ensure that any anti-competitive behavior is identified and punished."

Second, in a letter to Paul Kiecker, administrator of the Food Safety Inspection Service with the USDA, Gianforte advocated measures to improve "Product of USA" labeling by requiring that it only apply to beef from cattle born, raised, and slaughtered in the U.S.

Gianforte urged FSIS to come to Montana to listen to producers, writing, "These are complex issues, but under "Product of USA' or an equivalent, consumers need to be able to trust that beef labeled USA is not really coming from another country. To help ensure that these realities are addressed, and the voices of some of the best beef producers in the world are included in your rulemaking process, I request that you hold a public listening session in Montana."

Finally, Gianforte urged leaders of the House Committee on Agriculture to investigate the cattle market.

In a letter to chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) and Republican leader Michael Conaway of Texas, Gianforte wrote, "I am extremely concerned with the state of America's cattle ranchers. Live cattle prices are at 10-year lows and have dropped 30% this year. This comes on the heels of the disruption caused by last summer's Holcomb fire and may not represent the full impact of COVID-19 disruption. While I appreciated the announcement by Secretary Perdue in early April that USDA was investigating market practices, I urge the House Committee on Agriculture to hold hearings on the state of the beef industry as soon as possible."

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