Livestock Reform
North Dakota Farmers UnionPolicy priorities for Livestock Reform
Over the last several years, North Dakota Farmers Union (NDFU) members have become increasingly alarmed by indications of anticompetitive practices in the cattle and beef industries. The spread of coronavirus triggered wide disparities in live cattle and boxed beef prices, exacerbating NDFU’s concerns regarding consolidation in our food and agricultural supply chains. In response to this crisis, the NDFU Board of Directors requested the establishment of an ad hoc livestock committee. Click here to read our official announcement on livestock reform.
The committee was made up of eight members: one from each of NDFU’s seven districts and one representing the Board of Directors. Each member of the committee is actively engaged in a family ranching operation.
The livestock committee was charged with identifying key policies that would address the primary challenges facing North Dakota’s cattle producers. Broadly, these policies are intended to: