Petition for Rulemaking: Packer Livestock Procurement Practices

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration

9 CFR Part 200

Petition for Rulemaking: Packer Livestock Procurement Practices

AGENCY: GIPSA, Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice of release of analysis regarding petition for

rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Agriculture received a petition for

rulemaking submitted by the Western Organization of Resource Councils

(WORC) on October 12, 1996. The petition requested that the Department

of Agriculture (USDA) initiate rulemaking to restrict certain livestock

procurement practices regarding forward contracting and packer feeding.

In order to facilitate full discussion of the issues raised in the

petition, USDA published the petition in the Federal Register on

January 14, 1997 (62 FR 1845) and requested public comment. The comment

period closed on April 14, 1997. A team of USDA personnel reviewed the

petition, comments, the congressionally-mandated concentration study

that USDA completed in 1996, and other available economic studies.

The Secretary of Agriculture has not yet reached a conclusion

regarding WORC's petition for rulemaking. USDA is continuing an open

dialogue with industry participants to address livestock pricing and

concentration issues. In the spirit of that dialogue, the analysis of

the petition and comments is available on GIPSA's internet homepage

(http://www.usda.gov/gipsa/lateadd/lateadd.htm).

ADDRESSES: You may request a copy of the analysis by contacting the

Deputy Administrator, Packers and Stockyards Programs, GIPSA, USDA,

Stop 3641, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jay A. Johnson, Acting Director,

Packer and Poultry Division, (202) 720-7363.

Dated: March 30, 1998.

David R. Shipman,

Acting Administrator.

[FR Doc. 98-8987 Filed 4-6-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-EN-P