After a similar hearing Tuesday in the Senate, ranchers and packers testified Wednesday before the House Agriculture Committee about competition in the cattle market. Committee Chairman David Scott cited allegations made in 2015 that the four major beef packers conspired to reduce supplies to push profits higher. Each of the packers denied any wrongdoing. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Don Schiefelbein was asked about his vision for the USDA Packers and Stockyards Administration. “The laws are in the books; we just need to make sure enforcement is occurring.” Schiefelbein, who raises cattle at Kimball, Minnesota, said the system needs to be fixed. “I understand justice takes time, but the progress is so slow and you cannot have a system in place to protect people if the timing on the process can put them out of business.”
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