USDA issued its report on the cattle and beef market fluctuations in the wake of the fire at the cattle processing plant in Holcomb, Kansas, in August 2019 and the disruptions from the COVID-19 situation.
The report lays out what contributed to the record spread between boxed beef and cash cattle prices, but stated the recap “does not examine potential violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act. The investigation into potential violations is ongoing, and therefore, AMS has limited ability to publicly report the full scope and status of the investigation.”
The report also stated the exam does “not preclude the possibility that individual entities or groups of entities violated the Packers and Stockyards Act during the aftermath of the Tyson Holcomb fire and the COVID-19 pandemic.” There is also the mention in the report that USDA has “engaged in discussions with the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding allegations of anticompetitive practices in the meat packing industry. The investigation into potential violations under the Packers and Stockyards Act is continuing.”
The report does list several options USDA believes would help the price discovery process in the cattle market, including reducing the level of non-reporting under Livestock Mandatory Reporting, better access to risk management training/education for small and medium-sized cattle producers, and changes to the Packers and Stockyards Act.
But USDA did not explicitly back any specific efforts. It is clear that this report will not be the final word relative to the cattle market disruptions that have emerged.
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