Hoeven, Moran: Expand Markets for U.S. Cattle Producers

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven joined Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and a bicameral group in calling on President Donald J. Trump to advance policies that expand trade market access and provide certainty for American cattle producers. This comes as part of Hoeven’s efforts to support North Dakota cattle producers, including hosting the U.S. Forest Service chief with ranchers in Dickinson, securing mandatory country of origin labeling (mCOOL) for beef in the Senate’s Farm Bill 2.0, and successfully including legislation to prevent prairie dog colonies from expanding in the Dakota Prairie Grasslands. “American ranchers work diligently to do more with less, weather volatile markets, and provide a safe food supply,” wrote the lawmakers. “Cattle markets are cyclical, and ranchers use the upswings to prepare for the inevitable downturn. Any intervention in the natural system, especially at a time when producers are making marketing decisions, threatens to pick winners and losers and undermine the long-term viability of family-owned cattle operations throughout the supply chain.” “As you consider policy changes which could impact American livestock producers, we urge you to prioritize proposals which deliver long-term market stability and confidence while consulting closely with impacted stakeholders,” concluded the lawmakers. “We are eager to work together to deliver certainty for American cattle producers while continuing to deliver safe, affordable, and high-quality American beef.” In addition, the letter was signed by Senators Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and more than 40 House members, including Representative Julie Fedorchak (R-ND). Full text of the letter can be found here . -###-