Livestock Production and Conservation Policy
Mark Rasmussen
Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Presented at the
“Sustaining our Iowa Land (SOIL)” Conference
Drake University, Des Moines, IA
November 19, 2015
Limitations of the Nutrient Reduction Strategy
Prairierivers.org
Iowa’s Emphasis
The Consequences
90% Loss of Iowa Pasture Land
(Acres)
2500000
2000000
1500000
1997
2002
2007
1000000
2012
500000
0
Cropable Pasture
J. Sellers, ISUEO
Iowa Beef Cow Population
1050000
1000000
950000
Year 1997
Year 2002
Year 2007
900000
Year 2012
850000
800000
Iowa Beef Cows
J. Sellers, ISUEO
Daily Livestock Report
Many factors impacting Cattle Industry
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Tax laws
Industry consolidation
Feedlot overcapacity
Branded products
Age of cattle producers
Biofuels policy
CRP acres
Environmental critics
Nutritional debate
Demographics
Food safety
Labor supply
NIFA research funding
Conflicted Policy and Politics
Cattle, Soil and Forages: Ignored
Legal Opinions Which Disadvantage Agriculture
Limited Changes to Packers & Stockyards Act
• State AGs: Producer Protection Act, 2000
• GIPSA, 2012: Minor rule changes
• Court’s view of PSA is still an antitrust focus and
proof of harm is a significant hurdle
• Congressional action needed but not forthcoming?
Court Decisions impacting the Cattle Industry
• 1975 Meat Price Investigator Association (dismissed). CR4 =
25
• 1985 Monfort of Colorado (ruled in favor of Cargill merger)
• 1990s Picket vs IBP (jury in favor but set aside by trial judge).
CR4 = 80
• Result: Consolidation and mergers have gone mostly
unchallenged. Now the CR4 > 80% with recent mergers
2010 USDA/DOJ Competition Hearings
• http://www.justice.gov/atr/events/publicworkshops-agriculture-and-antitrustenforcement-issues-our-21st-centuryeconomy-10
Minor Report Issued: May, 2012
Making Cattle Enterprises Consistently Profitable
J. Sellers, ISUEO
Nutrient and Erosion Progress without Cattle?
Some Final Thoughts
• Sustaining our soil and water resources is highly
dependent upon perennial crops and cattle.
• Cattle are a proven cellulosic technology.
• Changes in the legal and economic professions and
their theories of competition are needed to begin
the process.