A small handful of giant meatpackers and processors have been underpaying and unfairly treating farmers and ranchers for decades.

10 months ago USDA issued a proposed livestock and poultry rule (also called the “GIPSA” rule) that would rein in some of their worst practices

The big meat packers and processors have lobbied hard against these rules. Most recently, they convinced Representative Jim Costa of California to circulate a letter for other Representatives to sign asking USDA to withdraw the GIPSA rule and delay it’s implementation indefinitely.

Please call your congressperson today and ask him/her not to sign on to the Costa letter. Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to speak with your representative.  After you are transferred to his/her office, ask to speak with the legislative assistant responsible for agriculture.

You can use this sample message:

“I am a constituent and I am calling to express my support for the livestock and poultry competition rule (GIPSA rule) from USDA.   Please do not sign on to Congressman Costa’s letter asking USDA Secretary Vilsack to delay the implementation of this rule. The GIPSA rule is an important step toward restoring market competition and contract fairness to livestock and poultry farmers and ranchers.  Please call me at ________ to let me know where the congressman/woman stands on this issue.”

The GIPSA rules will provide farmers and ranchers with markets that are more fair and open. The rule also imposes contract fairness reforms for poultry and hog producers.

Thanks again for your support! Together, we can make sure farmers get the fair markets and contracts they deserve.