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CapitalPress.com
Friday, May 6, 2022
R-CALF urges investigation into feedlot concentration
By CAROL RYAN DUMAS
Capital Press
R-CALF USA, which
has voiced its concerns
about concentration in the
meatpacking industry for
two decades, is now urging
federal agencies to inves-
tigate the cattle-feeding
sector.
In a letter to the Federal
Trade Commission and the
Department of Justice, the
ranchers’ group said feed-
lots are the marketing outlet
for hundreds of thousands
of cattle producers and they
are rapidly consolidating.
“While beef packer con-
centration has plateaued
since 2009 at the four-firm
level of between 83% and
86%, it is now evident that
major concentration and
vertical integration efforts
are underway in the feed-
lot sector of the live cattle
industry,” the letter stated.
Bill Bullard, CEO of
R-CALF, told Capital Press
there’s been an evolution
in the cattle industry. In the
early to mid-2000s, meat-
packers owned large feed-
lots, he said.
JBS owned Five Riv-
ers Cattle Feeding, the larg-
est feedlot company in the
world. Cargill had three or
four large feedlots, he said.
“However, they soon
discovered they could
maintain the same degree of
control over cattle through
contracts as they could
through direct ownership.
So JBS and Cargill divested
their feedlots,” he said.
Vertical
integration
shifted from direct own-
ership and control to con-
tractual control through
alternative
marketing
arrangements and so-called
feeding agreements. This
freed up a lot of capital for
the largest beef packers, he
said.
“The oligopolistic struc-
ture of the beef pack-
ing industry is now being
pushed upstream into the
live cattle supply chain,”
R-CALF said.
R-CALF filed its com-
ments in response to the
agencies’ request for infor-
mation on modernizing
enforcement of antitrust
R-CALF RECOMMENDATIONS
New merger guidelines should require an evaluation of
the pre-existing competitiveness of the marketplace and
identify the various sources of market power that might be
facilitated by a particular merger.
The guidelines should include measures to address the
ongoing consolidation and vertical integration occurring in
the cattle feeding industry, and reforms must be made to
protect cattle producers from antitrust activities.
Matthew Weaver/Capital Press File
Cattle at a feedlot near Pasco, Wash. R-CALF USA is call-
ing on the federal government to investigate the control
large meat processors have over the nation’s feedlots.
laws regarding mergers.
Citing USDA data,
R-CALF said nearly 85,000
feedlots in operation in
1996 have exited the indus-
try, representing a loss of
over 75%. The largest feed-
lots increased in number
from 45 in 1996 to 77 in
2021. Of particular concern
is those large feedlots fed
nearly 35% of all fed cattle
marketed in 2021, accord-
ing to R-CALF.
The data also show
there were 27,125 feedlots
remaining in the U.S. in
2021, of which 25,000 are
smaller independent feed-
lots that fed only 13% of
cattle marketed by all feed-
lots. This means there were
2,125 remaining feedlots
that fed 87% of all cattle
marketed in 2021.
“R-CALF USA recom-
mends the agencies investi-
gate to determine the degree
of buyer power the concen-
trated beef packers exer-
cise over those feedlots —
in particular, the 77 largest
feedlots,” R-CALF said.
Unfortunately, the cur-
rent guidelines are ill-suited
to evaluate and analyze the
anticompetitive effects of
mergers within the U.S.
beef supply chain, R-CALF
said.
“During much of the
period in which the cur-
rent guidelines were in
effect, the manufacturing
segments reached unprec-
edented levels of concen-
tration and literally hun-
dreds of thousands of
livestock production busi-
nesses exited the industry,”
R-CALF said.
From 1980 to 2004, the
four-firm
concentration
ratio for steer and heifer
slaughter increased from
35.7% to 81.1%, and over
600,000 U.S. cattle opera-
tions exited the industry.
“These data provide no
support for the assertion
that the current guidelines
helped, in any way, to pro-
tect U.S. livestock produc-
ers from antitrust activi-
ties and anticompetitive
practices in the market,”
R-CALF said.
“Thus,
fundamen-
tal reforms to the current
guidelines are needed to
restore a competitive live-
stock market for indepen-
dent livestock producers,”
R-CALF said.
WSDA proposes to lower fee to report some cattle sales
OLYMPIA — The Wash-
ington State Department of
Agriculture plans to lower the
per-head fee for electronically
reporting cattle sales, a move
the agency hopes will encour-
age more producers to use the
online system.
The fee will be 80 cents a
head rather than $1.30 if the
department follows through
on its proposal.
“It’s quite a price drop.
It’s the only one that’s going
down. We can use all the help
we can get,” Washington Cat-
tlemen’s Association lobbyist
Mark Streuli said Friday.
The department set up
electronic reporting several
years ago as an alternative to
a state brand inspector going
out to check the transaction.
The department hoped to
save money and improve its
ability to trace the movements
of livestock in the event of a
disease outbreak. To report
sales electronically, livestock
owners must individually
identify each animal with an
electronic 840 RFID tag.
Producers were slow
to embrace online report-
ing. In 2020, only 775 head
were reported sold through
the electronic system. In
2021, the number increased
to 12,200, though one pro-
ducer accounted for 87% of
the cattle.
Still, thanks to that one
producer, the revenue from
the $1.30 per-head fee now
covers the cost of running the
online system.
Brennan Kimbel, acting
manager of the department’s
livestock identification pro-
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/09/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2018 NISSAN SEN 4DR
VIN = 3N1AB7AP0JL655821
Amount due on lien $1915.00
Reputed owner(s) GEORGINA
CAMPOS & SERGIO SORIANO
REGIONAL ACCEPTANCE CORP
gram, said she expects rev-
enues who stay ahead of
expenses even if the depart-
ment cuts the fee to 80 cents a
head. More producers should
be attracted to report sales
online, she said. “We’re try-
ing to get people to use it,”
she said.
An advisory commit-
tee with representatives from
segments of the cattle indus-
try petitioned the department
to lower the fee.
“Hopefully,
produc-
ers will get a little financial
relief, as well as an incentive
to use the system,” Washing-
ton Cattle Feeders Associa-
tion executive director Jack
Field said.
The department does not
plan to change other inspec-
tion-related fees. In-person
inspections of branded or
electronically tagged cattle
will remain $1.21 a head, plus
a $20 call-out fee.
Registering to report sales
online will continue to cost
$33 a year.
Whether the sales are
reported online or checked by
a brand inspector, the depart-
ment also collects a $1.50
per-head feed for the Wash-
ington Beef Commission
and charges 23 cents a head
to support its animal disease
traceability program.
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/09/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2015 FORRI 32’ RT
VIN = 4X4TSMH28FT109330
Amount due on lien $1555.00
Reputed owner(s) GARY D ELLSON
& WENDY M S CANITES
SPOKANE TEACHERS C.U
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/09/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
FRRV FRRV RT
VIN = 5ZT2CAYB7GT008678
Amount due on lien $1535.00
Reputed owner(s)
COPART
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/09/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2018 TOYT YARIS 4DR
VIN = 3MYDLBYVXJY328300
Amount due on lien $1535.00
Reputed owner(s)
JENNIFER CASTRO
WESTLAKE FINANCIAL SERVICES
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/09/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2013 TOYT PRIUS 4DR
VIN = JTDKDTB33D1047920
Amount due on lien $1535.00
Reputed owner(s)
JUNE E & JOHN J CHLADEK
OREGON STATE CREDIT UNION
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/09/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2009 GMC SIERRA PU
VIN = 1GTHK93689F153947
Amount due on lien $1555.00
Reputed owner(s)
GREGORY & WENDY KING
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/09/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2017 TOYT CAM 4D
VIN = 4T1BF1FK2HU710815
Amount due on lien $1515.00
Reputed owner(s)
JORDAN P DUILIO
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/09/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2018 HYUN TUCSON UT
VIN = KM8J3CA45JU643223
Amount due on lien $1515.00
Reputed owner(s)
DONALD LEE JAMES
HYUNDAI MOTOR FINANCE
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/09/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2018 CHEV TAHOE LL
VIN = 1GNSKBKC9JR202183
Amount due on lien $1515.00
Reputed owner(s)
DOUGLAS N LUMBARD
ONPOINT COMMUNITY C.U
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/09/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2018 FORD MUSTANG 2DR
VIN = 1FA6P8CF1J5105659
Amount due on lien $1915.00
Reputed owner(s)
JUSTIN G & BRANDON J PALMER
LEXUS FINANCIAL SERVICES
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/09/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2014 ACURA ILX 4DR
VIN = 19VDE1F70EE014100
Amount due on lien $1915.00
Reputed owner(s)
MARK A & MICHELLE L SUBOTNICK
ONPOINT COMMUNITY C.U
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/09/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2013 BUICK ENC UT
VIN = KL4CJHSB6DB203292
Amount due on lien $1915.00
Reputed owner(s)
KAITLAN RENE PATTERSON
FIRST TECH CREDIT UNION
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/09/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2020 RYRV HID CT
VIN = 4YDT22L27LN245298
Amount due on lien $1915.00
Reputed owner(s)
TOMMY JOE ALLAN ROSS
MID OREGON FED C.U
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/09/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2017 KIA SOUL UT
VIN = KNDJP3A54H7502220
Amount due on lien $1555.00
Reputed owner(s)
DENVER & JULIE MORRISSEY C/O
PEMCO
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/09/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2017 TOYT RAV UT
VIN = JTMDJREV5HD101286
Amount due on lien $1555.00
Reputed owner(s)
JAMES D & COLLEEN M SAUVE
TOYOTA MOTOR CREDIT CORP
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
05/09/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2015 NISS PTH UT
VIN = 5N1AR2MM4FC636328
Amount due on lien $1555.00
Reputed owner(s)
MOLLY MILES HICKMAN
ONPOINT COMMUNITY CREDIT
UNION
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/09/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2017 LEXS RX UT
VIN = 2T2BZMCA8HC056310
Amount due on lien $1555.00
Reputed owner(s)
PAULA P DAWLEY
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/09/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2006 TOYT TAC PU
VIN = 5TENX22N46Z243440
Amount due on lien $1555.00
Reputed owner(s)
MICHAEL & DIANE MARUSA
FIRST TECH FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/16/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2017 FORD FUSION 4D
VIN = 3FA6P0LU3HR287825
Amount due on lien $1455.00
Reputed owner(s)
BEYA KALALA & GRACE G BEYA
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/16/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2013 AUDI Q5 UT
VIN = WA1LFAFP8DA051990
Amount due on lien $1455.00
Reputed owner(s)
KELLY PITTAM & JESSICA HILL
ONPOINT COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/16/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2018 DODGE CVN VAN
VIN = 2C4RDGBG4JR222885
Amount due on lien $1555.00
Reputed owner(s)
TIZIA LEE ROBBINS
ALLY FINANCIAL
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/19/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
A-1 TRANSMISSION
3653 SILVERTON RD NE SALEM, OR
2001 FORD ST
VIN = 1FDAF56F21ED68207
Amount due on lien $9125.00
Reputed owner(s)
RAFAEL RANGEL
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/09/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2019 FORD EXP LL
VIN = 1FM5K8GT8KGB54377
Amount due on lien $1535.00
Reputed owner(s)
STEVEN WAYNE COOPER
SELCO COMMUNITY C.U
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/09/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2014 TOYT PRIUS 4DR
VIN = JTDKN3DU7E1772750
Amount due on lien $1535.00
Reputed owner(s)
NATALIE ANN HANKWITZ
FIBRE FEDERAL C.U
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/16/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2014 KIA OPTIMA 4DR
VIN = 5XXGM4A77EG343626
Amount due on lien $1555.00
Reputed owner(s)
> DALANA SUE SEWELL
CAPITAL ONE NA
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/16/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2020 MAZDA CX3 4D
VIN = JM1DKFB70L1469970
Amount due on lien $1555.00
Reputed owner(s) CHRISTINE
DENISON & KAYLA PATTULLO
OREGON COMMUNITY C.U
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/16/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2013 TOYT PRIUS 4D
VIN = JTDKN3DU2D5627428
Amount due on lien $1555.00
Reputed owner(s)
KIRA MARIE PARAGON
BOEING EMPLOYEES C.U
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/16/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2008 TOYT TUNDRA PK
VIN = 5TFBV54108X039734
Amount due on lien $2135.00
Reputed owner(s)
RYAN MALIN DOUGLASS
INROADS FEDERAL C.U
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/16/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2019 FORD FUSION 4DR
VIN = 3FA6P0RU7KR259668
Amount due on lien $1435.00
Reputed owner(s)
NICO BEARS WINSOR
ALLY BANK
LEGAL
PURSUANT TO ORS
CHAPTER 87
Notice is hereby given that the
following vehicle will be sold,
for cash to the highest bidder, on
05/16/2022. The sale will be held
at 10:00am by
COPART OF WASHINGTON INC
2885 NATIONAL WAY WOODBURN, OR
2017 CHEV COL PU
VIN = 1GCPTDE1XH1221464
Amount due on lien $1435.00
Reputed owner(s)
MICHAEL D BENEDICT
By DON JENKINS
Capital Press
Don Jenkins/Capital Press
The Washington State Department of Agriculture plans to
reduce the fee for electronically reporting cattle sales.
The inspection fee for cat-
tle that are not branded or have
electronic tags will remain $4
a head, a price difference the
department hopes will reduce
the number of so-called
“unidentified” cattle.
The department will take
public comments on the fee
change until May 24 and ten-
tatively plans to adopt it June
1.
At the same time, the
department plans to adopt a
rule allowing veterinarians
and private field inspectors to
check sales at public livestock
markets, feedlots and slaugh-
terhouses if state inspectors
are not available.
The rule change will make
permanent an emergency
rule the department adopted
because the COVID pan-
demic caused a shortage of
state inspectors.
