[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 7, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 16913]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8987]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration

9 CFR Part 200


Petition for Rulemaking: Packer Livestock Procurement Practices

AGENCY: GIPSA, Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice of release of analysis regarding petition for 
rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Agriculture received a petition for 
rulemaking submitted by the Western Organization of Resource Councils 
(WORC) on October 12, 1996. The petition requested that the Department 
of Agriculture (USDA) initiate rulemaking to restrict certain livestock 
procurement practices regarding forward contracting and packer feeding. 
In order to facilitate full discussion of the issues raised in the 
petition, USDA published the petition in the Federal Register on 
January 14, 1997 (62 FR 1845) and requested public comment. The comment 
period closed on April 14, 1997. A team of USDA personnel reviewed the 
petition, comments, the congressionally-mandated concentration study 
that USDA completed in 1996, and other available economic studies.
    The Secretary of Agriculture has not yet reached a conclusion 
regarding WORC's petition for rulemaking. USDA is continuing an open 
dialogue with industry participants to address livestock pricing and 
concentration issues. In the spirit of that dialogue, the analysis of 
the petition and comments is available on GIPSA's internet homepage 
(http://www.usda.gov/gipsa/lateadd/lateadd.htm).

ADDRESSES: You may request a copy of the analysis by contacting the 
Deputy Administrator, Packers and Stockyards Programs, GIPSA, USDA, 
Stop 3641, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jay A. Johnson, Acting Director, 
Packer and Poultry Division, (202) 720-7363.

    Dated: March 30, 1998.
David R. Shipman,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 98-8987 Filed 4-6-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-EN-P