By Senators Deb Fischer and Ron Wyden

Omaha World-Herald 

We are honored to represent cattle ranchers who may be thousands of miles apart in Nebraska and Oregon, but who share similar passions for sustainable practices, growing their small businesses to support local economies, and ensuring families struggling to put food on the table are paying fair prices for meat at the grocery store.

Since the first days of the pandemic, when Americans panic-shopped at grocery stores, rural ranchers responded to keep our shelves stocked and families fed with high-quality beef. Many in our states went even further and donated meat products to local food banks to serve those most in need. A year later, even as we continue working toward putting the worst of the pandemic behind us, consumer demand for beef remains incredibly high. Cattle ranchers are more productive than ever, yet they are making less money. 

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American families win when every segment of the cattle supply chain is healthy, thriving and balanced. To make that happen, the cattle market needs change. That is why we are working on bipartisan legislation that would increase cash sales to improve cattle market “price discovery,” transparency, and competition. This is especially important for small, family ranchers who depend on fair prices to support their families and business — which in turn support local jobs and economies, especially in hard-hit rural America.

To ensure beef producers get their fair share, our bill would establish regional mandatory minimum thresholds for cash trades. These minimums would safeguard against the continued decline in the negotiated cash market.

More cash sales will help restore competition in the marketplace, improve issues surrounding price discovery, and lead to more accurate prices along every link of the supply chain. Importantly, the bill also takes into account that there are serious regional differences in the logistics of how beef moves across the supply chain and how common cash versus formula sales are in each region. Nebraska is not Oregon, and Texas is not Iowa.

The challenges facing the cattle industry don’t just affect rural America – they affect the entire country. American beef producers create a high-quality product enjoyed around the world. That is why we hope the Senate Agriculture Committee will soon hold a hearing on our critical bipartisan legislation. If we want that to continue for barbecues and more this summer and beyond, we must ensure transparent and equitable treatment for all segments of this industry.

Deb Fischer is Nebraska’s senior U.S. senator. She is a Sand Hills cattle rancher and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Ron Wyden, a U.S. senator from Oregon, chairs the Senate Finance Committee.

Read the full piece here.