By Andrew Griffith
A hot topic question was asked recently concerning the most recent legislation introduced concerning finished cattle trade and market transparency.
The first thing that should be noted is that several groups have evaluated the implications of mandating a certain quantity of cattle be traded via negotiated trade, and each of those studies have demonstrated that it simply increases the cost of doing business. Cattlemen can essentially expect those additional costs to be passed down the line.
The second aspect of this question has to do with government intervention. One characteristic that has been associated with cattle producers for a long time is independence. If the government is asked to intervene directly in how the industry does business then one can expect a further increase in government intervention at some point. This is a slippery slope to traverse, and it is probably not a wise decision to approach challenges from this perspective. If government intervention is requested now, everyone can count on further government encroachment.
Source : osu.edu