WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a longtime member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, will hear testimony from South Dakota cattle producer and St. Onge livestock auction manager Justin Tupper at a hearing titled, “Examining Markets, Transparency, and Prices from Cattle Producer to Consumer” at 2:30 p.m. EDT / 1:30 p.m. CDT / 12:30 MDT on Wednesday, June 23, 2021.
Mr. Tupper and the other witnesses will provide their insight by sharing their personal experience with the cattle market and food supply chain. Thune has long sought input from South Dakota producers and advocated for increased transparency for cattle producers and consumers. Thune will question witnesses on possible manipulation in the cattle markets and solicit ideas for improving the situation. This hearing follows a Thune request to Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Boozman urging them to hold this hearing.
Witnesses:
- Mr. Justin Tupper, vice president, United States Cattlemen’s Association, St. Onge, S.D.
- Mr. Mark Gardiner, partner, Gardiner Angus Ranch, Ashland, Kan.
- Dr. Glynn T. Tonsor, professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan.
- Dr. Dustin Aherin, vice president, RaboResearch Animal Protein Analyst, Rabobank, Chesterfield, Mo.
- Dr. Mary K. Hendrickson, associate professor, Division of Applied Social Sciences University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo.
