Cattle markets crashed, R-CALF wants answers
Cattle futures saw their biggest drop in 34 years at the end of 2015.
The futures market dropped 16 percent at end of last year, rivaling numbers last seen in 1981. A strong dollar limited trade and had the export market down 12 percent through November. Imports increased 20 percent bringing domestic inventories of red meat to a record high.
R-CALF USA has sent a formal request to the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary to investigate the collapse in the cattle market. Concerns for the group are that antitrust and anticompetitive conduct may have occurred in the U.S. beef and cattle markets during 2015.
Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley says if the accusations are credible the committee would have a responsibility to look into the matter.
National Cattlemen's Beef Association officials say there is no merit in the request.
Watch on AgWeb: