The House Ag Committee’s livestock subcommittee is holding a series of hearings this week on the livestock economy. One thing of particular concern to pork producers is the proposed USDA rules that relate to buying and selling of livestock. USDA is re-proposing parts of the Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration Rule, which was proposed in 2010 to implement parts of the 2008 Farm Bill. National Hog Farmer says the regulations went well beyond what was proposed in the Farm Bill and would have a significant impact on the livestock industry. An Informa Economics study in 2010 found it would cost the pork industry more than 330 million dollars annually. In the past, Congress included riders in USDA funding bills to prevent finalizing the rule, but no such rider exists in the 2017 funding bill. In other testimony, NPPC reiterated its support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, telling the committee the benefits of TPP will exceed all past free trade agreements and represents a great opportunity for the pork industry.