Packers and Stockyards Programs: Investigations of Competitive Practices Need Improvements

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO discussed the Department of Agriculture's (USDA) efforts to investigate concerns about competition in the marketing of cattle and hogs, focusing on: (1) the number and status of investigations conducted by the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) in response to complaints and concerns about anticompetitive activity involving the marketing of cattle and hogs; (2) factors that affect GIPSA's ability to investigate concerns about anticompetitive practices; and (3) GIPSA's authority under the Packers and Stockyards Act to address concerns about anticompetitive and unfair practices.