State Rep. Humphrey requests AG investigate beef industry, packing over market manipulation

Humphrey Requests AG Investigation of OK Beef Industry

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, last week met with Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter regarding his request of an investigation into the Oklahoma beef industry. On Tuesday, he sent a follow-up letter expressing appreciation for Hunter’s quick response to his initial request and commending Hunter’s staff for how quickly they addressed his concerns.

Humphrey said Hunter’s staff directed him to webinars and Zoom meetings presented by leading powerbrokers in the beef industry. After listening to hours of discussion, he wrote Hunter to report back his conclusions.

“First, it is very important to know and understand that COVID-19 did not create the crises now presented within the beef industry,” Humphrey wrote. “The virus merely accelerated and exposed multiple factors pertaining to market manipulation within the industry. The beef packing industry is a critical component of an extremely complex beef market network. Many organizations designated to represent beef producers may have acquired an unbalanced perspective of the importance of the packers verses the producers. These organization have used their potential to peddle influence on behalf of the packing industry to establish an unfair, and I believe, an unlawful market advantage. This type of manipulation will result in the eradication of the present beef producer model and lead to a commercialization of the beef industry, which has already materialized in the pork and poultry industries.”
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from MuskogeePolitico.com