GIPSA Enforcement Fails

In a report issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture?s (USDA) Office of Inspector General, the USDA?s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) was cited for significant failures in oversight and enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards program. 

Some of the findings listed in the report include:

• the inflation of reports of investigative actions, including routine activities;
• a lack of internal controls to ensure that investigations were thoroughly completed; and
• the failure to implement prior recommendations.

Secretary Mike Johanns commented, "I don't know if it was a management issue. Why they chose, for example, to treat a letter as an investigation, I don't understand that. Quite honestly, my whole goal here is to recognize the report and then fix the problems." 

GIPSA is charged with enforcing the 1921 Packers and Stockyards Act, a law meant to ensure there is a fair and competitive environment for producers selling livestock. 

he complete report can be accessed at: http://www.usda.gov/oig/webdocs/30601-01-HY.pdf.