Ranchers to talk competition in northern Colorado

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Ranchers from across the country are expected to gather in northern Colorado next week to talk about competition in the cattle industry.

Attorney General Eric Holder and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack are scheduled to attend the Aug. 27 meeting in Fort Collins. It’s the fourth in a series of meetings the Obama administration has been holding across the country to discuss anti-trust issues in agriculture.

The meat packing industry has long been dominated by a handful of corporate giants, and some producers accuse them of demanding unfairly low prices. Proposed anti-trust rules from the administration would make it easier for ranchers to sue.

A Montana-based ranchers’ group, R-Calf USA, is trying to get 25,000 supporters to attend.