LMA Applauds Bill to Allow Livestock Auction Investment in Small and Regional Packers

Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) applauds Congressmen Mark Alford (R-Mo.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), and Dusty Johnson (R-SD) for introducing the Amplifying Processing of Livestock in the United States (A-PLUS) Act. If enacted, the bill would remove an outdated regulatory barrier and allow livestock auction market owners to own or invest in small and regional meatpackers.

The Administration, Congress, and the livestock industry agree there is a need for increased packer competition and additional processing capacity. Currently, livestock auctions owners are not able to own, invest, or participate in the operation of a packing plant or meat marketing business due to dated Packers and Stockyards Act restriction. This prohibition falls under a 102-year-old law and predates the current, transparent method of selling livestock at an open auction to the highest bidder. The A-PLUS Act is essential in removing this unnecessary barrier to cattle industry investment in the packing sector. The bill would allow livestock auction owners to own or invest in cattle and hog packers smaller than the current ten largest packers.  

Video: New Holland’s Compact TH6.26 Telehandler Walkaround

The new Model Year 2026 TH6.26 compact telehandler delivers powerful material handling in a size built for tight farm environments. In this video, Product Marketing Manager Lena Patton explains how this compact machine fits operations that need serious lifting capability without sacrificing maneuverability.

Designed especially for poultry houses, livestock farms, and dairy operations, the TH6.26 measures under 80 inches tall and just 72 inches wide, making it ideal for confined spaces while still offering strong reach and lift performance.

From manure handling in poultry houses to hay and feed movement on dairy and livestock farms, the TH6.26 delivers versatility in a compact footprint.