Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 9/18/15


The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is calling on the U.S. Senate to quickly pass legislation that reauthorizes the livestock mandatory pricing reporting law that is set to expire at the end of this month.

The statute requires meat packers to provide USDA reports on the prices they pay for cattle, swine and lambs and other information. USDA uses the data to publish twice-daily reports with information on pricing, contracting for purchase, supply and demand conditions for livestock, livestock production and livestock products.

The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Committee approved the measure, which now includes specific provisions sought by the U.S. pork industry. They include a new price category that improves the accuracy of the total number of hogs negotiated each day, regardless of how buyers and sellers negotiate prices. Another provision requires that pigs sold after 1:30 p.m. be included in the next morning’s price report, NPPC said in a news release.

The measure is similar to a provision passed by the U.S. House in early June. But it ran into opposition from some senators who do not favor language that ensures that price reports will be published in the event of a government shutdown, among other emergencies, NPPC said.

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