Revised Meat Packers' Legislation Issued

The National Pork Producers Council worked diligently to get the mandatory price reporting law approved and submitted comments on the regulations proposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act, first approved in 1999 and amended and reauthorized in October 2006, is administered by USDA to provide information to producers, packers and other market participants on pricing, contracting for purchase and supply and demand conditions for livestock, livestock production and livestock products.

Packers have been voluntarily reporting livestock prices since the law expired Sept. 30, 2005. Making the reporting mandatory, points out NPPC, means that USDA can audit reports.

“During this time of economic crisis for many pork producers, having mandatory price reporting helps producers make business and production decisions that will allow them to get the best price for their hogs,” said NPPC President Bryan Black, a pork producer from Canal Winchester, Ohio.

The reauthorized price reporting law, which will take effect July 15, 2008, includes three enhancements to the pork reporting provisions:

• More sows are included in pricing reports to more accurately reflect the sales and prices paid in the sow market.
• Changes in the timing for data reporting to help USDA with its workload and, thus, to increase report accuracy and efficiency.
• USDA may publish price distributions for net prices to provide more information that is more reflective of market situations.

ThePigSite News Desk

Sign up for our
regular news updates

Latest Pig Industry News

•   DAPP: Downward Gradient from 136.99p to 136.43p
•   Preparation for Mandatory Inclusion Urged
•   Weekly Review: Demand at Consumer Level Declines
•   New Construction of a House for 400 Sows
•   CME: Sharp Decline in Pork and Hog Markets
•   ACMC Tip: Check Parity Profile
•   All Eyes on the Chinese Pork Industry
•   Vaccination for Swine Diseases to be Launched
•   Learning About Animal Welfare Online
•   Manitoba Expands Compulsory Coverage by WCB