Sheep Families Support MPR

   September 25, 2005 -- Twenty-five state sheep associations joined the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) in a joint industry letter urging the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture to support a five-year extension for the re-authorization of the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act (LMRA).
   Sen. Chambliss (R-GA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, and Sen. Harkin (D-IA), ranking minority member, were urged to take prompt action to ensure that the LMRA be re-authorized and signed into law before Sept. 30, 2005, when the statue expires. This legislation contains the authorization for the continuation of price reporting for sheep and lamb meat.
   The 1999 act requires packers to report, among other things, livestock purchase prices to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Marketing Service. A transparent, accurate and timely market price-reporting system is necessary for producers and processors to be able to make informed business decisions.
   The state associations that joined ASI in this request include: Ala., Calif., Color., Conn., Idaho, Ill., Ind., Iowa, Ky., Mich., Minn., Mont., Neb., N.H., N.J., N.M., N.Y., N.C., N.D., Ohio, Ore., Texas, Utah, Wash. and Wyo.
   "Since the senate will be back in session next week, it is timely to deliver this letter to the leadership of the agriculture committee," stated Paul Frischknecht, ASI president. "Part of the credit for the steady lamb market the industry has experienced over the last three years is attributed to the implementation of the mandatory price-reporting system." 
   In July, the House Committee on Agriculture approved a five-year extension. Approval by the full U.S. House is expected early in September.
Staff contact: Peter Orwick, ext. 33

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