USDA Issues Proposed Rule for LMR

August 10, 2007 - On Monday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued the proposed regulation to re-establish the Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) program.

On April 2, 2001, the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) implemented the LMR program as required by the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act of 1999 (1999 Act). Statutory authority for the program lapsed on Sept. 30, 2005.

In October 2006, Congress enacted legislation to reauthorize the 1999 Act through Sept. 30, 2010 (Reauthorization Act). The American Sheep Industry Association was active throughout that year in requesting that the U.S. Congress reauthorize the legislation. The USDA believed it necessary to issue rules for comment since the law had lapsed for a year. AMS states that the rules, when final, will enhance the program's overall effectiveness and efficiency based on the agency's experience in the administration of the program over the past six years.

The Reauthorization Act regarding the lamb industry simply reauthorized AMS to issue rules for the reporting provisions for lamb. The agency is proposing changes to reduce the reporting burden on lamb packers where possible and to provide more meaningful information in AMS market reports.

The full text of the proposed rule was published in the Aug. 8 Federal Register. Comments are due by Sept. 7.

Comments may be submitted on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. Written comments can be sent to Livestock and Grain Market News Branch, Docket No. LS-07-01, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Room 2619-S, Washington, DC, 20250-0252, or by fax to 202-690-3732. Copies of the proposed rule and additional information can be found at http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsmarketnews.
Staff contact: Peter Orwick, ext. 33

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