Lead Story -- Quest for MPR Changes Successful

October 2004 -- Urgings by the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) and state affiliates to modify the Livestock Mandatory Price Reporting (MPR) regulations as they apply to domestic and imported boxed lamb cut sales have been successful. The U.S. Department of Agriculture?s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) issued via the Sept. 2, 2004, Federal Register a final rule announcing Nov. 1, 2004, as the effective date for the improvements.

The final rule amends two definitions: (1) that of "carlot-based," which is being changed to include language that will limit carlot-based sales of boxed lamb cuts to transactions between a buyer and a seller consisting of 1,000 lbs. or more of boxed lamb items; and (2) that of ?importer,? which reduces the volume level of annual lamb imports establishing a person as an ?importer,? from 5,000 metric tons of lamb products per year to 2,500 metric tons of lamb products per year.

"For the first time, prices on imported wholesale lamb cuts will be publicly available. The marketplace should be able to determine the value of all lamb products, both domestic and imports," commented Paul Rodgers, deputy director of policy for ASI.

"This is positive news for the sheep industry," added ASI President and Ohio sheep producer Guy Flora. "MPR of wholesale imported lamb cuts has been a top issue for ASI with the price-reporting system for the past three years.

"Since American lamb processors have been required to report all along, a more level playing field for domestic and import sales has now been established," concluded Flora.