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MO Rep. sponsors ‘Cattle Market Transparency’ bill

Missouri representative Vicky Hartzler has introduced a bill that is meant to enable greater price discovery and transparency in the cattle market.

The Cattle Market Transparency Act of 2020 is a companion bill to a bill sponsored by Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer.

Hartlzer’s bill would direct the USDA to create and keep a record of contracts between packers and producers, require the Secretary of Agriculture to regionally establish ‘sufficient’ levels of negotiated cash and mandate packers to report the number of cattle scheduled to be delivered for slaughter two weeks in advance.

Missouri Cattlemen’s Association President Marvin Dieckman said the bill brings the cattle market closer to ‘robust’ price discovery.