Congress Likely to Extend the Mandatory Livestock Price Reporting Program

Farm-state lawmakers will eventually add billions to the aid package, but Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) agrees it could take until a later omnibus spending measure to be approved.

By Jim Wiesemeyer

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September 21, 2022 09:56 PM

Congress is very likely to extend the mandatory livestock price reporting program, but odds are iffy regarding livestock marketing reform.

The White House—via its supplemental spending requests—wants $1.5 billion for 2002 ag-related crop and livestock disasters. Farm-state lawmakers will eventually add billions to the aid package, but it could take until a later omnibus spending measure to be approved.

Any aid will likely be part of USDA’s Emergency Relief Program (ERP).

Sen. Grassley Weighs In

AgriTalk’s Chip Flory asked Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) this week about both topics and he had some revealing responses.

“That $1.5 billion for USDA will end up bigger, won’t it?” Flory asked. Grassley paused then said, “Chip... that’s what crop insurance is for.”

Grassley emphasized the need to maintain and improve crop insurance in the next farm bill negotiations.

Wiesemeyer’s Analysis

Extension for livestock mandatory price reporting is seen as likely congressional action yet this year.

Reforms in cattle marketing—a pair of bills that came out of the Senate Ag Committee in June—is still being pushed by Grassley and others, but some wonder if there are 60 votes to pass the full Senate.

AgriTalk also asked Grassley about the Cattle Market Price Discovery and Transparency Act.

He sounded a bit beaten on this when he answered. He said he is going to leave it to Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) to get the bill to a vote:

“He’s a Democrat and he’s tough and wants this done.”