NATIONAL MEAT ASSOCIATION - USDA's Market News Service is planning to implement changes in the Blue Sheet's Pork Report next January. These changes were discussed with the industry late last year, and again at NMA's meetings in San Diego early this year. NMA continues to seek additional changes that we believe will more accurately reflect the market and has discussed these in detail with the program's managers.
Barry Carpenter, Director of AMS's Livestock & Seed Division, will attend NMA's Summer Conference next week and be available to discuss the intended changes with NMA's Processed Meats Committee. Members are encouraged to visit with him about this.
On a related matter concerning the reporting of beef trimmings 50's and 90's, NMA Executive Director Rosemary Mucklow told Mike Erwin last week at the Market News Office in Des Moines, Iowa, that NMA members will continue to report trades to the Service so long as the long-standing policy of confidentiality is respected.
The Commodities Future Trading Commission (CFTC) has recently asked USDA to provide the details of transactions to support its work in reporting these items in its future's trading. NMA told Market News that it is opposed to providing the identity of buyers and sellers, that this is highly confidential, and that the substantial cooperation that the Price Reporting Service enjoys is due to its established integrity and confidentiality. In NMA's view, any release of buyer/seller identities would undermine the voluntary participation that is essential to maintain the service.
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Meat Industry Insights News Service
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Northport, NY 11768
Phone: 631-757-4010
Fax: 631-757-4060
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