The Missouri Cattlemen’s Association is among 17 state cattle groups expressing support for the Cattle Market Transparency Act. In a letter to Agriculture Committee leaders in Congress, the groups say the bill “will aid in cattle market transparency for all producers” and that they are not asking for any type of market manipulation or guaranteed profit. Rather, they seek readily available information to allow cattle producers the ability to make informed and educated decisions. The bill was introduced in the House by Western Missouri’s Vicky Hartzler as a companion measure to the version proposed in the Senate by Nebraska Republican Deb Fischer. Their proposal includes the cattle contract library, 14-day packer purchase commitment outlook, and clarification of Livestock Mandatory Price Reporting confidentiality guidelines to avoid non-reporting of collected data on a regional and national basis. Additionally, the bill directs USDA’s Ag Marketing Service to establish regionally negotiated cash plus negotiated grid marketing volume minimums thresholds that enhance price discovery goals and commitments.