Both Houses of Congress have passed reauthorization of Mandatory Livestock Price Reporting. The Senate version, however, doesn’t include it as an essential service. That’s a problem for National Cattlemen Beef Association members. President Philip Ellis says if the government shuts down or stops business producers won’t be able to get daily pricing information.

Ellis blames Michigan Senator and former Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow for not including MPR as an essential service.

He says the last time the government shutdown, producers were not able to get daily livestock pricing information.

The mandatory price reporting legislation will need to be conferenced and sent to the President soon as it’s set to expire at the end of this month.