FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact NMA

September 10, 1998

NMA BACKS PRICE FAIRNESS INITIATIVE

OAKLAND, CA -- National Meat Association strongly supports the United States Department of Agriculture's Market News Service and the recent initiative by the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration to investigate the non-reporting of price in livestock sales. Selective reporting may place a bias on published data that is used for reference and a base for formula trading by many in the marketing system.

"NMA has previously expressed concern about the selective reporting," said Executive Director Rosemary Mucklow. "Small and medium-sized firms, both sellers and buyers of livestock, are at a serious disadvantage when they do not have equal access to information because of selective reporting." NMA expects to comment in full to GIPSA after it has consulted with its membership.

National Meat Association is a non-profit trade association representing meat packers and processors, as well as equipment manufacturers and suppliers who provide services to the meat industry. The association, with over 600 members throughout the United States, includes membership in Canada, Australia and Mexico.

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