The Mandatory Price Reporting Act of 2010 (Senate Bill 3656) passed the Senate with lightening speed under "unanimous consent" rules the day after a voice vote by the Senate Ag Committee last week. The package includes a requirement that USDA establish an electronic reporting system for dairy product prices and release a weekly report every Wednesday for the previous week's sales. The bill will now go to the House for a vote sometime before the current mandatory reporting of beef and livestock prices would expire Sept. 30.

The bill reauthorizes the beef and livestock reporting, which is daily, and adds a section to establish daily reporting of pork product prices. Dairy products would be reported by an electronic system (versus NASS Survey) but remain a weekly report. 

The Dairy Policy Action Coalition (DPAC) continues to work with members of Congress for language to require daily electronic reporting, instead of week. The authority for daily reporting is already provided under Section 1510 of the 2007 Farm Bill.

Dairy farmers are encouraged to contact their United States Representatives during their Congressional recess this month, to tell them how important daily reporting is for dairy farmers to have timely information and to bring truth and transparency to the dairy industry. Stay tuned for details!