01.31.23

Hoeven: Cattle Contract Library Pilot Program Goes Live

Senator Funded Program to Improve Transparency & Competition in Cattle Markets

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has launched the cattle contract library pilot program to improve transparency and competition in cattle markets. As the lead Republican on the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, Hoeven secured legislation to establish the cattle contract library as a pilot program, which USDA is now implementing. 

The library includes aggregated contract information including key terms, conditions, and volumes. The contract library can be accessed here.

“With the cattle contract library now live, ranchers will be better positioned to market and sell their livestock, securing a better price for their high-quality products,” said Hoeven. “This library comes as part of our ongoing efforts to ensure livestock producers can access fair and competitive markets.”

In addition, the senator worked to provide an additional $2 million in FY22 for AMS to enforce the Packers and Stockyards Act and previously helped introduce legislation in the 117th Congress to:

  • Establish a new office at USDA to investigate, prosecute and bring civil or administrative actions for violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act.
  • Expand ranchers’ ability to provide more locally-produced meat to consumers by utilizing custom slaughterhouses.

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