GOP Congressmen Seek
Price Report Funding

HELENA, Mont. —(AP)— Several Republican Congressmen are asking the head of the agriculture department to include a price reporting program in this year's Agriculture Appropriations Bill.

Sen. Conrad Burns and Rep. Rick Hill, both Montana Republicans, have signed a letter to Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman asking for the program. It would require meatpackers to report the prices they pay livestock producers to the U.S. Agriculture Department.

Hill said this would allow small, independent packers to make more money if they know what industry leaders charge.

Republican senators from Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri also signed the letter.

Glickman said in late October that the program would be delayed because of a lack of funds.