News Release

Urner Barry Publications, Inc. Well Positioned for Mandatory Price Reporting

March 23, 2000 -- Toms River, NJ -- With many industry buyers and sellers unaware of how mandatory price reporting will affect available market reports, Urner Barry Publications, Inc., the largest and oldest privately-held market reporting firm in the U.S., is receiving increased participation under the current system of voluntary market reporting.

Slated to begin in July of 2000, the mandatory system requires that packers report their transactions to the Agricultural Marketing Service.  Some market participants see this clearly as a case where more is not necessarily better. Those with the resources to decipher, analyze and react to large amounts of raw data will receive the greatest benefit.  Paul Brown, President of Urner Barry Publications, Inc., states “We have worked with the AMS reports for years and are well positioned to provide our subscribers with organized information complied in a way that allows them to make sense of what can be a fast moving, chaotic marketing environment.”

Most industry participants feel Urner Barry’s model for voluntary market reporting works very well. Under the voluntary system, Urner Barry’s professional staff of market reporters will continue to collect and disseminate trading information for the red meat markets. Much of the information is released as it is collected on Urner Barry’s COMTELL.com website. Urner Barry also reports on egg, poultry and seafood items.

Source: Urner Barry Publications, Inc.

CONTACTS: Joe Muldowney, Urner Barry Publications, Inc.
                   732-240-5330

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