In an opinion viewed as crucial to the continued viability of independent livestock producers in Missouri, the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in Hampton Feedlot, et. al. v. Nixon, upheld as constitutional provisions of the Missouri Livestock Marketing Law that the state legislature passed in 1999 preventing livestock packers that purchase livestock in the state of Missouri from discriminating against producers in purchasing livestock except for reasons of quality, transportation costs, or special delivery times. The law also requires any differential pricing to be published.