Agency says volume of barrows, gilts purchased on a negotiated basis has declined to about 1% since 2001.

Krissa Welshans, Livestock Editor

August 2, 2019

1 Min Read
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) recently revised its Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) direct swine reports to provide more continuous coverage of the regional negotiated swine markets.

Since the implementation of LMR in 2001, the volume of barrows and gilts purchased on a negotiated basis has declined from 17% of the market to about 1% today.  USDA said the thinness of the negotiated market has made it increasingly difficult for AMS to publish regional market information while maintaining the confidentiality requirements set forth in the statute.

“As requested by the pork industry, AMS will publish only weighted average prices for carcass and live basis negotiated barrows and gilts and not show the daily volumes or price ranges on the Iowa-Minnesota, Western Cornbelt, and Eastern Cornbelt regional daily and prior day swine purchase reports going forward,” the agency said.

The revision allows AMS to publish as much regional data as possible while preserving confidentiality. 

USDA said the National swine purchase reports will continue to include volume, price ranges, and weighted average prices for the negotiated barrow and gilt market.  The other swine purchase types – other market formula, swine or pork market formula, and other purchase arrangement – are not impacted by this revision, it said.

About the Author(s)

Krissa Welshans

Livestock Editor

Krissa Welshans grew up on a crop farm and cow-calf operation in Marlette, Michigan. Welshans earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Michigan State University and master’s degree in public policy from New England College. She and her husband Brock run a show cattle operation in Henrietta, Texas, where they reside with their son, Wynn.

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