WASHINGTON – The US Dept. of Agriculture announced several meetings to gather feedback from industry on the Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) program in addition to current livestock and meat marketing practices. The first meeting is scheduled for Nov. 15-16 in Washington.

The first informational meeting will include several activities. The Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS) will provide an overview of current LMR reporting and audit processes. Industry stakeholders also will be able to participate in “interest-based problem-solving and training” and identify dates for future meetings.

Organizations that agreed to participate in the process include the American Farm Bureau Federation; American Sheep Industry; CME Group; Livestock Marketing Association; Livestock Marketing Information Center; Meat Importers Council of America; National Cattlemen’s Beef Association; National Farmers Union; National Pork Producers Council; North American Meat Institute; R-CALF USA; Southwest Meat Association; Texas Cattle Feeders Association; and US Cattlemen.

The meetings are part of USDA’s study of livestock and meat marketing of products covered by the LMR program. The goal of the study is to:

• analyze current marketing practices in the cattle, swine, and lamb markets;
• identify legislative or regulatory recommendations made by cattle, swine, and lamb producers, packers, and other market participants to ensure that information provided under the program can be readily understood by producers, packers, and other market participants; reflects current marketing practices; and is relevant and useful to producers, packers, and other market participants;
• analyze the price and supply information reporting services of USDA related to cattle, swine, and lamb; and
• address any other issues that the secretary considers appropriate.

By March 1, 2018, the USDA will submit a report of its findings to the House Committee on Agriculture and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.