Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act of 1999 - Final Rule - Released by USDA Nov. 28, 2000

This final rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, released Nov. 28, 2000 and supported by producers and industry associations, will establish a mandatory program of reporting information regarding the marketing of cattle, swine, lambs, and products of such livestock under the "Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act of 1999." This rule requires the reporting of market information by certain livestock packers, processors and importers. According to the USDA: Packers who annually slaughter an average of 125,000 cattle or 100,000 swine, or slaughter or process an average of 75,000 lambs are required to report. Importers who annually import an average of 5,000 metric tons of lamb meat products are also required to report. These packers are required to report to the Agricultural Marketing Service the details of all transactions involving purchases of livestock, and the details of all transactions involving domestic and export sales of boxed beef cuts including applicable branded product, sales of boxed lamb cuts including applicable branded product, and sales of lamb carcasses. Importers are required to report the sales of all imported boxed lamb cuts. This program is intended to provide information on pricing, contracting for purchase, and supply and demand conditions for livestock, livestock production, and livestock products, that can be readily understood by producers, packers, and other market participants.