Agricultural Marketing Service

United States Department of Agriculture 

Through comprehensive market surveys, case studies, and research partnerships, AMS provides insight into direct-marketing trends and emerging food system models. 

A User’s Guide to USDA’s LMR Pork Reports 

History of Livestock 

Mandatory Reporting 

Livestock Mandatory Reporting 

(LMR) began in 2001 after the 

passage of the Livestock 

Mandatory Reporting Act of 

1999 (1999 Act). The 1999 

Act made the reporting of 

prices, quantities, and some 

characteristics of cattle, hogs, 

and lambs mandatory for 

packers meeting reporting 

thresholds. It also included 

provisions for the mandatory 

reporting of prices and 

quantities of wholesale beef 

and lamb/mutton products, but 

not for pork. The reason was

simple: beef and lamb 

producers and packers agreed 

to include their species while 

pork producers and packers

did not. 

Congress would not include 

provisions that were not 

agreed upon by all parties. 

When the 1999 Act came up 

for reauthorization in 2010, the 

economic environment and 

attitudes of pork industry 

participants had changed. All 

agreed to include wholesale 

pork reporting in the 2010 reauthorization. On September 

27, 2010, the Mandatory Price 

Reporting Act of 2010 (2010 

Act) reauthorized LMR through 

September 30, 2015, added 

mandatory reporting of 

wholesale pork cuts, and 

included a provision to 

establish a negotiated 

rulemaking committee to 

develop the rules to implement 

wholesale pork price reporting. 

FIGURE 1 – USDA LMR Pork Reports 

Daily Pork LMR Reports (Negotiated Sales) 

· LM_PK600 National Daily Pork Report FOB Plant: Morning 

· LM_PK602 National Daily Pork Report FOB Plant: 

Afternoon 

· LM_PK601 National Daily Pork Report FOB Omaha: 

Morning 

· LM_PK603 National Daily Pork Report FOB Omaha: 

Afternoon 

Weekly Pork LMR Reports 

· LM_PK610 National Weekly Pork Report FOB Plant: 

Negotiated Sales 

· LM_PK620 National Weekly Pork Report FOB Plant: 

Formula Sales 

· LM_PK630 National Weekly Pork Report FOB Plant: 

Forward Sales 

· LM_PK640 National Weekly Pork Report FOB Plant: Export 

Sales 

· 611, 621, 631 and 641 are equivalent to the above but 

FOB Omaha 

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing 

Service (AMS) published a final 

rule on August 22, 2012, and 

mandatory price reporting for 

wholesale pork began on 

January 7, 2013.

LMRPorkReports 

AMS publishes 4 daily and 8 

weekly pork reports containing 

LMR data. See Figure 1. Note 

that FOB plant prices are as 

reported by the packers at their 

dock before any freight or other 

transportation costs are added. 

FOB Omaha prices include a 

freight adjustment based on the 

distance from the reporting plant 

to Omaha, Nebraska. USDA 

updates a matrix of 

transportation costs annually 

and packers apply the provided 

differentials to their FOB plant 

prices to arrive at FOB Omaha 

values. The vast majority of the 

pork trade uses FOB plant prices 

for formulas and analyses.

Primals and sub-primals 

Primals are the large sections of 

a hog carcass as pictured in 

Figure 2. These large sections 

represent the initial separation of 

the pork carcass as it comes out 

of the cooler and into a packer’s 

fabrication facility. Primal values 

in market reports represent the 

value of the individual sections

at the time they are separated,

although very few sections are 

sold in that exact form. USDA 

determines primal values using 

the value of sub-primals that are 

sold to retailers and foodservice 

establishments. 

An example of a primal and its 

sub-primals would be the loin 

and sub-primals boneless loin 

and backribs. The process that 

USDA uses to compute primal 

values from sub-primal values 

and the cutout value from primal 

values is discussed in detail in 

the “A User’s Guide to USDA’s 

Pork Carcass Cutout.” 

WhoIsRequiredto 

Report? 

Packers are required to report 

the prices and quantities of all 

wholesale pork sold prior to the 

established reporting times to 

USDA twice daily. 

KeyDefinitions 

Reporting day - A day on which 

a packer conducts business 

regarding livestock committed to 

the packer, or livestock 

purchased, sold, or slaughtered 

by the packer; the Secretary is 

required to make such 

information available to the 

public; and USDA is open to 

conduct business.

Negotiated sale - Sale of 

wholesale pork by a packer to a 

buyer where the price is 

determined by seller-buyer 

interaction and agreement, and 

scheduled for delivery not later 

than 14 days for boxed product 

and 10 days for combo product 

after the date of agreement. 

The day after the seller-buyer 

agreement is considered day 

one for reporting delivery 

periods.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. 1 2018 United States Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Marketing Service. 
Agricultural Marketing Service

United States Department of Agriculture

 

MARKET 

INFORMATION101

Forward sale - an agreement 

for the sale of pork where 

the delivery is beyond the

timeframe of a “negotiated sale” 

and means a sale by 

a packer selling wholesale pork 

to a buyer of wholesale pork 

under which the price 

is determined by seller-buyer 

interaction and agreement.

Formula marketing arrangement 

- an agreement for the sale of

pork under which the price is

established in reference to

publicly-available quoted prices.

Packer - Any person engaged in 

the business of buying swine in 

commerce for purposes of 

slaughter, of manufacturing or 

preparing meats or meat food 

products from swine for sale or 

shipment in commerce, or of 

marketing meats or meat food 

products from swine in an 

unmanufactured form acting as 

a wholesale broker, dealer, or 

distributor in commerce. For 

any calendar year, the term 

“packer” includes only a 

federally inspected swine 

processing plant that 

slaughtered an average of 

100,000 head of swine per year 

during the immediately 

preceding 5 calendar years and 

a person that slaughtered an 

average of 200,000 head of 

sows, boars, or combination

thereof per year during the 

immediately preceding 5 

calendar years. Additionally, in 

the case of a swine processing 

plant or person that did not 

slaughter swine during the 

immediately preceding 5 

calendar years, 

it shall be considered a packer if 

the Secretary determines the 

processing plant or person

should be considered a packer 

after considering its capacity.

Variety meats - With respect to 

wholesale pork, variety meats 

are cut/processing floor items, 

such as neck bones, tails, skins, 

feet, hocks, jowls, and backfat. 

Wholesale pork- Fresh and 

frozen primals, sub-primals,

cuts fabricated from subprimals, pork trimmings, pork for 

processing, and variety meats 

(excluding portion-control cuts, 

cuts flavored above and beyond 

normal added ingredients that 

are used to enhance products, 

cured, smoked, cooked, and 

tray packed products). When 

referring to wholesale pork, 

added ingredients are used to 

enhance the product’s 

performance (e.g. tenderness, 

juiciness) through adding 

a solution or emulsion via 

an injection or immersion 

process. The ingredients are

limited to water, salt, sodium 

phosphate, antimicrobials, or 

any other similar combination of 

foresaid or similar ingredients 

and in accordance with 

established USDA regulations.

LMR Pork Report 

Content 

Appendixes A and B show 

examples of LM_PK602 

National Daily Pork Report FOB 

Plant – Negotiated Sales – 

Afternoon and LM_PK610 

National Weekly Pork Report 

FOB Plant – Negotiated Sales.

The Appendixes contain 

hypothetical data and are 

meant to illustrate the various 

parts of the report and their 

meanings. Other wholesale 

pork reports follow a very 

similar format. 

FIGURE 2 – Typical Market Pig Today 

Butt 

SHOULDER 

PICNIC 

SHOULDER 

LOIN 

HAM 

SpareRibs 

& 

Belly 

JOWL

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. 2 
Agricultural Marketing Service

United States Department of Agriculture

 

 

MARKET 

INFORMATION101

APPENDIX A: EXAMPLE OF LM_PK602 

**SAMPLE REPORT** 

LM_PK602 

Des Moines, Iowa Thu, Jan 12, 2017 USDA Market News 

Sales by a packer under which the price 

is determined by sell-buyer interaction 

and agreement on a delivery day not 

more than 14 days in the future. 

1 Load = 40,000 lbs. Number of loads of 

pork and meat cuts sold. 

NATIONAL DAILY PORK REPORT FOB PLANT - Negotiated Sales - Afternoon 

Loads PORK CUTS : 190.01 

Loads TRIM/PROCESS PORK: 33.14 

Today’s Estimated Primal Cutout 

Carcass Loin Butt Pic Rib Ham Belly 

USDA ESTIMATED PORK CUT-OUT VALUES - as of 2:00pm 

Based on negotiated prices and volume of pork cuts to be delivered within 14 days and on average industry cutting yields. 

Date Loads

01/12/2017 223.16

Values refect U.S. dollars per 100 pounds. Calculations for 205 lb Pork Carcass. 53-54% lean, 0.65”-0.80” BF Last Rib 

79.37 80.89 90.83 56.43 116.73 56.51 128.07 

Number of loads of trimmed and 

processed pork sold. 

Portions of the carcass as they are 

initially separated during fabrication. 

An estimate of the value of a pork 

carcass based on current wholesale 

prices paid for sub-primal pork cuts. 

Change: -1.31 -1.95 -3.85 -0.28 -1.62 -2.73 2.22 

01/06/2017 

01/09/2017 

01/10/2017 

01/11/2017 

Difference in price from the previous 

day, in dollars/cwt. 

Data from the past 4 days. 

352.44 80.68 82.84 94.68 56.71 118.35 59.24 125.85 

362.08 78.22 81.26 94.84 57.22 116.44 52.87 122.21 

272.24 79.86 81.55 94.60 58.66 115.56 58.23 123.44 

264.43 79.01 80.62 92.50 56.18 114.51 59.51 119.48 

Five Day Average 79.43 81.43 93.49 57.04 116.32 57.27 123.81 

Sub-primal cuts derived from the loin 

primal. 

Loin 

1/4 Trimmed Loin VAC 

Sub-primal cuts derived from the butt 

(shoulder). 

1/4 Trimmed Loin VAC, FZN 

1/4 Trimmed Loin Paper 

1/4 Trimmed Loin Paper, FZN 

1/4 Trimmed Loin Combo 

Butt 

1/4 Trim Butt VAC 

1/4 Trim Butt VAC, FZN 

1/4 Trim Butt Paper 

1/4 Trim Butt Paper, FZN 

1/4 Trim Butt Combo 

Sub-primal cuts derived from the 

picnic (shoulder). 

Picnic 

RS Smoker Trim Picnic Combo 

SS Smoker Trim Picnic VAC 

SS Smoker Trim Picnic VAC, FZN 

SS Smoker Trim Picnic Paper/Poly 

Sparerib 

Trmd Sparerib - LGT 

Trmd Sparerib - LGT, FZN 

Trmd Sparerib - LGT, Poly 

Sub-primal cuts derived from the 

sparerib. 

Ham 

17/dn Ham Combo Sub-primal cuts derived from the ham. 

17-20# Trmd Selected Ham 

20-23# Trmd Selected Ham 

23-27# Trmd Selected Ham 

Belly 

Derind Belly 7-9# 

Derind Belly 9-13# 

Derind Belly 9-13# Boxed 

Sub-primal cuts derived from the belly. 

Pounds Price Range 

314,120 85.82 - 103.93 

14,915 81.00 - 95.00 

-

-

184,575 75.00 - 80.75 

584,425 86.80 - 120.93 

-

14,098 114.95 - 123.96 

-

44,137 88.75 - 102.96 

279,196 52.91 - 94.00 

91,707 60.95 - 101.50 

-

19,060 78.95 - 114.25 

136,384 

42,282 

5,777 

226,344 

649,948 

31,601 

21,719 

112.00 - 144.33 

121.00 - 136.30 

126.96 - 148.50 

-

-

49.69 - 57.51 

47.04 - 57.00 

-

167.09 - 184.00 

232.62 - 280.00 

Wtd Avg 

92.09 

84.26 

76.34 

100.41 

117.99 

98.36 

54.44 

75.40 

87.46 

129.52 

121.79 

133.69 

52.92 

50.52 

181.57 

236.45 

*To fnd further explanation of 

the Pork Cutout, please refer 

to the Daily Pork Reports 

page at ams.usda.gov and “A 

User’s Guide to USDA’s Pork 

Carcass Cutout.” 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. 3 
Agricultural Marketing Service

United States Department of Agriculture

 

 

MARKET 

INFORMATION101

APPENDIX B: EXAMPLE OF LM_PK610 

Sales by a packer under which the price 

is determined by sell-buyer interaction 

and agreement on a delivery day not 

more than 14 days in the future. 

Portions of the carcass as they are 

initially separated during fabrication. 

An estimate of the value of a pork 

carcass based on current wholesale 

prices paid for sub-primal pork cuts. 

Price of primals, dollars/cwt. 

Difference in price from the previous 

report, in dollars/cwt. 

Free on Board at the plant, price does 

not include freight costs for shipment 

by the seller to the buyer at the plant. 

1 Load = 40,000 pounds. Number of 

loads of sub-primal cuts. 

**SAMPLE REPORT** 

LM_PK610 

Des Moines, Iowa 

NATIONAL WEEKLY PORK REPORT FOB Plant - Negotiated Sales 

 Mon, Nov 07, 2016 USDA Market News 

USDA ESTIMATED PORK CARCASS CUTOUT 

Based on negotiated prices and volume of pork cuts delivered within 0-14 days and on average industry cutting yields. Values 

refect U.S. dollars per 100 pounds. Calculations for a 205 lb Pork Carcass. 53-54% lean, 0.65”- 0.80” BF last rib 

Weekly Estimated Primal Cutout 

Weekly Average Loads Carcass Loin Butt Pic Rib Ham Belly 

11/04/2016 73.56 69.25 79.25 56.35 107.59 64.19 109.13 

Change: 0.41 -2.73 1.55 -1.20 -1.96 7.00 -1.82

Total Load Count (Cuts, Trimmings, Processed): 1,559.40 

Current Volume - (one load equals 40,000) 

Negotiated Weekly Pork Cuts - Negotiated Sales FOB Plant 

479.23 loads 19,169,398 pounds 

85.46 loads 3,418,208 pounds 

Trimmings 179.95 loads 7,197,937 pounds 

Variety 83.99 loads 3,359,447 pounds 

Added ingred 53.37 loads 2,134,741 pounds 

256.19 loads 10,247,688 pounds 

Loin

Butt

Rib

Ham

Belly

Picnic 148.05 loads 5,922,121 pounds 

141.08 loads 5,643,347 pounds 

140.28 loads 5,611,302 pounds 

1,000 pounds. Loin 

Sub-primal cuts derived from the loin 

primal. 

1/4 Trimmed Loin VAC 

1/4 Trimmed Loin VAC, FZN 

1/4 Trimmed Loin Paper 

1/4 Trimmed Loin Paper, FZN 

1/4 Trimmed Loin Combo 

Picnic 

RS Smoker Trim Picnic Combo 

SS Smoker Trim Picnic VAC 

SS Smoker Trim Picnic VAC, FZN 

Sub-primal cuts derived from the 

picnic (shoulder). 

SS Smoker Trim Picnic Paper/Poly 

Sparerib 

Trmd Sparerib - LGT 

Trmd Sparerib - LGT, FZN 

Trmd Sparerib - LGT, Poly 

Sub-primal cuts derived from the 

sparerib. 

Trmd Sparerib - LGT, Poly, FZN 

Kilopounds Price Range Wtd Avg 

3,617 72.30 - 100.11 80.09 

92 71.00 - 90.00 77.36 

-

-

932 73.00 - 83.22 74.59 

Butt 

1/4 Trim Butt VAC Sub-primal cuts derived from the butt 

(shoulder). 

4,322 78.00 - 105.00 87.85 

1/4 Trim Butt VAC, FZN 94 72.00 - 104.60 101.97 

1/4 Trim Butt Paper 141 94.95- 114.95 102.21 

183 53.09 - 95.47 70.80 

1,398 70.00 - 101.00 82.04 

-

140 65.50 - 107.38 94.22 

1,340 108.00 - 137.95 119.05 

49 100.00 - 128.30 114.12 

35 123.50 - 148.50 131.77 

32 102.69 - 145.00 116.32 

Sub-primal cuts derived from the belly. 

Derind Belly 7-9# 

Belly 

138 164.49 - 174.00 167.90 

Derind Belly 9-13# 195 155.40 - 185.37 167.82 

Derind Belly 7-9# Boxed, FZN 83 121.50 - 149.00 135.30 

*To fnd further explanation of the Pork Cutout, please refer to the Daily Pork Reports page at ams.usda.gov 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. 4