7 USC 1635 - Mandatory packer reporting of boxed beef sales

Collapse to view only § 1635f. Mandatory packer reporting of boxed beef sales

§ 1635d. Definitions
§ 1635e. Mandatory reporting for live cattle
§ 1635f. Mandatory packer reporting of boxed beef sales

§ 1635d. DefinitionsIn this part:

(1) Cattle committed

(2) Cattle typeThe term “cattle type” means the following types of cattle purchased for slaughter:

(A) Fed steers.

(B) Fed heifers.

(D) Cows.

(E) Bulls.

(3) Formula marketing arrangement

(4) Forward contractThe term “forward contract” means—

(A) an agreement for the purchase of cattle, executed in advance of slaughter, under which the base price is established by reference to—

(i) prices quoted on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange; or

(ii) other comparable publicly available prices; or

(B) such other forward contract as the Secretary determines to be applicable.

(5) PackerThe term “packer” means any person engaged in the business of buying cattle in commerce for purposes of slaughter, of manufacturing or preparing meats or meat food products from cattle for sale or shipment in commerce, or of marketing meats or meat food products from cattle in an unmanufactured form acting as a wholesale broker, dealer, or distributor in commerce, except that—

(A) the term includes only a cattle processing plant that is federally inspected;

(B) for any calendar year, the term includes only a cattle processing plant that slaughtered an average of at least 125,000 head of cattle per year during the immediately preceding 5 calendar years; and

(C) in the case of a cattle processing plant that did not slaughter cattle during the immediately preceding 5 calendar years, the Secretary shall consider the plant capacity of the processing plant in determining whether the processing plant should be considered a packer under this part.

(6) Packer-owned cattle

(7) Terms of tradeThe term “terms of trade” includes, with respect to the purchase of cattle for slaughter—

(A) whether a packer provided any financing agreement or arrangement with regard to the cattle;

(B) whether the delivery terms specified the location of the producer or the location of the packer’s plant;

(C) whether the producer is able to unilaterally specify the date and time during the business day of the packer that the cattle are to be delivered for slaughter; and

(D) the percentage of cattle purchased by a packer as a negotiated purchase that are delivered to the plant for slaughter more than 7 days, but fewer than 14 days, after the earlier of—

(i) the date on which the cattle were committed to the packer; or

(ii) the date on which the cattle were purchased by the packer.

(8) Type of purchaseThe term “type of purchase”, with respect to cattle, means—

(A) a negotiated purchase;

(B) a formula market arrangement; and

(Aug. 14, 1946, ch. 966, title II, § 221, as added Pub. L. 106–78, title IX, § 911(2), Oct. 22, 1999, 113 Stat. 1189.)

§ 1635e. Mandatory reporting for live cattle

(a) EstablishmentThe Secretary shall establish a program of live cattle price information reporting that will—

(1) provide timely, accurate, and reliable market information;

(2) facilitate more informed marketing decisions; and

(3) promote competition in the cattle slaughtering industry.

(b) General reporting provisions applicable to packers and the Secretary

(1) In generalWhenever the prices or quantities of cattle are required to be reported or published under this section, the prices or quantities shall be categorized so as to clearly delineate—

(A) the prices or quantities, as applicable, of the cattle purchased in the domestic market; and

(B) the prices or quantities, as applicable, of imported cattle.

(2) Packer-owned cattle

(1) In generalThe corporate officers or officially designated representatives of each packer processing plant shall report to the Secretary at least twice each reporting day (including once not later than 10:00 a.m. Central Time and once not later than 2:00 p.m. Central Time) the following information for each cattle type:

(A) The prices for cattle (per hundredweight) established on that day, categorized by—

(i) type of purchase;

(ii) the quantity of cattle purchased on a live weight basis;

(iii) the quantity of cattle purchased on a dressed weight basis;

(iv) a range of the estimated live weights of the cattle purchased;

(v) an estimate of the percentage of the cattle purchased that were of a quality grade of choice or better; and

(vi) any premiums or discounts associated with—(I) weight, grade, or yield; or(II) any type of purchase.

(B) The quantity of cattle delivered to the packer (quoted in numbers of head) on that day, categorized by—

(i) type of purchase;

(ii) the quantity of cattle delivered on a live weight basis; and

(iii) the quantity of cattle delivered on a dressed weight basis.

(i) type of purchase;

(ii) the quantity of cattle committed on a live weight basis; and

(iii) the quantity of cattle committed on a dressed weight basis.

(D) The terms of trade regarding the cattle, as applicable.

(2) Publication

(d) Weekly reporting

(1) In generalThe corporate officers or officially designated representatives of each packer processing plant shall report to the Secretary, on the first reporting day of each week, not later than 9:00 a.m. Central Time, the following information applicable to the prior slaughter week:

(A) The quantity of cattle purchased through a forward contract that were slaughtered.

(B) The quantity of cattle delivered under a formula marketing arrangement that were slaughtered.

(D) The quantity, basis level, and delivery month for all cattle purchased through forward contracts that were agreed to by the parties.

(E) The range and average of intended premiums and discounts that are expected to be in effect for the current slaughter week.

(2) Formula purchasesThe corporate officers or officially designated representatives of each packer processing plant shall report to the Secretary, on the first reporting day of each week, not later than 9:00 a.m. Central Time, the following information for cattle purchased through a formula marketing arrangement and slaughtered during the prior slaughter week:

(A) The quantity (quoted in both numbers of head and hundredweights) of cattle.

(B) The weighted average price paid for a carcass, including applicable premiums and discounts.

(D) The weighted average of premiums and discounts paid.

(E) The range of prices paid.

(F) The aggregate weighted average price paid for a carcass.

(G) The terms of trade regarding the cattle, as applicable.

(3) Publication

(e) Regional reporting of cattle types

(1) In general

(2) Report

(Aug. 14, 1946, ch. 966, title II, § 222, as added Pub. L. 106–78, title IX, § 911(2), Oct. 22, 1999, 113 Stat. 1191.)

§ 1635f. Mandatory packer reporting of boxed beef sales

(a) Daily reportingThe corporate officers or officially designated representatives of each packer processing plant shall report to the Secretary at least twice each reporting day (not less than once before, and once after, 12:00 noon Central Time) information on total boxed beef sales, including—

(1) the price for each lot of each negotiated boxed beef sale (determined by seller-buyer interaction and agreement), quoted in dollars per hundredweight (on a F.O.B. plant basis);

(2) the quantity for each lot of each sale, quoted by number of boxes sold; and

(3) information regarding the characteristics of each lot of each sale, including—

(A) the grade of beef (USDA Choice or better, USDA Select, or ungraded no-roll product);

(B) the cut of beef; and

(b) Publication

(Aug. 14, 1946, ch. 966, title II, § 223, as added Pub. L. 106–78, title IX, § 911(2), Oct. 22, 1999, 113 Stat. 1193.)