USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced plans to enhance the pork carcass cutout used in USDA Market News reports on Aug. 3, 2016. This enhancement to add individual muscle cuts - insides, outsides, and knuckles - in the ham primal was originally scheduled to start on Sept. 12, 2016. However, the implementation of this enhancement has been postponed until Oct. 31, 2016.
During the most recent review of the updated cutout calculations, it was discovered that more labor costs were applied than necessary, which changed the impact of this enhancement on the daily cutout value. AMS is in the process of correcting the historical analysis on the updated ham primal and pork carcass cutout values, which should be completed in the next one to two weeks. Once complete, this historical comparison data will be made available.
To provide additional outreach for stakeholders, AMS will host a conference call/webinar on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016, to discuss the postponement of this enhancement. Please call the following number at 11:00 a.m. Central time: (888) 844-9904; Access Code: 1665233.
AMS is committed to providing relevant market information that accurately depicts the evolving changes in the industry. This updated pork carcass cutout will provide a more reflective ham primal value, thus enhancing the overall pork cutout value.
If you have any questions, contact Mike Lynch, Livestock, Poultry, and Grain Market News Director, at (202) 720-4846; or Taylor Cox, Field Chief, at (515) 284-4460.
Livestock, Poultry and Seed Program