USDA Faces Furloughs Amid Federal Government Shutdown

Livestock Reporting May Continue Despite USDA Shutdown

On Tuesday, September 30, at midnight, the federal government entered a shutdown after Congress failed to pass funding for fiscal year 2026, which began on October 1. As a result, many federal programs were paused, and staff overseeing them were temporarily furloughed.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expected to furlough roughly half of its workforce, though employees involved in essential programs remain on duty. This includes personnel responsible for publishing the Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) Market News, the twice-daily reports detailing livestock transactions and market data.

Federal meat inspectors also continue their work; however, USDA cautioned that states managing their own meat and poultry inspections could face funding shortages during the shutdown.

In response, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) requested that Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins designate LMR staff as “essential” to prevent furloughs, ensuring continuity of critical reporting.

LMR Market News provides vital information on livestock sales, pricing trends, supply-demand conditions, and product values, which producers rely on for informed business decisions.

Additionally, USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) uses LMR data to calculate ending values and indemnities under Livestock Risk Protection insurance.

Any disruption in LMR reporting could significantly affect accurate insurance settlements, highlighting the importance of maintaining these functions even during a federal shutdown.

Photo Credit: usda