Our Mission Statement

“Provide Timely and Comprehensive Livestock Marketing Resources Through Cooperation.”

Background

The Livestock Marketing Information Center (LMIC) has provided economic analysis and market projections concerning the livestock industry, since 1955.  

The LMIC resources contribute to economic education, support applied research projects, and policy evaluation. LMIC staff continuously update forecasts, projections, and support materials related to market situation and outlook. The LMIC is a unique partnership between state university extension specialists, USDA economists, industry associates, and LMIC staff. Through cooperative efforts and programs, duplication of effort is greatly reduced while enhancing the overall quality and quantity of livestock market information for producers and other decision-makers.

This cooperative effort has proven to be cost-effective and successful.  The American Agricultural Economics Association has recognized this effort for “Excellence in Extension Program Delivery.” And several widely recognized extension and research efforts have been supported by the LMIC.

LMIC Participants

Center members represent one of three types of participating institutions: state Land Grant Universities, USDA agencies, and Associate organizations. Associate institutions are leading livestock industry organizations with missions that include supporting and conducting education and research. Currently, 29 state Extension services participate in the LMIC: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Each of these Extension services is part of the state’s Land Grant University and appoints a member to the Center.

USDA members of the LMIC represent one of eight Federal partner agencies. Those participating agencies are the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), AMS-Fair Trade Practices Program (Packers and Stockyards Division), Economic Research Service (ERS), Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS), Farm Credit Administration (FCA), National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), and World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB).

There are currently fourteen participating associate institutions of the LMIC. Associate members represent Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, AgWest Farm Credit, the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Sheep Industry Association, CME-Group, CoBank, Consortium of Canadian Extension (Agriculture Departments of three Provinces – Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan), Daily Livestock Report, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Pork Board, Noble Research Institute, Stable USA, Inc., Texas Cattle Feeders Association, and Texas Christian University.

LMIC Funding

All members of LMIC (state Land Grant Universities, USDA agencies, and Associate members) contribute annually to baseline funding. That baseline funding provides for staff salaries, etc. Non-members pay subscriptions and user fees for materials and services. Special projects beyond normal Center programs are supported by funded cooperative agreements, etc., with member organizations.

Outputs

The LMIC produces many types of outputs.  The major responsibility of LMIC staff is to develop and produce materials designed to help members in their livestock industry programs.  In this role, staff provide weekly graph updates (over 500 unique graphs), newsletters (non-technical and technical publications), electronic market updates, tables, etc.  In order to provide these services, staff maintain a comprehensive database on price, production, consumption, trade, and related livestock industry data.

LMIC staff cooperate in regional and national conferences, often in conjunction with member economists.  Staff consult on research studies and facilitate multi-state research and education projects.  LMIC activities help provide a flow of information about current conditions, issues, and outlook between members.

Some LMIC products and materials are directly available to the public.  One example is the World Wide Web (WWW) site.  Working with members and/or staff, media (local, regional, and national) often use LMIC materials and expertise.  Several agribusinesses, non-member commodity groups, non-member USDA agencies, etc., subscribe to or purchase sets of LMIC materials.  For more information on LMIC materials, contact a member or one of the staff.