Eliciting Expert Opinion on Components of USDA Market Livestock Information

This paper explores the tradeoffs that agricultural economists accept for current levels of information contained in two U.S. Department of Agriculture livestock reports. Our analysis compares the components of a report to its value in improving understanding of market dynamics, expense, substitutability, and priority to be maintained. Results indicate the importance of maintaining information regarding the placement weights of cattle in feedlots as well as the inventory and weight information for market hogs