Livestock Marketing Association on COVID-19 Precautions

Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) is actively working to keep livestock auction markets functioning while following the rapidly changing field of guidance and mandates for businesses in light of COVID-19. Livestock auction markets are essential to maintaining infrastructure and food supply as well as access to capital for the thousands of farmers and ranchers who depend on livestock auction markets to sell their livestock.

LMA continues to work with federal, state, and local officials to ensure continuity of business while taking into account the significant public health consequences of the COVID-19 disease situation.

LMA is discussing public assistance options for livestock auctions and producers in the weeks and months to come. The latest USDA public information notices are available here:

USDA AMS - https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAMS/bulletins/28106a4

USDA APHIS - https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/bulletins/28183de

FSIS / USDA MRP - https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/USDAAMS/2020/03/16/file_attachments/1402540/3.16.20%20OFS%20and%20MRP%20Statement%20to%20Industry.pdf

With respect to public attendance at livestock auction markets, LMA is aware that many states and areas are enforcing varied crowd size limits and have mandated restrictions on operation of cafés or other food services. LMA is working with markets on a case-by-case basis to evaluate all parameters and impacts on their sales and strongly suggests markets develop contingency plans accordingly.