Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2021-04-01

Billings Livestock Commission

Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2021-04-01
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2021-04-01

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Apr 1

● Final114 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777

← Mar 18Apr 1Apr 8 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

7,340 head

▲ 6,798 vs last sale 542▲ 4,656 vs year ago 2,684 · +173.5%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

78 head

▼ 147 vs last sale 225▲ 46 vs year ago 32 · +143.8%

Replacement Cattle receipts

65 head

▼ 15 vs last sale 80▼ 32 vs year ago 97 · −33.0%

Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to two weeks ago: All feeder cattle were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher to sharply higher undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. Quality today was average to very attractive. Many load lots of high quality one iron home-raised feeders, as well as backgrounded put together feeders, sold today. Demand for both load lots and packages was good throughout todays long sale which stretched well into the evening. Over 20 order buyers and several ranchers were on hand for today's grass time special. Cattle under 750 lbs were in mostly light flesh as many sets were strictly developed for grass. Buyers offered strong premiums for thin fleshed cattle this sale. Demand for grass cattle was good to very good. Demand for feedlot ready cattle was mostly moderate to good on an attractive quality offering. Several sets of replacement quality heifers sold this sale. Demand was mostly good, however little premium was seen as demand for grass cattle was very good. Market activity was mostly active this sale with a full house seen ringside as well as several buyers over the internet actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand. Temperatures reached the mid 70s today and by the time cows sold, weigh up conditions were mostly below average. Slaughter and feeding cows sold 3.00-5.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-4.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold 5.00-8.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Good demand was seen for both feeding and rebreeding type cows.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $153.92/cwt on 3,670 head.

Average price

$153.92

3,670 head · 606 lb average

Value per head Derived

$933

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$248

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 1-2

$12.82/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−0.40

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	618	154.25	953	3,005
Medium and Large 2	389	153.50	597	8thin
Medium 1	554	153.21	849	296
Medium and Large 1-2	558	152.27	850	346
Medium 1-2	498	141.43	705	15thin

One grade step is worth $12.82/cwt here — about $248 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 0–100 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

How it compared 0–100 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale3,670 hd

153.92

—

MT average3 barns · 4,224 hd

154.33

−0.40

A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

Slaughter cattle

By class and quality grade · $/cwt

Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	High	1,704	83.22	1,418	15
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,395	66.40	926	24
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,164	60.54	704	28
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,730	57.50	995	1thin

Every lot

114 lots · USDA AMS · Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Thu)

Nothing removed and nothing rounded — the same lots as the USDA report, with per-head values added. Grouped by class and set lightest first; USDA files them in sale-ring order.

Class	Weight	Grade / description	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Feeder Cattle · Steers44 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium 1	343	195.00/cwt	195.00–195.00	669	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	383	206.86/cwt	200.00–210.00	792	28
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	389	216.52/cwt	215.00–217.50	842	51
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	434	211.49/cwt	208.50–215.50	918	133
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	434	193.64/cwt	190.00–200.75	840	25
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	445	185.50/cwt	185.50–185.50	825	11
Steers	—	Medium 1-2	466	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	862	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	477	205.20/cwt	197.50–211.00	979	326
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	496	182.00/cwt	182.00–182.00	903	5
Steers	—	Large 1	499	184.00/cwt	184.00–184.00	918	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	525	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	866	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	530	191.27/cwt	186.00–197.00	1,014	206
Steers	—	Medium 1	537	176.12/cwt	175.00–180.00	946	30
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	542	177.40/cwt	174.00–180.00	962	70
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	556	190.56/cwt	189.50–191.00	1,060	104
Steers	—	Medium 1	558	176.00/cwt	176.00–176.00	982	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	574	183.88/cwt	178.00–188.00	1,055	136
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	585	172.98/cwt	172.00–175.00	1,012	37
Steers	—	Medium 1-2	608	139.00/cwt	139.00–139.00	845	7
Steers	—	Medium 1	623	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	941	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	626	173.55/cwt	170.00–182.00	1,086	605
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	626	160.84/cwt	151.00–168.00	1,007	101
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	626	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	914	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	630	164.07/cwt	163.00–166.00	1,034	19
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	651	141.00/cwt	141.00–141.00	918	10
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	681	148.87/cwt	145.00–150.00	1,014	21
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	682	162.23/cwt	157.50–170.00	1,106	278
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fancy	704	167.00/cwt	167.00–167.00	1,176	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	712	156.14/cwt	151.00–159.75	1,112	126
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	740	139.89/cwt	134.00–147.50	1,035	20
Steers	—	Medium 1-2	754	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	973	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	770	146.30/cwt	140.00–152.00	1,127	105
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	791	138.50/cwt	138.50–138.50	1,096	22
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	810	135.65/cwt	131.00–137.50	1,099	14
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	818	136.08/cwt	135.00–136.50	1,113	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	821	138.61/cwt	137.50–139.50	1,138	45
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	825	134.83/cwt	134.00–135.00	1,112	30
Steers	—	Large 1	874	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	1,136	19
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	879	141.00/cwt	141.00–141.00	1,239	59
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	913	129.99/cwt	129.50–134.50	1,187	31
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	937	124.00/cwt	124.00–124.00	1,162	3
Steers	—	Large 1	945	123.50/cwt	123.50–123.50	1,167	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	953	130.33/cwt	127.00–130.50	1,242	42
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	961	122.00/cwt	122.00–122.00	1,172	7
Feeder Cattle · Heifers39 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	368	165.74/cwt	163.00–170.00	610	27
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	370	177.50/cwt	177.50–177.50	657	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2	389	153.50/cwt	153.50–153.50	597	8
Heifers	—	Medium 1	391	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	665	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	424	174.96/cwt	172.00–179.00	742	195
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	426	165.29/cwt	154.50–170.00	704	35
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	466	167.16/cwt	162.00–170.50	779	47
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	471	146.50/cwt	146.50–146.50	690	7
Heifers	—	Medium 1	486	159.75/cwt	159.75–159.75	776	28
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	487	172.90/cwt	169.00–175.00	842	283
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	517	164.05/cwt	160.25–169.00	848	327
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	522	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	715	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	525	158.67/cwt	158.00–159.50	833	15
Heifers	—	Medium 1	533	155.64/cwt	155.50–156.00	830	70
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	559	167.26/cwt	166.50–168.00	935	26
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	575	152.02/cwt	148.00–154.00	874	131
Heifers	—	Medium 1	576	150.94/cwt	150.25–152.00	869	193
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	589	159.72/cwt	154.50–163.00	941	373
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	617	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	987	28
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	625	139.35/cwt	137.00–145.00	871	24
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	627	152.87/cwt	147.00–158.50	958	717
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	670	145.81/cwt	141.00–149.50	977	223
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Replacement	678	149.21/cwt	149.00–149.50	1,012	83
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	684	135.82/cwt	132.25–141.00	929	74
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	688	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	936	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fancy	714	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	1,042	28
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	716	129.50/cwt	129.50–129.50	927	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Replacement	727	146.98/cwt	141.00–151.50	1,069	181
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	729	139.63/cwt	135.00–143.00	1,018	255
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	740	130.75/cwt	130.75–130.75	968	17
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	770	131.49/cwt	129.00–137.00	1,012	84
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	788	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	1,009	25
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Replacement	792	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	1,069	36
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	810	129.01/cwt	127.00–130.50	1,045	23
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	812	126.50/cwt	126.50–126.50	1,027	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	855	127.29/cwt	126.50–127.50	1,088	24
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	861	123.69/cwt	123.50–123.75	1,065	38
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	963	123.00/cwt	123.00–123.00	1,184	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	974	118.00/cwt	118.00–118.00	1,149	8
Feeder Cattle · Bulls13 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	347	211.50/cwt	211.50–211.50	734	9
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	488	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	878	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	524	169.79/cwt	165.00–171.00	890	5
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	537	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	859	3
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	572	159.71/cwt	152.00–167.00	914	35
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	600	153.00/cwt	153.00–153.00	918	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	665	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	1,004	1
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	701	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	1,023	4
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	705	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	909	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	770	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	993	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	840	128.98/cwt	126.00–132.00	1,083	2
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,041	118.77/cwt	116.00–121.00	1,236	9
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,233	96.00/cwt	96.00–96.00	1,184	2
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,320	93.00/cwt	93.00–93.00	1,228	1
Bulls	—	—	1,518	72.08/cwt	72.00–72.50	1,094	6
Bulls	—	—	1,892	90.35/cwt	85.00–93.50	1,709	8
Slaughter Cattle · Cows13 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	850	42.50/cwt	42.50–42.50	361	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	945	56.00/cwt	56.00–56.00	529	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,093	48.26/cwt	43.00–53.00	527	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,177	60.16/cwt	57.00–63.00	708	6
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,180	63.50/cwt	63.50–63.50	749	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,202	63.11/cwt	63.00–65.00	759	14
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,255	66.50/cwt	66.50–66.50	835	3
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,350	71.00/cwt	71.00–71.00	959	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,350	68.87/cwt	68.50–69.00	930	4
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,379	68.00/cwt	68.00–68.00	938	5
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,400	71.50/cwt	71.50–71.50	1,001	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,441	63.70/cwt	62.50–64.50	918	11
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,730	57.50/cwt	57.50–57.50	995	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows2 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,076	79.25/cwt	68.50–83.00	853	11
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,094	89.74/cwt	71.00–109.00	982	44

This sale against other markets

Montana weighted averages

One sale is one barn on one day. The state ladder is every Montana auction USDA reported that week, weighted by head — the fairer test of whether a lot sold well.

Montana feeder prices, every weight →Every state and region →

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Thu)

Thu Apr 1, 2021

USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)

Feeder CattleReceipts 7,340Last week 542Year ago 2,684

Slaughter CattleReceipts 78Last week 225Year ago 32

Replacement CattleReceipts 65Last week 80Year ago 97

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
255	—	729	135.00–143.00	139.63
24	—	855	126.50–127.50	127.29
3	—	963	123.00	123.00
327	—	517	160.25–169.00	164.05
223	—	670	141.00–149.50	145.81
195	—	424	172.00–179.00	174.96
84	—	770	129.00–137.00	131.49
283	—	487	169.00–175.00	172.90
717	—	627	147.00–158.50	152.87
373	—	589	154.50–163.00	159.72
8	—	370	177.50	177.50
23	—	810	127.00–130.50	129.01

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
24	—	625	137.00–145.00	139.35
3	—	812	126.50	126.50
4	—	716	129.50	129.50
25	—	788	128.00	128.00
6	—	688	136.00	136.00
38	—	861	123.50–123.75	123.69
8	—	974	118.00	118.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
74	—	684	132.25–141.00	135.82
47	—	466	162.00–170.50	167.16
131	—	575	148.00–154.00	152.02
35	—	426	154.50–170.00	165.29
15	—	525	158.00–159.50	158.67
17	—	740	130.75	130.75
27	—	368	163.00–170.00	165.74

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
83	—	678	149.00–149.50	149.21
36	—	792	135.00	135.00
181	—	727	141.00–151.50	146.98

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
28	—	617	160.00	160.00
26	—	559	166.50–168.00	167.26

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	391	170.00	170.00
193	—	576	150.25–152.00	150.94
70	—	533	155.50–156.00	155.64
28	—	486	159.75	159.75

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	471	146.50	146.50
8	—	522	137.00	137.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	389	153.50	153.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
28	—	714	146.00	146.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	665	151.00	151.00
9	—	347	211.50	211.50
5	—	524	165.00–171.00	169.79
4	—	701	146.00	146.00
35	—	572	152.00–167.00	159.71
2	—	840	126.00–132.00	128.98
2	—	770	129.00	129.00
2	—	600	153.00	153.00
2	—	488	180.00	180.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,233	96.00	96.00
9	—	1,041	116.00–121.00	118.77

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	537	160.00	160.00
2	—	705	129.00	129.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
605	—	626	170.00–182.00	173.55
278	—	682	157.50–170.00	162.23
45	—	821	137.50–139.50	138.61
126	—	712	151.00–159.75	156.14
59	—	879	141.00	141.00
31	—	913	129.50–134.50	129.99
105	—	770	140.00–152.00	146.30
136	—	574	178.00–188.00	183.88
133	—	434	208.50–215.50	211.49
206	—	530	186.00–197.00	191.27
42	—	953	127.00–130.50	130.33
326	—	477	197.50–211.00	205.20
51	—	389	215.00–217.50	216.52

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
30	—	825	134.00–135.00	134.83

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
20	—	740	134.00–147.50	139.89
3	—	937	124.00	124.00
7	—	961	122.00	122.00
14	—	810	131.00–137.50	135.65
70	—	542	174.00–180.00	177.40
5	—	496	182.00	182.00
21	—	681	145.00–150.00	148.87
101	—	626	151.00–168.00	160.84
37	—	585	172.00–175.00	172.98
22	—	791	138.50	138.50
25	—	434	190.00–200.75	193.64
28	—	383	200.00–210.00	206.86

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	818	135.00–136.50	136.08
10	—	651	141.00	141.00
19	—	630	163.00–166.00	164.07

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
104	—	556	189.50–191.00	190.56

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	499	184.00	184.00
19	—	874	130.00	130.00
4	—	945	123.50	123.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
30	—	537	175.00–180.00	176.12
4	—	623	151.00	151.00
9	—	343	195.00	195.00
8	—	558	176.00	176.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	608	139.00	139.00
7	—	466	185.00	185.00
12	—	754	129.00	129.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	626	146.00	146.00
11	—	445	185.50	185.50
12	—	525	165.00	165.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	704	167.00	167.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	1,202	63.00–65.00	63.11

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,180	63.50	63.50
1	—	1,350	71.00	71.00
5	—	1,379	68.00	68.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,350	68.50–69.00	68.87
11	—	1,441	62.50–64.50	63.70
2	—	1,400	71.50	71.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	850	42.50	42.50
2	—	945	56.00	56.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,255	66.50	66.50
2	—	1,093	43.00–53.00	48.26
6	—	1,177	57.00–63.00	60.16

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,730	57.50	57.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,320	93.00	93.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,518	72.00–72.50	72.08
8	—	1,892	85.00–93.50	90.35

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	11	—	1,076	68.50–83.00	79.25
(<2 yrs)	Open	44	—	1,094	71.00–109.00	89.74

Head, weight ranges, average weights and price ranges are exactly as USDA AMS filed them — nothing recomputed, nothing rounded — in USDA's own reporting structure. This is RaisedBeef's rendering of that data, not a copy of USDA's document.