---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 1635a"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "1635a"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/1635a"
units:
  - "Chapter 38 — Distribution and Marketing of Agricultural Products"
  - "Subchapter II — Livestock Mandatory Reporting"
  - "Part A — Purpose; Definitions"
---

# §1635a. Definitions


In this subchapter:

- (1) **Base price—** The term “base price” means the price paid for [livestock](#5), delivered at the packing plant, before application of any premiums or discounts, expressed in dollars per hundred pounds of carcass weight.
- (2) **Basis level—** The term “basis level” means the agreed-on adjustment to a future price to establish the final price paid for [livestock](#5).
- (3) **Current slaughter week—** The term “current slaughter week” means the period beginning Monday, and ending Sunday, of the week in which a [reporting day](#12) occurs.
- (4) **F.O.B.** The term “F.O.B.” means free on board, regardless of the mode of transportation, at the point of direct shipment by the seller to the buyer.
- (5) **Livestock—** The term “livestock” means cattle, [swine](/usc/7/1635i.md?p=21), and lambs.
- (6) **Lot—** The term “lot” means a group of one or more [livestock](#5) that is identified for the purpose of a single transaction between a buyer and a seller.
- (7) **Marketing—** The term “marketing” means the sale or other disposition of [livestock](#5), [livestock](#5) products, or meat or meat food products in commerce.
- (8) **Negotiated purchase—** The term “negotiated purchase” means a cash or spot [market](/usc/7/198.md?p=1) purchase by a [packer](/usc/7/1635d.md?p=5) of [livestock](#5) from a [producer](#11) under which—
  - (A) the [base price](#1) for the [livestock](#5) is determined by seller-buyer interaction and agreement on a day; and
  - (B) the [livestock](#5) are scheduled for delivery to the [packer](/usc/7/1635d.md?p=5) not later than 14 days after the date on which the [livestock](#5) are committed to the [packer](/usc/7/1635d.md?p=5).
- (9) **Negotiated sale—** The term “negotiated sale” means a cash or spot [market](/usc/7/198.md?p=1) sale by a [producer](#11) of [livestock](#5) to a [packer](/usc/7/1635d.md?p=5) under which—
  - (A) the [base price](#1) for the [livestock](#5) is determined by seller-buyer interaction and agreement on a day; and
  - (B) the [livestock](#5) are scheduled for delivery to the [packer](/usc/7/1635d.md?p=5) not later than 14 days after the date on which the [livestock](#5) are committed to the [packer](/usc/7/1635d.md?p=5).
- (10) **Prior slaughter week—** The term “prior slaughter week” means the Monday through Sunday prior to a [reporting day](#12).
- (11) **Producer—** The term “producer” means any [person](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-1) engaged in the business of selling [livestock](#5) to a [packer](/usc/7/1635d.md?p=5) for slaughter (including the sale of [livestock](#5) from a [packer](/usc/7/1635d.md?p=5) to another [packer](/usc/7/1635d.md?p=5)).
- (12) **Reporting day—** The term “reporting day” means a day on which—
  - (A) a [packer](/usc/7/1635d.md?p=5) conducts business regarding [livestock](#5) committed to the [packer](/usc/7/1635d.md?p=5), or [livestock](#5) purchased, sold, or slaughtered by the [packer](/usc/7/1635d.md?p=5);
  - (B) the [Secretary](#13) is required to make information concerning the business described in [subparagraph (A)](#12-A) available to the public; and
  - (C) the Department of Agriculture is open to conduct business.
- (13) **Secretary—** The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture.
- (14) **State—** The term “State” means each of the 50 States.

## Source credit

(Aug. 14, 1946, ch. 966, title II, § 212, as added Pub. L. 106–78, title IX, § 911(2), Oct. 22, 1999, 113 Stat. 1188.)