Before USDA considers changes to the release times of market-moving farm reports in the face of expanded trading hours – Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack says the department will seek public input. Vilsack says it’s a complicated issue and USDA wants to assure equitable release of information for all market participants. Some traders would like USDA to release major reports while markets are closed – others would like to capture the instantaneous surges in trading that would accompany a live release of significant information. According to Vilsack – the department is currently analyzing the pros and cons of various ways to approach the release of reports. But whatever they decide – he says the public will have an opportunity to react.

The first major USDA report released live during the new trading hours could be the June 12th crop report.