Japan, the world’s largest pork importer, may accelerate tariff talks with Canada to increase pressure on the U.S. to ease demands for cuts in agricultural protection, the Asian nation’s biggest hog farmers group said.

Pork and beef inventories both dropped during March, according to the USDA.

Japan, the world’s largest pork buyer, will lower its tariff on pig meat shipments from Australia in a bilateral trade agreement that also reduces import duties on beef.

Record-high prices for U.S. beef burgers and pork chops are helping to make 2014 the most profitable year ever for chicken producers.

A federal appeals court is allowing labels on certain cuts of meat to say where the animals were born, raised and slaughtered.

Twenty-five pharmaceutical companies are voluntarily phasing out the use of antibiotics for growth promotion in animals processed for meat, the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday.