The number of feeder pigs imported from Canada tends to go counter to U.S. corn prices. U.S. corn prices averaged $3.39 per bushel in 2007, $6.67 per bushel in 2012 and $3.48 per bushel in 2016. The number of feeder pigs imported from Canada declined from 2008 to 2013 as corn prices rose and has since increased as corn prices fell. This has some to do with Canadian hog producers and a lot to do with the desire of U.S. producers to feed corn when it’s plentiful and cheap.
Statistics Canada is predicting the Canadian pig crop will be slightly smaller in the first half of 2017 than in January-June 2016. With rising corn prices, it is reasonable to expect feeder pig imports to stay close to 400,000 per month.
