Brazil

When You Know Better, You Do Better: A Pig Farmer’s Approach to Sustainability

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 14:25:15 GMT

If you want your freedom to operate, you must be willing to do the hard things every day to make that happen, says seventh-generation pig farmer Maddie Hokanson.

“We need to have hard conversations and be willing to set aside our own really strong opinions,” Hokanson says. “We’re passionate in agriculture. We’re passionate in the pork industry. That is wonderful, but we can’t let that be our blind spot that stops us from getting where we want to be in the long run.”

That’s why Hokanson joined National Pork Board chief sustainability officer Jamie Burr to have some of those hard conversations at the Conference of Parties (COP) in Brazil. Each year, about 200 countries convene at COP to develop global climate policy. https://unfccc.int/cop30

Some of the attendees are anti-ag, others are anti-meat, and this year, one was a U.S. pig farmer. For all their differences, the perspectives gathered at this event provide a window into what the world thinks, Burr says.

Time to Play Offense

Burr and Hokanson set out for Brazil with a goal to play offense and not defense.

“There’s never been a baseball team win the World Series by playing defense alone,” Burr says. “It’s so important we stand in that batter’s box and play offense. I know that’s very nerve-wracking to have all eyes on you. But to win the game, we’re going to have to be in that position. We’re going to have to continue to share our story and we need to do it with our own data.”

Hokanson says the opportunity to tell her story and have conversations with people opposed to animal agriculture is why she said yes.

(National Pork Board and the Pork Checkoff)

“We all want to have a sustainable, healthy world to live in together,” she says. “Eighty percent of the things we talked about at COP are things we all agree on. It’s all those extra pieces on the periphery that seem to be what get focused on instead of the things we agree on.”

Whether farmers are there or not, conversations take place at COP about livestock production practices and things we do on our farms, Hokanson explains.

“If we’re not willing to be there and share our story, then we’re being left out of the equation,” she says. “As new practices and new commitments are put into place by other countries, I believe COP allows us to change the narrative from livestock agriculture being part of the problem to livestock agriculture being part of the solution.”

Show Me the Data

The on-farm sustainability reports are a great way to show that, she says. One of the key messages she shared is what she calls the three-legged stool of sustainability: environmental, economic and social sustainability.

“On our farm, we have generations before us that continued to look for improvement and ways to do better,” Hokanson says. “That’s something we must continue to do. We don’t want to be the generation that screws it up. We want to make sure it continues for another seven generations. However, that can only happen if we are environmentally, economically and socially sustainable.”

Hokanson has always thought of sustainability as stewardship.

“I see them very much as the same word,” she says. “We’re stewards of our land. We want to do more with less. That means taking good care of our land, environment and water because we live there, too. We drink the same water, breathe the same air, and live on the same land as our neighbors. It’s important that we take good care of it. That has been the posture and the position of our farm for 140 years.”

International sustainability conversations directly influence U.S. farmers’ freedom to operate—and what the pork industry is bringing to the table.

(National Pork Board and the Pork Checkoff)

When You Know Better, You Do Better

She found some historic paperwork from her farm in the 1940s, after the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression. These papers showed how several farmers, including her great-great-grandfather, met and asked a hard question of themselves: What do we need to change to make sure that we don’t have another Dust Bowl?

“They decided they needed to make some changes, and not because a regulation was coming down on them,” Hokanson says. “They saw change was needed, so they improved. That doesn’t mean that what they did before was wrong. They did the best they could with the information they had. Then, when they knew better, they did better.”

She says that’s what agriculture is all about.

“When you know better, you do better,” Hokanson says. “But you’re always doing the best that you can for your animals, for your land and for your people. At the end of the day, when you put all those things together, continuous improvement is the name of the game. That’s the only way for a farm to transition from one generation to the next in a long-term capacity.”

What Made the Trip to Brazil a Win

Hokanson was a coveted panelist, but she says it was the side conversations that stood out to her.

“The conversations before and after panels, where some people disagreed with our beliefs, truly made it worthwhile to travel all the way down to Brazil,” she says.

(The Meat Institute)

During one panel focused on minimizing animal protein and shifting to a more plant-based diet, Hokanson was intrigued about how often they brought up the need to “involve farmers in these conversations.”

“The ironic thing was that there wasn’t a single farmer on that panel or another farmer in the room,” she says. “Toward the end of the panel, the moderator said, ‘It’s great to see so many friends in the room, and I see we’ve got a couple of people from the animal protein sector, too. So, if you have opinions on this, we’d be happy to hear them.’”

Hokanson stood up and took the opportunity to share her opinion. She thanked the panel for saying farmers should be involved in these conversations and pointed out that she would be happy to do something like that in the future.

“I told them, ‘If you want to have a farmer be part of the conversation, then make sure you really make an effort to do so,’” she adds. “Then I followed it up with a question about differences in topography and geography. On our farm we raise pigs and cattle, and cattle work really well in areas where crops can’t be grown. Then, one of the panelists who wants to minimize animal production, said, ‘Well, I will say there’s plenty of ground in the world that isn’t well-suited for crop production, and that probably is meant to be livestock focused.’ For him to say that – in a crowd of people who are meat minimizers – was a big win.”

There is no question there are a lot of individuals who make local, state, national and global policy who have never had their boots on a farm, Burr adds.

“It’s so important for us to be open enough to have those conversations with them and invite them to our farm to form their own opinion,” he says. “There’s a lot that goes on inside of those four walls, and those four walls, they don’t raise pork – people do. The more that we can connect with those individuals to understand their perspective and then share ours, the more middle ground we will find.”

Sign up for the Pork Cares Impact Report program here.

Listen to Maddie share more of her story on The PORK Podcast.

Brazil Reports Outbreak of Classical Swine Fever in Piauí

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 15:49:31 GMT

An outbreak of Classical Swine Fever (CSF) has been confirmed near Porto, Brazil, in the northern state of Piauí. The outbreak occurred in a backyard farm and does not affect international trade because it took place outside the region that is considered “free from CSF.”

The outbreak affected 65 animals, of which 56 became ill and 32 were culled. In response, the state government declared a 180-day animal health emergency by a decree published Jan. 6. Control measures implemented include quarantine, zoning and movement controls. Additional measures are planned or underway, including stamping out affected animals, cleaning and disinfection, enhanced surveillance within and outside restricted zones, and traceability activities, officials say.

The outbreak was detected through passive surveillance and the source of infection remains unknown, reports Beacon , a program at Boston University’s Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases (CEID) . Epidemiological investigations are underway to identify possible transmission pathways or links to other outbreaks.

The disease was reported to the World Organization of Animal Health (WOAH) by the Federal Agricultural Laboratory of Minas Gerais on Dec. 31, following a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test, reports Eurocarne .

This is not the first time this region has experienced CSF outbreaks. Piauí reported two CSF outbreaks in November 2023 and 13 in March 2024, with additional cases detected in the neighboring state of Ceará.

“The recurrence of CSF in Piauí underscores a persistent animal health risk within Brazil’s non-free zone, where the virus continues to circulate despite eradication in approximately 95% of the country’s pig production areas,” Beacon reports. “Repeated outbreaks in northeastern states indicate ongoing viral circulation, likely driven by gaps in backyard pig biosecurity and/or undetected transmission chains.”

CSF is a highly contagious pestivirus that affects both domestic and wild pigs. Transmission occurs primarily through direct contact with infected animals, contaminated feed and fomites. It can also spread through vectors such as ticks. The virus can persist in the environment for extended periods, particularly in organic matter, and can survive in frozen or chilled pork products, facilitating long-distance spread through contaminated meat.

The incubation period typically ranges from five to 15 days, during which infected animals may shed virus before showing clinical signs, complicating early detection and containment efforts. Clinical presentation ranges from acute forms with high fever, hemorrhages and rapid mortality to chronic forms with reproductive failure and immunosuppression, though the acute hemorrhagic form with high lethality is most common.

CSF is currently not present in the U.S.

Why Can't Soybeans Bottom With China Purchases? Are They Buying Corn?

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 19:39:25 GMT

Corn and wheat ended higher Tuesday with soybeans lower. Livestock futures saw a down day in cattle but higher in hogs.

Corn Rallies on China Buying?
Corn futures were up for a second day after seeing technical buying and with some talk of China buying corn out of the Pacific Northwest. Ted Seifried with Zaner Ag Hedge says rumors of China purchases circulate nearly every time the corn market rallies. However, he is not seeing evidence of those purchases and doubts China needs corn. “I don’t know why China would buy U.S. corn. It wasn’t part of the agreement, which is yet to be signed. So unless it was politically motivated, I would think China would want to go to Brazil. They have this new relationship with Brazil. When it comes to their corn, I think they want to protect their relationships with Brazil,” he says.

He admits port values in the PNW did kind of spike and so did basis. However, he doesn’t think that necessarily means China. “It could be one of our normal customers, like Japan, for example,” he says.

Corn Sees Short Covering
So Seifried thinks the bounce was technically inspired buying after the March contract bounced off the 100-day moving average support area on Wednesday. However, corn has been trading sideways between that support and overhead resistance up at the 200-day moving average. He says if corn could finally close above that level for more than a day, it could take out the $4.50 area and stage a bit of a breakout.

“We saved a breakdown below the neckline of what could potentially be a head and shoulders topping formation in corn. Now, if we were able to get up and over that 200-day moving average for the fourth time, close above it and then not break down the very next day like we have the previous three times. We could potentially break out to the upside and really negate this potential head and shoulders formation,” Seifried explains.

Corn Needs a Catalyst
However, corn will need a catalyst to get above that chart resistance because farmer selling picks up when corn gets to the top side of the trading range. The catalyst could come in the January WASDE if USDA would lower yield. It would take a sizable cut to get the bulls excited and get below 2 billion bu. carryout he says. “I do think if you cut two or three bushel an acre off of corn, we’ll get below a 2 billion bu. carryover, but I don’t know about significantly below 2 billion bushel because it will be offset by USDA lowering feed and residual,” he explains.

Wheat Follows Corn
Wheat futures got spillover support from the corn market but Seifried says soft red winter wheat also saw technical buying to relieve its oversold condition. “Chicago wheat hit new contract lows Tuesday and Wednesday so it was due for a correction,” he says. However, wheat will have a tough time rallying due to the big global production. “USDA has had to continue to raise the world production number. I think we’re, what, 30 MMT off of the original number they had a few months ago,” he states. China canceling two cargoes of white wheat from the U.S. was also bearish for the market. “Anytime China cancels anything, that really does not help the market psychology.”

Why Do Soybeans Continue Lower Despite China Purchases?
The soybean market continues to slide despite the confirmation of export sales and China soybean purchases. USDA reported another 4.2 million bu. flash sale of soybeans to unknown destinations on Thursday morning and adds to the string of recent purchases that have included China. Seifried says however, that business has not been enough to support the market because it’s half the soybean purchases China made last year.

“The problem is, is that I think the markets realized that 12 million metric tons probably isn’t enough to get us to the USDA full marketing year expectations for our exports, and that they’ll probably have to cut exports again if China doesn’t buy above and beyond that 12 million metric tons. And while the buying is good, the pace does not suggest necessarily that they’re going to outperform on that one,” he explains.

Seifried says South American weather is also favorable and soybean prices in Brazil are cheaper than the U.S. and so there’s no reason for China or any other countries to buy soybeans if it isn’t politically motivated.

Funds also got near record long in mid-November while the government was shut down and they are exiting those positions. “The analyst guesses were, were so far off they weren’t even half of what the funds actually accumulated as far as their long position. And the funds have just simply lost interest in the story. And so they’re getting out of that position,” he adds.

Soybeans Make New Lows for the Move
Soybean futures made new lows for the move on additional technical selling and fund liquidation. Seifried says the market confirmed the head and shoulders top, fell to fill the chart gap areas and then closed below that level which is bearish. Funds got near record long in soybeans in mid-November and then started to bail on those positions and take profits and they are still liquidating.

Profit Taking in Cattle
Live and feeder cattle futures were down for a second day with the market consolidating after several attempts to take out chart resistance areas. Seifried says in live cattle the market has been capped by the 100-day moving average. So, cattle are at a pivotal point and need to fill gap areas on the chart to keep moving higher.

“I mean, the good news there is that both cattle and feeders did close well off their lows. So, you know, we didn’t completely fall apart after running into the one hundred day moving average, major moving average pretty much five days in a row. Not being able to to to break through it and break out to the upside and fill the gap above us. The market finally just gave in a bit.” he says.

Cash trade will also be a key. Thursday some light trade developed in the North at mostly $358 dressed, up $4, with a range of $355 to $363 and live sales prices at $228.

Lean Hogs Finish Higher
Lean hog futures were higher on short covering and fund buying after a lower day on Wednesday. Seifried says the hog market is also getting support from a possible seasonal bottom in cash and cutouts.

'Everything’s a Game of 3D Chess': The Real Reason Behind U.S. Ties to Argentina

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 19:32:26 GMT

The U.S. is tightening ties with Argentina, and that’s raising eyebrows across farm country.

From a $20 billion bailout to plans to import Argentine beef, farmers and ranchers say the growing alliance feels like it’s coming at the expense of U.S. agriculture.

But according to Arlan Suderman, chief commodities economist with StoneX, there’s more to this story, and it has everything to do with China .

A Geopolitical Chess Match

“Everything’s a game of 3D chess,” Suderman explains. “At the center of it is China.”

For years, China has been strengthening ties with Argentina, investing heavily in infrastructure and agriculture to secure long-term supply lines and influence. Suderman says the U.S. sees an opportunity to pull Argentina away from Beijing’s orbit, using economic incentives to win its allegiance.

“The White House sees this as a way to create a split between Argentina and China,” Suderman says. “It’s not just about soybeans or beef. It’s about global positioning.”

The Beef Backlash

But for cattle producers, that strategy feels like betrayal. President Donald Trump’s recent talk of importing Argentine beef sparked anger across rural America. Many worry increasing imports will undercut domestic markets.

Suderman urges producers to stay calm. He points out the announced beef imports, around 80,000 metric tons, are only equal to about two day’s worth of U.S. beef production.

“It’s not enough to impact prices,” he says, “but it does show a disconnect between Washington and agriculture.”

He adds that advisers to the president might have misunderstood how ag markets work.

“These aren’t controlled industries like pharmaceuticals,” Suderman notes. “Ag markets are driven by supply and demand, and right now, we have record demand with tight supply.”

Soybean Farmers Feel Left Behind

While beef producers protest, soybean farmers are already bruised. Argentina’s temporary suspension of export taxes earlier in the year allowed them to undercut U.S. prices and quickly sell beans to China — a major blow to American growers. Suderman says it’s a reminder that the U.S. is no longer the world’s low-cost soybean producer.

“Argentina and Brazil have a cheaper currency and lower costs,” he explains. “And China has been investing there for decades.”

Suderman says he’s been warning the industry for years that the U.S. would eventually lose China as its top soybean buyer.

“This didn’t happen overnight,” Suderman says. “China has been building toward this for 20 years. The current administration may have sped it up, but it was coming.”

Beijing’s refusal to buy American and its pivot to Brazil could be less about economics and more to do with politics. “It’s a calculated decision about control and national leverage, not about getting the cheapest beans,” says one ag economist. Read more here.

Caught in a Bigger Battle

Beyond agriculture, Suderman says the real fight isn’t over soybeans — it’s over rare earth minerals. China currently controls about 90% of the world’s processed rare earths, which are essential to making electronics and advanced defense systems.

“That’s the real leverage,” he says. “Soybeans are small compared to the rare earth battle.”

The Trump administration is now trying to expand domestic rare earth supply chains, sourcing from Australia, Greenland and even within the U.S. But Suderman says it could take two to three years before those efforts meet national defense and economic needs.

What Farmers Need to Know

To many farmers, Washington’s global strategy feels like it’s coming at their expense. While the administration is playing the long game with China, rural America is paying the short-term price. Still, Suderman sees opportunity ahead if the U.S. can continue developing new markets, strengthen biofuel demand and tap into growing trade opportunities in Africa and beyond.

“We weren’t ready to give up China,” he admits, “but we need to look forward not backward.”

Brazil Sets Monthly Records for Pork and Beef Exports in September

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 11:43:47 GMT

Brazil posted record monthly shipments of pork and beef in September, driven by strong global demand and market diversification, according to industry and government data released this week.

Brazil, the world’s top beef exporter and among the largest pork exporters, is increasing business with China and Mexico after the U.S. imposed a 50% tariff on shipments of several Brazilian goods, including beef, in August.

The U.S. used to be the second biggest market for Brazilian beef, but is not a significant destination for pork.

Pork exports totaled 151,600 tonnes, up 25.9% from a year earlier, with revenue reaching a record $368.4 million, a 29.9% increase, data from pork and chicken lobby ABPA showed.

ABPA expects the trend to continue, projecting pork exports will reach up to 1.45 million tonnes in 2025, up from 1.35 million tonnes in 2024.

Brazil also exported a record 314,700 tonnes of fresh beef in September, up 25.1% year-on-year, according to government trade data.

Exports surged despite steep tariffs imposed by the United States in August, as increased shipments to China, Brazil’s top beef importer, and to Mexico, helped offset lower U.S. demand, according to beef industry group Abiec.

Chicken exports showed signs of recovery after bird flu disruptions earlier this year, with September volumes reaching 482,300 tonnes, the highest monthly figure in 11 months, trade data showed.

Industry leaders expect continued momentum for Brazilian meat exports through year-end, supported by resilient demand and expanding access to strategic markets.

(Reporting by Roberto Samora and editing by Ana Mano; Writing by Isabel Teles; Editing by Richard Chang)

Economists Fear Trade War Will Push Agriculture Deeper Into a Recession

Fri, 02 May 2025 17:19:12 GMT

Agricultural economists are growing even more pessimistic as the latest Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor shows the majority are concerned President Donald Trump’s tough stance on trade could push agriculture deeper into a recession while also giving Brazil more of a competitive edge. As one economist stated, the stakes are high, and the key is whether Trump’s policies push ag deeper into a recession, and if U.S. agriculture can survive without China.

The Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor is a survey of nearly 70 agriculture economists nationwide. This month, 72% of those surveyed say the row crop side of agriculture is in a recession, up from 62% last month. Eighty-two percent of economists also think this could force more consolidation in agriculture.

Despite Trump’s 90-day pause on tariffs for most countries except China, economists stress agriculture is in peak uncertainty.

Of the 72% who think agriculture is in a recession, their reasons are:

Compressed margins and concern about operating debt carried over from last year.
Prices for most crops have declined more than production expenses since 2022.
Negative returns for at least the third consecutive year across nearly all row crops.

Yet, the 28% who believe the crops side of agriculture isn’t in a recession say:

“Profit opportunities are there, but slim.”
“Economic performance and growth of U.S. ag is slowing and/or stable but not declining. It’s too early for the impacts of tariffs to change ag business decision-making.”
“Given the volatility in the crop session, a recession requires at least two bad return years, where returns include both private market and government payments. We do not know about 2025 yet, nor do we know the extent of government payments for 2024 crops yet and thus what will be the total return for 2024.”

Economic Drivers

In the survey, 42% of economists said the current state of the ag economy is “somewhat worse” than a month ago, while 26% said it’s unchanged. But when you compare outlooks to a year ago, 58% of economists responded the ag economy is somewhat worse.

Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor

(Lindsey Pound )

Economists were asked to list the two most important factors driving agriculture’s economic health today, as well as in 12 months. Tariffs and trade war topped the list.
“Weather will always be one of the primary factors, but we can add President Trump’s efforts to restructure global trade to that list this year. We’re in worse shape if he fails and better shape if he succeeds. Big stakes,” one economist said.

In addition to tariffs and the trade war, economists also said:

Inflation
Interest rates
Political uncertainty
Consumer demand
Status of trade issues and the supply-side (crop size) of the balance sheets.
The inability of farmers to manage price volatility due to uncertainty around trade

High Stakes with Trade

Agriculture is an export dependent business. According to the Trump administration, when it comes to tariffs and the impact on the overall economy, long-term gain will be worth the short-term pain. However, when it comes to agriculture, the economists surveyed don’t agree.

When ag economists were asked if they think Trump’s strategy of using tariffs as a negotiating tool will benefit U.S. agriculture in the long run:

76% responded no
24% responded yes

April Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor

(Lindsey Pound)

Since the last trade war, Brazil has gained ground and displaced the U.S. as the top corn exporter in 2023. Economists believe it won’t be the U.S. benefiting from this trade turbulence, but instead these competitors:

Brazil (76% of responses)
China (12% of responses)
India (6% of responses)
Ukraine (6% of responses)

Will Farmers Be Compensated for Short-Term Pain?

As Web reported, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has stated since winter that if farmers suffer financial pain from the trade war, the Trump administration will look at compensating farmers at some point.

April Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor

(Lindsey Pound)

Of the economists surveyed, 89% think USDA will compensate farmers with financial payments, similar to what the previous Trump administration did with the Market Facilitation Program Payments (MFP). However, 80% of economists say it’s too early for USDA to be considering compensating farmers for financial fallout.

Bottom line:

The risks are high. Unless the U.S. invests in domestic manufacturing over an extended period, the loss from exports could be a big hit to ag commodities. But if the Trump administration can gain more trade access to key countries, the rewards could be even bigger.

Your Next Read:

92% of Ag Economists Say the U.S. is Already in the Middle of Another Trade War

Indústria Suína Brasileira: Will Brazil Become the New Global Leader of Pork?

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 20:22:16 GMT

The Brazilian pork industry has experienced incredible growth in recent years that can be best described as a 48% increase in production volume over the past 10 years. To put this into greater perspective, the USDA reports the U.S. has experienced a 14% increase in production volume since 2015 with nearly all of this growth occurring between 2015 to 2020 (there has been around a 1% increase in production volume in the U.S. since 2020). Two questions come to mind when comparing Brazil to the U.S.

1. What is driving Brazil’s increase in production?
Are Brazilian consumers eating more pork or has Brazil become more active with global trade of pork products? The answer to this question is both.

Brazilian consumers are eating more pork. Per capita pork consumption in Brazil is at an all-time high at 19 kg per person, up 32% from 2016 per capita pork consumption levels of 14 kg per person. Meanwhile, per capita consumption of pork in the U.S. has remained at consistent levels from 2016 to 2025 at approximately 23 kg per person.

What is happening on the global trade front may be even more intriguing. Brazilian pork export volume is expected to reach nearly 1.45 million metric tons in 2025. That is an astounding increase from the mark of 0.55 million metric tons in 2016 (161% increase over the past 10-years). For comparison purposes, the U.S. is expected to achieve a pork export volume of 3.40 million metric tons in 2025. This is an impressive 43% increase in pork export volume for the U.S. since 2016 but pales in comparison to the growth observed in Brazil.

Another statistic worth investigating is pork export volume as a percentage of total production. Pork export volume as a percentage of total production for Brazil and the U.S. nearly mirror each other using the 2025 estimates, both at approximately 26%. The interesting component of this statistic is when you evaluate this parameter for its historical context. For instance, in 2016 the U.S. had a pork export volume of 21% of total production while Brazil had a pork export volume of 15% of total production in 2016 (implying that Brazil has become much more active in global trade of pork in the last 10 years). If the next 10 years unfold like some think they may, Brazil could become an undisputed leader of global pork production, rivaling the U.S. on the global trade front.

2. What production-related changes are occurring in Brazil?
How is the Brazilian pork industry supporting this dramatic increase in production from a profitability standpoint? This is a difficult question to fully address, but several advantages exist in Brazil when compared with the U.S. I will do my best to provide some of the primary points but readily admit this is not an exhaustive list. I am likely not completing the full message of the production and market intricacies that exist today and those that may exist at the time you are reading this.

• Cost-effective feed supplies.
The main pig-producing states in Brazil (Santa Catarina, Paraná, and Rio Grande do Sul) also produce sufficient levels of corn and soybeans. While this may not be an advantage compared to the Midwest region of the United States, it is a distinct advantage compared to most other areas of the world. In addition, the grain market in the U.S has been volatile over the past 15 years.

• High level of vertical integration.
Around 80-85% of pork production in Brazil is vertically integrated which provides market stability, particularly during periods of extreme growth.

• Adoption of technology.
While the U.S. remains as a global leader for the adoption of technology such as precision feeding systems, advanced genetics, barn automation (i.e., temperature control), and processing plant robotics, Brazil is quickly adopting similar technologies related to pig production.

• Disease prevention and biosecurity.
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), the costliest pig disease in the U.S., is not present in Brazil (i.e., the country is recognized as PRRS-free).

Your Next Read: Brazil’s Pork Exports Expected to Grow 5% in 2025 Despite Global Trade Uncertainties

Brazil's Pork Exports Expected to Grow 5% in 2025 Despite Global Trade Uncertainties

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 15:26:13 GMT

Brazil pork exports are forecast to expand 5% in 2025 given expected higher pork production and strong international demand, according to the latest USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service’s Livestock and Poultry: World Markets and Trade Report.

“Brazil’s position as an inexpensive supplier of pork, driven by comparatively low labor and feed costs, has allowed Brazil to expand market opportunities rapidly in recent years and is expected to sustain growth in 2025 despite global trade uncertainties,” the authors of the report write.

Brazil Pork Exports

(USDA)

As tariffs and animal health issues shift market dynamics in 2025, Brazil is expected to gain market share in price sensitive markets. China has imposed retaliatory tariffs on both Canada and the U.S., which are expected to decrease demand for pork from both countries.

In addition, China also launched an anti-dumping probe against the European Union (EU) that is set to conclude on June 17. Meanwhile, African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks in Europe, the Philippines, Vietnam and South Korea continue to impact production in these countries, the experts write.

“Like other major pork exporters, Brazil became heavily concentrated to the China market in 2020 and 2021 as China production suffered from domestic outbreaks of African swine fever,” the report says. “China accounted for 55% of Brazil pork exports in 2020, but that share has steadily declined to 18% in 2024. Lower pork exports from Brazil to China have been driven by weaker China import demand, stemming from China’s slowdown in economic growth and rebound in domestic pork production.”

Brazil’s recent export growth has been underpinned by the ability to switch markets quickly as a result of new market access and Brazil’s position as a low-cost pork supplier.

New Market Access
Brazil gained access to 17 new pork export markets and exported pork to over 100 different countries in 2024, the report says.

Despite sharp declines in exports to China last year, Brazil more than offset those losses with higher shipments to the Philippines, Chile and Japan. Brazil also increased exports by nearly 20% to countries outside of its top five export markets, with notable increases to Singapore, Mexico, South Korea, Argentina and the Dominican Republic.

“Brazil’s ability to quickly shift export markets will be key to sustaining export growth in 2025,” the authors write.

Brazil Top Five Pork Export Markets

(USDA)

Low-Cost Supplier of Pork
Despite increasing pork export prices throughout 2024, Brazil pork remains at a significant discount compared to other major exporters, the report notes. This price competitiveness will boost sales to several markets, including Japan, which is expected to be the second-largest importer globally in 2025, behind Mexico.

A weak currency and domestic inflation led Japan retailers to begin purchasing more frozen pork imports in 2024, instead of chilled imports. Last year, Japan increased imports of frozen pork by 86,000 tons carcass-weight equivalent (CWE) and decreased imports of fresh and/or chilled pork by 11,000 tons CWE, the report says.

Japan also reduced imports from the EU, while Brazil market share increased almost 4%. The shift to more frozen product is important to note as most regions of Brazil are not recognized as foot-and-mouth disease free without vaccination and are only eligible to export frozen product to Japan.

“It is anticipated that other major global pork importers will increasingly shift to frozen pork as global economies come under pressure, which may benefit Brazil as a low-cost pork supplier,” the authors write. “Expected growth in 2025 will rely on maintaining low labor and feed costs.”

Experts forecast the U.S. to remain the world’s largest pork exporter next year due to the quality and reliability of U.S. pork despite Brazil’s projected export expansion.

Read the full report here.

Your Next Read: Brazil’s Double-Digit Growth in March: Pork Exports Jump 26%, Revenue Surges 44%

Brazil’s Double-Digit Growth in March: Pork Exports Jump 26%, Revenue Surges 44%

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 18:52:26 GMT

The competition for exports is fierce. New data shows Brazil is making progress with pork in key U.S. markets. Brazil saw a significant increase in pork exports in March, with volumes rising more than 26% year over year to reach 116,000 metric tons. According to data released by the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA) , export revenue grew 44.2%.

External pork sales, including fresh and processed products, generated $278 million in March, compared to $192 million in the same month last year.

International pork sales totaled 336,800 tons in the first quarter of 2025, 16.4% higher than the amount recorded in the first three months of 2024, with 289.4 thousand tons. In terms of revenue, the total reached $789 million, 32% higher than the amount accumulated in the first quarter of last year, which was $597.7 million.

The Philippines remains the main destination for Brazilian exports, with 27,000 tons shipped – 85% higher than the same month in 2024. Mexico, a recently opened market and key U.S. market, was shipped 4,600 tons. Other destination highlights include:

• China:14,100 tons (-27.3%)
• Hong Kong: 12,500 tons (+68.2%)
• Japan: 9,800 tons (+83.4%)
• Chile: 8,400 tons (+12.7%)
• Singapore: 6,000 tons (+23.6%)
• Uruguay: 5,200 tons (+55.9%)
• Mexico: 4,600 tons (recently opened market)
• Argentina: 4,500 tons (+504%)
• Liberia: 2,300 tons (+710.2%)

“Almost all pork importing markets recorded significant increases in volumes in March, with growth levels above double digits,” Ricardo Santin, president of ABPA, said in a release. “This shows the sector’s solidity in diversifying export destinations, which should provide greater support for the positive projections for this year.”

Your Next Read: Brazil’s Chicken Meat, Pork Production to Hit Records in 2025

92% of Ag Economists Say the U.S. is Already in the Middle of Another Trade War

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 14:47:56 GMT

President Donald Trump hasn’t been shy about using tariffs as a negotiating tool. As he cracks down on fentanyl and illegal border crossings, he’s also pushing to restore what he calls fairness in U.S. trade relationships and countering non-reciprocal trading arrangements.

The reality for agriculture is the U.S. agricultural trade deficit hit a record in 2024 as imports soared, and Trump says he wants to reverse the trend.

According to the Trump administration, when it comes to tariffs and the impact on the overall economy, long-term gain will be worth the short-term pain. However, when it comes to agriculture, ag economists survyed in the March Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor don’t agree.

Ninety-two percent of economists think Trump’s strategy of using tariffs as a negotiating tool won’t benefit U.S. agriculture in the long run.

Here are some of those economists’ comments from the most recent Farm Journal Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor survey.

“Food as a weapon doesn’t have a successful track record, see Jimmy Carter and the 1980s,” responded one economist in the anonymous survey. “It’s not a guarantee as it’s like playing Russian roulette; you might ‘win,’ but the risks are huge.”
“Farm Journal readers should learn about the long-term consequences of Smoot-Hawley. It wasn’t just about the economic costs — it was also about the relational damage between trading partners. I have a hard time believing we will rebuild these relationships any time in the foreseeable future,” another economist said.
“It depends on whether tariffs are used as a negotiating tool with the ultimate goal of reducing trade barriers, or whether they instead result in a world with higher barriers. The president’s emphasis on tariffs as a way to raise revenue suggests tariffs and their consequences may persist,” was another economist’s response in the Monthly Monitor.

However, one economist wasn’t as certain, saying, “For it to be beneficial depends on it being short lived and resulting in trade initiatives with market access or purchase commitments. And in the meantime, action is taken quickly related to Trump’s post to offset trade loss with increased domestic use such as removing dated rules that limit ethanol blends, renewing or creating biofuels production incentives, and adding SAF as a mandated fuel.”

Trade War or No Trade War?
What an overwhelming number of agricultural economists do agree on is that the U.S. is in the midst of another trade war. Ninety-two percent of economists say a trade war is already here, while only 8% responded no.

“I don’t think anyone is arguing with the notion that we are in another ‘trade war,’” one economist said. “This one is far bigger and far more consequential than the last one we were in.”

“It seems more like a trade cold war,” another economist responded. “The situation is ever-changing, and it is hard for buyers, markets and producers to anticipate reality and effect. The threat of tariffs is almost as effective as a tariff.”

As agriculture tries to navigate the turbulence and shocks of another trade war, the ultimate question is: Who wins in a trade war? According to Romel Mostafa, professor of business, economics and public policy for the Ivey Business School in London, Ontario, it’s neither the U.S. or Canada.

“If we think about U.S. and Canada, we both lose,” Mostafa says. “The way our markets are integrated, both from the input side as well as the product side, any tariff really increases cost of production for our farmers all the way to food on the table. What then happens, essentially, some of our products are going to be less competitive in major markets than where we compete. Who then benefits? Perhaps Brazil, Russia or other countries.”

Other agricultural economists agree: If you’re looking at the trade war between the U.S. and Canada or the U.S. and China, it’s not the U.S. who wins, it’s ultimately one of the United States’ biggest competitors: Brazil.

The Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor asked, “In the next 10 years, which country ultimately benefits the most from the current trade turbulence?” Seventy-three percent of economists think it’s Brazil, and 18% said China.

This Trade War Could Be Worse Than the Last time
Of the agricultural economists surveyed, 69% say they don’t think a trade war today would have the same impact it did 2018 through 2020. Instead, most think it will be worse.

“The trade war in 2018/19 also had the African swine fever in China. Because of ASF, they did not need the soybeans anyway. It will be hard to figure out what impacted the U.S. markets/prices more, but the market reaction should not be as great this time,” said one economist in the monthly survey.

Ag Econoimsts’ Monthly Monitor

(Lindsey Pound)

“It would be a bigger impact,” another economist said. “The first round of trade wars in agriculture were largely used as a wedge for negotiation or renegotiation of agreements that provided improved access and growth opportunities for ag trade. This round seems to be championed based on reshaping the entire trading system, a system that U.S. agriculture largely benefited from over time.”

“There appears to be less willingness by the U.S. taxpayer to provide financial assistance to agricultural producers. That is not to say that financial assistance is absent this go around, but I do believe it increases the uncomfortable situation for producers who largely support less government spending,” one of the respondents shared.

However, other economists think it could have a similar impact, saying the same commodities will be impacted.

Even talk of tariffs is enough to move the markets, as some analysts argue the commodity markets have been ignoring fundamentals, instead trading headlines recently.

The Potential Economic Hit to Ag
The American Farm Bureau (AFBF) economists recently took a deeper dive into the possible impact of reciprocal tariffs. AFBF economists say of the top 20 U.S. agricultural products currently being targeted by Canada, for a total of $5.8 billion, commodities such as juice, coffee and chocolate are hardest hit, along with wine, fresh fruit, dairy products, poultry and rice.

Canada’s retaliatory tariffs

(AFBF)

China’s retaliatory tariffs

(AFBF )

When it comes to China, Beijing has specifically targeted 15 products including beef, cotton, grain sorghum, pork, corn and dairy along with fresh fruit. Economists say while it’s too early to measure the full impact of the tariffs on U.S. agriculture, they believe it will certainly decrease demand for U.S. products in Canada and China.

Market Facilitation Program 2.0?
If agriculture is caught in the middle of another trade war, the March Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor wanted to know if economists think USDA will compensate farmers for their losses again, similar to what the previous Trump administration did with Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments.

March Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor

(Lindsey Pound)

Even though Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has promised to make farmers whole through another trade war, economists are concerned about available funding. Seventy-seven percent of economists think USDA will compensate farmers, but 23% don’t think so.

“Congress might be the limiting factor,” one economist said.

“They will want to do so, but their ability to do so may be limited. The failure to include replenishment of the Commodity Credit Corporation’s borrowing authority in the continuing resolution limits available CCC funds, and other options may also be limited in potential scope,” another respondent shared.

“The political dynamics appear to be similar,” said another economist. “Amounts are however likely to be less, maybe substantially less, due to the general policy initiative to reduce government spending.”

The Secretary of Agriculture has come out and said they will use these tools if it becomes necessary.

Brazil's Chicken Meat, Pork Production to Hit Records in 2025

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 15:32:10 GMT

Brazil’s chicken meat and pork production and exports are expected to grow in 2025, eclipsing records that were set this year, according to projections released on Thursday by meat lobby ABPA.

“Brazil’s economic situation should keep consumption levels sustained in the domestic market, supported by the sector’s continued competitiveness,” ABPA head Ricardo Santin said in a statement. “On the external front, new markets are expected to be opened in Central American and African countries.”

BY THE NUMBERS
Brazil’s chicken meat production is set to reach up to 15.3 million metric tons in 2025, growing as much as 2.7% on a yearly basis, while exports would hit up to 5.4 million tons, a 1.9% rise, ABPA said.

For pork, production could be boosted by as much as 2% to 5.45 million tones next year, with shipments jumping up to 7.4% to 1.45 million tons, the group added.

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
The South American country is the world’s biggest chicken exporter as well as a top pork supplier.

(Reporting by Roberto Samora; Writing by Isabel Teles, editing by Franklin Paul)

Who is the Rising Star in Global Red Meat Production This Year?

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 13:00:00 GMT

The global meat industry continues to change and 2024 was no different than years past. A new competitor is upping the game for the red meat market.

“Brazil is the rising star,” said Erin Borror, U.S. Meat Export Federation vice president, economic analysis, at the Midwest Pork Conference. “They still have room for growth. As they overcome market access barriers that have been limiting their exports and production growth potential, we will see their exports grow.”

Mexico is just one key example. Mexico is “near and dear to our heart” in the U.S. because it’s part of our integrated North American market, she explained. Brazil was granted access to Mexico in 2022. A court case in Mexico temporarily stalled them so they were in and out of the market in 2023 but have ramped up exports on the pork side in 2024.

Most of Brazil’s exports to Mexico are a combination of frozen cuts, whereas most of U.S. exports to Mexico are combos of chilled bone-in hams. Nearly 90% of U.S. pork sent to Mexico is chilled, not frozen. Borror said this is an advantage over Brazil. Although the U.S. has long benefited from duty-free access to Mexico, through NAFTA and then USMCA, Brazil is benefiting from Mexico’s temporary waiver of all tariffs on meat imports, since May 2022, in an effort to reduce inflation. Otherwise, Brazilian pork would be subject to Mexico’s 20% most favored nation tariff.

“There will be limits to how much share of ours they take. We’re still 82% of Mexico’s imports. But it is an important development,” she warned. “Brazil already has a foothold on the poultry market in Mexico. These processors in Mexico are familiar with them already. It’s certainly worth watching.”

For Brazil’s growth in general, Borror said their foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) free status without vaccination , is the key next piece to Brazil’s outlook. Brazil’s Agriculture Ministry said in a statement in May that it will ask for World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) to recognize that status as it seeks to open more markets for its meat exports. They asked for WOAH recognition in August 2025, but the request could be approved in May 2025.

“If WOAH grants that status countrywide, in my mind it would effectively enable their pork production to grow outside of those southern three states. Those three states, especially Santa Catarina, account for 73.5% of Brazil’s pork production. That’s a pretty small geographical area. Most of the grain is produced north of there. If they have that expanded status, access won’t come immediately, but it will come eventually as countries recognize it,” Borror said.

She said it will be important to watch how much their access expands and take note of the production growth that will follow.

“Even with the current situation, they’ve got additional plants eligible for places like the Philippines. In some months they have exported more to the Philippines than to China. They’ve been increasing their exports into Japan. They are now 6% of Japan’s imports from nothing a couple of years ago,” Borror said. “Markets that are really seeking value, especially with the inflation situation, will be drawn to them.”

Your Next Read: Why 2025 Will Be Different for U.S. Pork

Brazil, China Close to Signing Pork Offal Export Protocols, Sources Say

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 14:59:18 GMT

Brazil is close to finalizing protocols for exporting pork offal and fish to China, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday, in the wake of a historic visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the South American nation.

The agreements were not signed during Xi’s visit as details pertaining to the protocols are still pending, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because talks were private.

The sources said negotiations for both protocols were advanced and should be completed soon. They declined to give a time frame for an announcement.

“It should not take long,” one of the persons said.

The negotiation of the protocols comes amid a trade dispute involving China and European pork suppliers, whom China has accused of dumping.

China’s total pork imports, including offal, totaled about $6 billion in 2023, with Spain accounting for about $1.5 billion.

The Netherlands and Denmark each exported the equivalent of more than $500 million to China, according to Chinese customs data.

“Offal is something that China values highly and Brazil does not have the habit of consuming,” one of the persons said, citing items such as heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, brains and tongue, which are appreciated by Chinese consumers. Finalizing protocols for pork offal exports would be “disruptive” for the Brazilian pork industry, the source said.

Brazil, the fourth-largest global exporter of pork, exported around 1.2 million tons of the meat in 2023, but the volume of offal totaled just over 100,000 metric tons to all destinations, according to official trade data.

(Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu and Roberto Samora in Sao Paulo; Writing by Ana ManoEditing by Matthew Lewis)

Brazilian Meat Processor BRF Posts Net Profit of $201 Million for Second Quarter

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 22:09:07 GMT

Brazilian pork and poultry processor BRF SA reported a net profit of 1.1 billion reais ($201 million) in the second quarter, according to a financial statement released on Wednesday.

The company beat the average analyst forecast of 793 million reais compiled by LSEG for the quarter.

BRF also reported earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, a measure of operating income known as EBITDA, of 2.6 billion reais for the three months from April to June.

The EBITDA, it said, was its highest ever.

BRF CEO Miguel Gularte said in a statement that the results were driven by robust margin growth in all of its markets and higher volumes.

(Reporting by Roberto Samora; Writing by Stefanie Eschenbacher; Editing by Leslie Adler and Jamie Freed)

Brazil Detects Classical Swine Fever in Remote Region

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:12:08 GMT

An outbreak of classical swine fever (hog cholera) has been reported in a remote region of Brazil on Oct. 6. The Brazil agricultural ministry says the discovery will have no impact on the country’s hog industry or pork exports.

The case was found on a rural property of Ceará, according to the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA). They add there is no risk of the disease impacting the country’s main production area.

The case is more than 300 miles away from the boundary of the free zone, which covers 17 Brazilian states. And more than 2,000 miles away from the main production and export area.

“There is no trade of pork products out of Ceará destined for Southeast, Mid-West and Southern (Brazilian) states, which minimizes the contamination risk further,” ABPA said.

The news will not alter the disease status of that region, and would not impact the trade of pork, the Brazilian agriculture ministry.

While classical swine fever is considered less severe disease impacts than African swine fever, it is more easily transmitted.

The Brazilian government said it was strengthening controls at the São Paulo international airport, to help prevent African swine fever by monitoring the entry of food products by passengers.

Thousands of Brazil Hogs, Poultry Perish in Flood-Hit State

Tue, 21 May 2024 13:11:30 GMT

Brazilian farm and meat lobbies on Monday revealed extensive losses of livestock from floods in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, likely leading to losses for farmers and processors and disruptions to meat production in one of the world’s biggest food exporters.

Hog farmers lost an estimated 12,600 head after floods submerged entire towns in the state, Valdecir Folador, head of a local hog producers lobby called ACSURS, said on Monday. He noted some 30 farms were affected, including those of suppliers to BRF and JBS.

The companies did not have an immediate comment.

ASGAV, a group representing local poultry processors and farmers, calculated total losses related to the catastrophic event at 182.9 million reais ($35.8 million), according to a statement.

Torrential rains disrupted about 20 poultry farms and flooded feed factories, ASGAV said.

An estimated 279,000 poultry destined for slaughtering died, as well as 150,000 laying hens. Four meatpackers’ plants were halted, ASGAV’s statement said without identifying any.

Rio Grande do Sul accounts for 24.24% of overall Brazilian pork exports and for 16.23% of Brazil’s chicken exports, according to national industry lobby ABPA, which speaks on behalf of the nation’s biggest pork and chicken processors.

The port of Rio Grande, also disrupted by floods and landslides that blocked roads and affected a rail link to its terminals, ships nearly 9% of Brazil’s overall pork exports and 6.33% of the country’s chicken exports, according to ABPA data.

Folador said the total number of hogs on farms in Rio Grande do Sul is around 5 million.

He pondered, however, whether there will be other indirect losses to farmers and companies, especially because floods have blocked roads and cut access to food and water supplies for some days on certain properties.

According to Folador, lack of feed contributed to a reduction of animal weight on farms where food had to be rationed and female animals were nursing offspring.

Farmers supplying BRF’s plant in the Lajeado area were among the most affected by the floods, Folador said, estimating they lost at least 60% of all hogs who died from the catastrophic rains.

That plant can process 3,000 hogs per day, he noted. ($1 = 5.1048 reais)

(Reporting by Ana Mano; Editing by Alistair Bell and Stephen Coates)

Brazil Pork and Poultry Producer BRF Ends Seven-Quarter Losing Streak as Turnaround Pays Off

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 14:35:23 GMT

Brazilian poultry and pork processor BRF SA turned a profit of 823 million reais ($165.26 million) in the final three months of 2023, according to an earnings statement on Monday, ending a seven-quarter losing streak.

Including effects of hyperinflation in Turkey, where it also has large operations, net profit was 754 million reais, still much higher than analysts’ forecasts of a net income of 339.57 million reais for BRF.

The company cited factors including a sharp drop in the price of corn, a key feedstock ingredient, along with operating improvements in a broad turnaround that began several quarters ago.

A recovery of export markets and 66 new authorizations for BRF export plants also helped the company “to end the year better than it started,” CEO Miguel Gularte said.

“There are variables that we do not control, which are demand and price,” Gularte said. “But if you have predictive power, product, delivery, logistics.... you can capitalize on the good moments and the peaks of the cycle.”

Lower grain prices and better demand dynamics should continue throughout 2024, he said.

In spite of a strong fourth quarter, BRF lost 1.87 billion in 2023, marking the second consecutive yearly loss for the world’s largest chicken exporter.

Still, BRF said higher fresh meat prices drove a return of the double-digit EBITDA margins in the final quarter, referring to the international segment.

According to BRF, profitability rose “across geographies” in the period. The most impressive gains came from the Gulf region, an important market where it sells “halal” products produced according to Muslim dietary requirements.

The Sadia and Banvit brands remain market leaders in its halal segment, BRF said. Gularte described sales in the Middle East as “the most evident example of international markets’ comeback.”

In Brazil, the company posted EBITDA margin of 15.6%, higher than the 9.1% recorded a year earlier thanks to better demand for processed food products.

BRF said overall net sales in the fourth quarter were 14.4 billion reais, 2.3% below the fourth quarter of 2022. The final quarter of the year is normally strong because of the holiday season.

BRF said it generated 613 million reais cash in the period, the first time in three years it amassed that much, CFO Fabio Mariano said in comments about results.

The company also noted EBITDA, a measure of operating income, was 1.9 billion reais in the fourth quarter, above the consensus of analyst expectations of 1.79 billion reais.

In the whole of 2023, BRF reported EBTIDA of 4.7 billion reais, 15% higher than 2022 despite a global chicken glut.

($1 = 4.9799 reais)

(Reporting by Ana Mano; Editing by Steven Grattan, Stephen Coates and David Gregorio)

Worst-Case Scenario: Why Eric Snodgrass Thinks The Heavy Rainfall In Brazil Could Do More Harm Than Good

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 15:58:14 GMT

Sinking soybean prices have been the theme to start the new year. One reason behind the price pressure is bearish news of rain returning to key growing areas in South America that had been impacted by severe drought. However, one leading ag meteorologist thinks this rain could do more harm than good at this point in the season, even impacting the planting of the safrinha corn crop.

(Farm Journal)

Eric Snodgrass, science fellow and principal atmospheric scientist with Nutrien Ag Solutions , says the wet weather is a sudden switch from the drought that plagued a vital soybean and production growing region at the end of 2023.

“For the last three months, we’ve seen incredibly dry conditions throughout the center-West region,” says Snodgrass. “We had episodes of heat pushed the late planting off quite a bit. And now we’re seeing the models really make a pretty substantial flip over to much wetter conditions.”

Join us Feb. 5 to 7 in Kansas City for Top Producer Summit . This is the leading networking and education event! Eric Snodgrass will present a general session: High Impact Weather And Production Agriculture”

Snodgrass says forecasts point to as much as 8 inches to 10 inches of rain in a span of two weeks. While the rain is needed, it could actually do more harm than good.

“To be honest with you, I think this is a worst-case scenario, compared to if it had just stayed drier,” Snodgrass says. “What I mean by that is you bring in all that rain, it’s going to impact some early harvests. But what happens if all of that moisture begins to get recycled? In other words, it sticks around and that makes things wetter for a while. Now, all of a sudden, you start pushing back the harvest time period. And that’s going to just keep pushing that crop calendar such that the safrinha corn crop goes in late.

The next 5 days across S America. Wednesday morning global output. pic.twitter.com/a8rmJ1tTrW
— Allen Motew (@QTweather) January 3, 2024

Snodgrass says El Niño reached its peak at the end of December. Now, what’s called the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) is riding on top of El Niño, which is pumping tropical moisture into Brazil and increasing farmers’ chances there for heavy rainfall and continued rain events.

“Basically, we opened it up finally to getting moisture into place from the tropics and, therefore, it’s going to start raining and raining pretty heavily,” says Snodgrass.

JBS to Build Cultivated Protein Research Facility in Brazil

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 14:56:56 GMT

JBS announced construction is underway in Brazil on a cultivated protein research and development center. The JBS Biotech Innovation Centre claims to be the “largest research facility focused on food biotechnology in Brazil.”

The center will include labs, a pilot plant and, eventually, a commercial-sized plant. JBS says it has invested $22 million in the project with plans to add another $40 million. Expected to open in late 2024, the facility will be staffed by a team of 25 post-doctoral researchers as well as support staff.

“The JBS Biotech Innovation Centre reinforces our commitment to the cultivated protein sector, consolidates our position as one of the main players in this very promising market, and reinforces our commitment to offering innovative, high-quality products to our consumers,” Jerson Nascimento Jr., JBS global supply and innovation director, said in a statement.

JBS also holds a 51% stake in Biotech Foods, a Spanish cultured meat production company, which currently operates a pilot plant in Brazil and is expected to open its JBS-funded commercial plant in mid-2024.

Brazil Simulates African Swine Fever Outbreak to Prepare for Worst-Case Scenario

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 13:00:00 GMT

One of the best ways to prepare for an emergency is to put yourself in a simulation exercise to validate and test response procedures and plans and ultimately evaluate how it goes.

At the end of 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA) in Brazil, together with the Veterinary Service of the State of Santa Catarina (CIDASC), organized a African swine fever outbreak simulation exercise in Presidente Getulio, Brazil.

A crowd of more than 230 professionals participated in this theoretical-practical exercise with the main goal of exercising and evaluating the Veterinary Service’s capacity to respond to an ASF outbreak, following the guidelines of the National Contingency Plan for the disease, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) shares.

During the exercise, an Animal Health Emergency Operations Center was set up for the participants to carry out the procedures in the national contingency plan and in the State Contingency Plan for Terrestrial Animal Health Emergencies of the State of Santa Catarina, WOAH reports.

On day one, participants engaged in theoretical presentations on clinical and epidemiological aspects of ASF, the role of wild boars in ASF epidemiology, procedures for the management of suspected swine hemorrhagic diseases and risk communication in animal health emergencies.

They later divided into groups, rotated through six workshops on biosafety, sample collection and preparation, outbreak elimination, surveillance, transit, epidemiology and information and forms.

After this, they moved into the “practical part” of the simulation, WOAH explains. During this phase, participants put technical procedures such as clinical and epidemiological surveillance and investigation, biosecurity, collection and shipment of samples for laboratory diagnosis, elimination of outbreaks, cleaning and disinfection of facilities and control and inspection of vehicle traffic in the region tactics into practice. They also tested the use of software for data collection and processing and information management.

Read more about preparing for emergencies on WOAH’s website.

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Brazil Pork Exports Suffer as China's Domestic Output Recovers

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 14:54:53 GMT

By Nayara Figueiredo

Brazilian pork exporters are grappling with a drop in volumes shipped to their main buyer, China, which has increased its pork meat production after an outbreak of African Swine Fever in 2018.

ASF forced China do cull millions of hogs and increase imports.

China continued to be Brazil’s top pork buyer in March, but acquired 41.8% less than in the same month last year. The Chinese market was the destination of 34,100 tonnes, out of the total of 91,400 tonnes Brazil exported.

China’s pork imports from all sources fell by 64% in the first three months of 2022, compared to the same period last year, to 420,000 tonnes, according to data released by the country’s General Administration of Customs.

“China would at some point restore production,” said Ricardo Santin, president of Brazilian pork and poultry lobby group ABPA. “The government helped and they resumed production earlier than the world thought it would.”

China produced 15.61 million tonnes of pork in the first three months of 2022, up 14% from a year earlier. This marked the country’s biggest quarterly production in more than three years, according to Chinese government data.

Despite the drop in exports in March to China, the president of ABPA – a group that represents meatpackers such as JBS and BRF – said he saw a silver lining for Brazil’s prospects.

According to Santin, China’s first-quarter output data reflects higher production, but also a higher slaughtering of sows, a measure designed to save on high feed costs but that can affect the hog supply in future with fewer breeding animals.

IHS Markit analyst Aedson Pereira said China’s hog herd grew with massive government investment and use of some of the same production techniques as in Brazil.

“Chinese production has outgrown local demand,” he said. “Imports have fallen and along with them the global price of pork.”

(Reporting by Nayara Figueiredo; Writing by Ana Mano; Editing by Alison Williams)

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Brazil's BRF Approved to Export Pork from Mato Grosso to Vietnam

Sat, 26 Mar 2022 21:00:00 GMT

Brazilian meatpacker BRF SA BRFS3.SA, the largest producer of animal protein and largest exporter of poultry in Brazil, was authorized by Vietnam to export pork from a Mato Grosso plant. It plans to double its shipments to the Asian country.

This move will allow BRF to grow in a strategic geographic market, Reuters reports. This is in line with the company’s plan to increase its relevance in major global consumer centers.

In 2021, Vietnam was the fifth main destination for Brazilian pork, importing more than 45,000 metric tons or pork which accounts for 4% of total Brazilian exports, government data said.

A BRF company executive told Reuters that the expectation is that meat consumption in Southeast Asia will grow significantly in the coming years and they want to be ready to meet this demand.

BRF currently exports pork to Vietnam from a plant in Uberlandia, in Minas Gerais State, which received authorization last year.

Now, with the additional authorization of the Mato Grosso plant, the company plans to sell pork cuts that include shoulder, ribs, chops, loin and ham.

BRF pointed out that it is advancing in the high-value pork segment, Reuters reports. It’s one of the important paths in its Vision 2030 project, in which the company intends to reach annual revenue exceeding $21 billion in the next 10 years.

(Reporting by Roberto Samora; Writing by Peter Frontini; Editing by Leslie Adler, Bernard Orr)

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China Suspends Imports from Brazil Pork Plant Over Coronavirus Concerns

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 15:30:26 GMT

China has suspended imports from a Brazilian pork plant operated by privately owned Aurora Alimentos over coronavirus concerns, according to a statement from a meat trade group on Monday.

The Brazilian agriculture ministry confirmed that on Dec. 28 Chinese customs authorities enacted an import ban affecting Aurora’s plant, according to a separate statement sent to Reuters.

The agriculture ministry said China “requested information about COVID-19 cases at the plant,” without elaborating.

The Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA) said it is supporting Aurora Alimentos and supplying Brazil’s agriculture ministry with information that Chinese authorities may need to reverse the ban.

“This is an isolated event in the past,” ABPA said. “All information and demonstrations of Aurora’s good practices have been shared in detail with Chinese authorities,” ABPA said, adding that the company enforces strict COVID-19 protocols.

China’s General Administration of Customs did not immediately respond to a faxed request for comment.

China has increased pork imports while working to restore hog herds decimated by African swine fever. Imports reached 3.95 million tonnes over January-November 2020, up 115% from the same period a year earlier.

Still, the COVID-19 pandemic has impeded import efforts. The country has had to intensify shipment checks and ban produce from some factories in various countries after discovering the novel coronavirus on imported cold-chain products and packaging.

Importers and traders have also called for factories to disinfect cargo before shipping.

The Aurora plant affected by the latest suspension is in the town of Chapecó, Santa Catarina state, ABPA said. China has also issued similar suspensions against other Brazil-based meatpackers including JBS SA and BRF SA, although some of the bans have been already lifted.

ABPA reiterated that there is no scientific evidence of the risk of contamination by the novel coronavirus through food consumption.

(Reporting by Ana Mano in Sao Paulo and Hallie Gu in Beijing; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Christopher Cushing)

Read more from Farm Journal’s PORK:

A Look at U.S. Pork and Beef Export Market Opportunities in 2021

2021 U.S. Pork Outlook: Volatility and A Little Optimism

Hogs and Pigs Report: Wild Revisions and a Few Surprises

Marfrig Joins ADM To Produce Fake Meat

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:50:34 GMT

Marfrig Global Foods announced this week it has joined with Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) to produce vegetable protein products in Brazil.

The two companies will work together to plant-based products, with ADM responsible for supplying the primary raw material used in the process, while Marfrig will produce, distribute and sell the products in the food service and retail channels.

“Together, Marfrig and ADM will produce 100% vegetable protein-based burgers with the same taste and texture of beef. We want to give consumers the power of choice,” said Eduardo Miron, CEO of Marfrig Global Foods. “The plant-based burgers will complement Marfrig’s product portfolio and be distributed through all our market channels.”

In a statement, Marfrig said the product will be produced in its Várzea Grande unit, with sales expected to begin this year under a new brand. The first plant-based products under the partnership will reach the Brazilian market later this year, with exports following later.

“We offer an advanced R&D structure, natural ingredients and technological solutions, including the advantage of local manufacturing, to anticipate industry trends and meet our clients’ needs with customized service,” said Roberto Ciciliano, CEO of ADM Nutrition in Latin America. “We are the ideal partner to support and foster the sustainable development of the food, specialties and healthy nutrition industry.”

In April 2018, Marfrig announced an agreement to purchase 51% of National Beef Packing Co. for $969 million, making it the second-largest beef processor, with consolidated sales of $13 billion. The acquisition would boost Marfrig’s total slaughter capacity to 8.3 million per year with the combined operations.

In May of this year, JBS SA, the world’s largest meat packer, announced it would launch a plant-based burger in Brazil under the brand Seara. Two other large U.S. meat packers, Tyson Foods and Cargill, have previously announced their intentions to venture into the alternative protein category.

Related stories:

Brazil’s Marfrig Acquires National Beef For $969 Million

JBS To Launch Plant-Based Burger In Brazil

Russia Bans Brazilian Pork & Beef Amid Ractopomine Concerns

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:49:05 GMT

Russia banned pork from Brazil at a time that imports from the Latin American country, the biggest foreign supplier of the meat, have been rising and as the Kremlin has sought to encourage its own farm industry.

The government barred Brazilian pork and beef imports from Dec. 1, saying testing had found the muscle growth stimulant ractopamine, which is prohibited in Russia. A Brazilian lobby for the industry said the feed additive isn’t used in production of the exported meat, which adheres to Russian rules.
Total imports of pork to Russia are rising for the first year in four and may reach 300,000 metric tons, according to Russia’s National Pig Farmers Union. Supply from Brazil, which make up 90 percent of the shipments, are competing with local producers on price, the union said.

“Brazil was left alone as a major supplier,” Yury Kovalev, head of the union, said in Moscow. “They were reminded that we have certain requirements.”
Miratorg Agribusiness Holding and Ros Agro Plc are among Russian producers that stand to gain from import curbs. Miratorg’s President Viktor Linnik told the RBC newspaper last month that Brazil sells almost $1 billion of meat to Russia every year. As of Nov. 12, pork imports had risen about 13 percent from the same period a year earlier, the Agriculture Ministry said on its website, citing customs data.

Alternative Routes

Russia imported 230,395 tons of Brazilian pork this year through October, about 40 percent of the Latin American country’s total shipments, figures from Brazil’s Agriculture Ministry show. It also imported 131,083 tons of beef, about 11 percent of the total.

JBS SA, Brazil’s largest meat exporter, and BRF SA, its largest chicken and pork exporter, declined to comment on the ban. Brazil beef exporter Minerva SA will maintain shipments to Russia through units in Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina, it said in a statement. Marfrig Global Foods SA said Russia makes up just 3 percent of its Brazil beef exports.

“The industry is confident about the characteristics of its product, and ensures that shipped pork production does not use ractopamine,” the Brazilian Animal Protein Association lobby said in a statement.

Russia, the world’s biggest wheat exporter, is seeking to start sales of grain, vegetable oil and fish to Brazil, Russian Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachev said last month when he met his counterpart Blairo Maggi last month. Brazil sells more than it buys in the trade, he said. Brazil is seeking to expand sales of beef, pork and soybeans to Russia, Maggi said.

Copyright 2017, Bloomberg News

Why Brazil Meat Scam Didn't Open Doors to U.S. Beef

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:48:27 GMT

Exports for both beef and pork have been flexing their muscles in the market, and DuWayne Bosse of Bolt Marketing says that’s because of high consumer confidence coupled with a strong Dow.

After the Brazilian meat scandal, there were high hopes that China might open a door to U.S. beef, but Bosse explains why that didn’t happen.

Watch Bosse discuss why he’s nervous about the cattle market short-term on AgDay above.

Brazil Looks to Russia and Middle East to Boost Meat Exports 15%

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:39:33 GMT

Brazil is seeking to increase its lead over India, Australia and the U.S. in meat exports by stepping up sales to Russia and the Middle East.

The South American country plans to hold talks with Russia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates as part of a goal of increasing beef and poultry shipments by 15 percent in a year, Agriculture Minister Neri Geller said yesterday in an interview from Brasilia.

The government of President Dilma Rousseff is looking to use decisions made at last week’s World Organization for Animal Health meeting to help build Brazil’s protein market share. At the meeting in Paris, the country retained its insignificant risk status for mad-cow disease and raised to 24 the number of states that are considered free of foot and mouth disease.

“We are having strong negotiations with Russia on this to open their market even more for our exports, and also for pork,” Geller said. “I’ll meet officials of countries such as Russia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates and Brazilian industry representatives to discuss ways to improve exports.”

Brazil is also negotiating to increase purchases of Russian wheat after Argentina imposed export restrictions.

Russia’s acceptance of Ukraine’s presidential election results last month has eased the threat of more sanctions against Russia’s economy after the country’s move to annex Crimea and back pro-Russian separatist movements in Ukraine.

Crop Outlook
Brazil exports about 2.03 million metric tons of meat, beef and veal compared with India’s 1.88 million tons, Australia’s 1.56 million tons and the U.S.’s 1.14 million tons, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Brazil’s efforts to increase exports comes as Sao Paulo- based JBS SA, the world’s biggest meat producer, engages in a bidding war with Tyson Foods Inc. for Hillshire Brands Co. as traditional meatpackers seek consumer brands to boost profit.

The government is looking to produce an additional 1.8 million tons of wheat from Brazil’s current crop, on top of the 6.9 million tons it forecast on May 8, while favorable planting weather is boosting corn prospects, Geller said.

“By the end of this crop our grain output will reach 194 million tons and I expect us to break the 200 million-ton barrier in the next crop,” he said. “The world needs Brazil to provide food and we’ll step up to the task. We’ll produce and have enough inventories to face any inflation pressure.”