Pork
U.S. inventory of all hogs and pigs on Sept. 1, 2012 was 67.5 million head; up slightly from same time last year and up 3 percent from June.
Pork producers are expected to continue to suffer very large losses after already operating in the red for the last six months.
The combination of high feed costs and low prices paid to pork producers is hitting the hog industry hard. See how record losses are fueling one producer’s management decisions.
United States inventory of all hogs and pigs on June 1, 2012 was 65.8 million head.
In a survey of 70 large hog firms, with a total of 3.6 million sows, 17% of sows are currently housed in open pen gestation.
Higher than expected slaughter, heavy carcass weights and soft demand has dampened the normal spring hog price rally.
USDA says that 69,100 farms raised hogs last year, the same number as in 2010.
Retail pork prices averaged $3.495 per pound last month, up 3.4¢ from December and 25.4¢ from January 2011.
Researchers look at how to balance pork quality with feed economics.
Hog production returned to profitability in 2011, but producers remain cautious about the future.
After years of struggling to earn a profit, pork producers could find themselves back in the black, says a Purdue Extension economist.
USDA is predicting 2012 pork imports and exports will be close to this year’s level.
United States inventory of all hogs and pigs on December 1, 2011 was 65.9 million head.
The normal season pattern is for a 15% drop in pork cutout from early September to late October.
Stronger hog prices and lower feed costs have put the pork outlook back into the black for the coming year.
The answer will depend on many factors including the size of the U.S. corn crop.
The quarterly Hogs and Pigs report pegs the inventory of all hogs and pigs on Sept. 1, 2011, at 66.6 million head.
USDA’s Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report shows U.S. inventory of all hogs and pigs on June 1, 2011 was 65.0 million head.
Pork producers are maintaining the size of the breeding herd in the face of a very uncertain financial outlook.
International pork trade is going well, plus added optimism that China potentially will buy a lot of U.S. pork in coming months.
Pork prices are on the rise as international exports increase and high feed costs are passed on to consumers.
AgDay is dedicating Friday’s entire show to coverage of the World Pork Expo.
Vilsack: It’s important for the entire nation to understand and appreciate the condition and state of rural America.
USDA’s Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report showed inventory of all hogs and pigs on March 1, 2011 was 64.0 million head.
The highest hog prices on record will soon be arriving, said a Purdue University Extension economist.
Hog producers report they have 2% fewer animals in the breeding herd than a year ago.
If there are any dark shadows falling on this pretty Texas fall picture, it would be feral hogs.
Hog and pork markets probably won’t be able to maintain the excitement of this spring when live hog prices reached the mid-$60s per hundredweight in early- to mid-May.