Going into the summer, a big question for meat has been: how will consumer demand hold up? This is especially the case with steadily increasing beef prices. The pork cutout trends show that pork demand has improved, which is a positive sign going into June and July when the cutout is at its normal seasonal high. The cutout is $16.34 or nearly 20 percent higher than it was last year, and at $98/cwt is just below this year’s peak of $100/cwt in mid-May. The five-year average for the first half of May is $92/cwt.
The cutout value is being supported by the loin, butt and picnic which have steadily increased all year. Loin values have exceeded $100/cwt, a benchmark met only two weeks in 2023. The butt value peaked last year...
What You Need to Know Today: Markets got a surprise with a corn yield of 181.2 bushels/acre in the October WASDE, above the average estimate of 177.6 bushels/acre and up from USDA’s September estimate of 178.5 bushels/acre. Although stronger demand is expected to absorb some of the addit...
Key Takeaways: On Friday afternoon, President Trump announced that Russia will “immediately supply over 300,000 Tons of Diesel Fuel” to the United States. The deal, typical of this administration, is light on details but promises an additional 500,000 tons in November and 1 m...
The USDA has lowered its 2026 red meat production forecasts slightly while forecasting a slight increase in broiler production. Beef is now projected at 24.802 billion pounds, 75 million pounds less than in September. Cow slaughter is expected to be up; however, this will be offset by lower ste...
