Reuters — The U.S. hog herd in the December-February quarter modestly grew from a year earlier to a record high for that quarter, according to Friday’s U.S. Department of Agriculture quarterly hog report. Farmers cautiously added to herds while shoring up their bottom lines following the surge in hog numbers as the industry recovers from […] Read more
U.S. hog herd ekes out new high as PED impact ebbs
Pork market looks to improve by spring
CNS Canada — Canadian pork prices are feeling a modest bump upward as healthy U.S. exports clean up some excess North American pork supplies. Canadian slaughter-weight prices hit their lows in November and December — and since then, they have increased about 30 per cent, according to Brad Marceniuk, a livestock economist for Saskatchewan’s agriculture […] Read more
Weak loonie expected to support hog prices, but not yet
CNS Canada — A weak loonie could improve the profit margin of Canadian pork producers by summer, according to one analyst, but its effects have been little seen in the current market. Influencers outside of currency markets are driving current cash prices lower — and cash prices are relatively depressed, according to Tyler Fulton, director […] Read more
U.S. meat cases awash with Christmas hams at bargain
Chicago | Reuters –– Shoppers preparing to feast on ham for Christmas can do so without breaking their budget, thanks to record amounts of pork as the industry rebounds from a deadly pig virus, said analysts following the government’s monthly cold storage report on Tuesday. Christmas is the top-ranked holiday for eating ham, followed by […] Read more
Pork prices set to soften, analyst says
CNS Canada — As the North American barbecue season winds down for another year, so too goes some strength in the pork market. For instance, cash slaughter-weight hogs in Saskatchewan, based on the Maple Leaf Signature #3 contract, averaged $162.55/cwt last week, down $7.95 (4.7 per cent) per 100 kg, according to Brad Marceniuk, a […] Read more
Chinese demand seen eating into pork supply glut
CNS Canada –– Canadian pork producers have seen increased demand from China in recent weeks, which could boost prices in coming months. Despite turbulence in the China’s economy, an industry specialist says exports should be little affected. Pork prices are sensitive to economic change to an extent, but not as much as non-food markets, said […] Read more
Beef prices continue to be bullish
Reading Time: < 1 minute Both beef and pork experienced significant gains in early 2014, but while pork prices have more or less levelled off, beef continues to increase monthly. Beef prices are expected to remain high because of tight supplies but “the big question is whether consumer demand will hold,” said provincial livestock market analyst Jason Wood. The Canadian consumer […] Read more
Spread between pork, beef prices seen narrowing
CNS Canada — Pork prices in Canada are narrowing the gap with beef prices — but the spread between the two meats remains well above the historical average. “Beef values (cutout) have actually come down a little bit, whereas pork and poultry (cutout) values have actually gone up,” said Brad Marceniuk, a provincial livestock economist […] Read more
Pork prices near bottom but should climb soon, analyst says
CNS Canada — Over a year after porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) tore into North America’s hog supply, hog production is on the upswing — but the same can’t be said for prices. “I would say prices are likely nearing the bottom. We should start to rebound here once barbecue season sets in,” said Brad Marceniuk, […] Read more
Don’t expect hog heaven in 2015
Analyst Kevin Grier says markets overreacted to PEDv last year, but the current drop in prices is likely overdone, too
Reading Time: 2 minutes It’s been a year since porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) was found in Canada, and the wave of high prices caused by the disease seems to be coming to an end. “Traders seem to think this disease has been licked and is behind us because the pricing now on hogs in futures markets are such […] Read more
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