With Labor Day behind us, here is a look at the meat market going into fall. Total hog slaughter for last week was estimated at 2.391 million head, 1.5 percent lower than a year ago, making this the 15th consecutive week below year ago levels. Seasonal national average weights are starting to trend up, but the results are mixed.
Packer owned hog weights are up slightly over the last week but still remain below year ago levels. Last week the average live weight was 274.95 pounds, up slightly from 274.26 pounds, but still below 277.19 pounds last year. The pork cutout was higher on Friday, but the broader trend points to softer wholesale prices falling as slaughter and weights increase. Bulls highlight high beef prices at a...
Key Market Insights The broad market is locked in on this week’s Trump-Xi meeting in Beijing, but this is no longer just a trade summit. Increasingly, the meeting is becoming tied directly to Iran, energy security, and the growing global economic fallout from disruptions through the Strai...
