The Farmer's Weblog
 |
Monday, October 14, 2002 |
LIVESTOCK, POULTRY, AND DAIRY: Forecast meat production is raised for 2002 as higher beef and poultry production are expected to more than offset lower pork production. Beef production is raised this month as dairy producers are culling larger than normal numbers of less-efficient cows. Although eggs set data indicate fourth-quarter broiler production will be lower than forecast last month, higher-than-expected production during the third quarter results in a raised annual 2002 production forecast. Cattle prices are lowered as supplies of beef are forecast higher, and hog prices are raised as fourth- quarter slaughter is lowered from last month.
...As producers are expected to continue marketing large numbers of heavyweight cattle, beef production forecasts in the first half of 2003 are raised.... Cattle prices in 2003 are forecast lower than last month as beef supplies will remain relatively large.
--The above is a COMPUTER GENERATED SUMMARY-- If you spot something of interest here go check out the origional.
2:43:56 PM 
comment []
10:19:29 AM
comment []
Frozen stocks of meat and poultry remain large. According to USDA, stocks of red meat increased in August after declining for three consecutive months. At the end of August, red meat frozen stocks were at 951 million pounds, and were 30 percent above a year earlier. In contrast to red meat, as of August 30th of this year, poultry frozen stocks declined slightly compared to a month earlier. Still, poultry stocks were huge, exceeding 1.5 billion pounds for the third consecutive month after reaching that level for the first time on record as of June 30th, 2002.
9:50:06 AM
comment []
U.S. hog slaughter this fall will be the key driver of hog prices and will be a major factor influencing prices of other livestock and poultry prices. USDA[base ']s quarterly Hogs and Pigs report (released September 27) confirmed expectations that slaughter will be large this fall. But, year-to-year increases in hog slaughter are expected to moderate as the fourth quarter progresses. USDA[base ']s report also showed that producers have been adjusting breeding hog numbers rather aggressively. So, looking ahead to 2003, the report supported forecasts for year-to-year increases in hog and pork prices beginning in the second quarter of next year.
9:47:26 AM
comment []
