Market Watch

Pork producers should be “conservative and defensive” this year even though profitability may be on the horizon, according to Purdue University Extension marketing specialist Chris Hurt.

“The extreme uncertainty of the moment implies that pork producers, like all of agriculture, should be conservative and defensive. Perhaps management decisions in 2009 should be focused on increasing odds [...]

Hog producers may see modest profits in 2009, depending upon costs of production and other factors, accordng to Purdue University Extension marketing specialist Chris Hurt.

“The industry has had six consecutive quarters of losses from the final quarter of 2007 through the first quarter of 2009. The return to profits sometime this winter is predicated on [...]

Hog producers may be helped by the current recession because of lower feed costs, according to Purdue University Extension marketing specialist Chris Hurt.

“Lower costs in combination with smaller pork supplies in 2009 could be the combination that puts the industry back into profitability. Hog prices may actually increase a few dollars in 2009 as the [...]

More pork is being produced in the United States but less is available for U.S. consumers, according to Purdue University Extension marketing specialist Chris Hurt:

“What does more pork production but less available for U.S. consumers mean? Pork exports grew by 68 percent in the first half of the year and imports fell by 15 percent [...]

Extraordinary losses for pork producers in 2008 may be offset by extraordinary profits in the last half of 2009 and 2010, according to Purdue University Extension marketing specialist Chris Hurt:
This will be especially true if Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land is relapsed in 2009, if ethanol receives less support, if 2009 weather is favorable, and [...]

This year U.S. farmers will produce more pork than they ever have and will likely up those numbers again in 2008.
The U.S. will produce 22 billion pounds of pork in 2007. That’s 4 percent more than the previous year.
Pork-loving Americans aren’t the only driving force behind the increased meat production. With worries over avian influenza [...]