Smithfield Foods will close its Charlotte, North Carolina pork-processing plant and transfer production to its Tar Heel, North Carolina facility. The company says the move is to increase efficiency and better utilize existing capacity, and comes as the company faces “abundant supplies and soft demand” weighing on pork prices. The company will provide financial and other transition assistance to the …
Record Value for Mexico Fuels August Pork Exports; Modest Rebound for Beef
According to new data released by the USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), August exports of U.S. pork were steady year-over-year. This was led by another tremendous performance in Mexico, as shipments totaled 226,519 metric tons (mt) in August, while export value fell 1.5% to just under $650 million. Exports to leading market Mexico remained on a record …
Turkey Growers Increase Flock Size
The September USDA Turkey Raised Report indicates a four percent increase from 2022. Turkeys raised in the U.S. during 2023 is forecasted at 219 million this month. The top six states account for 68 percent of the turkeys produced in the U.S. during 2023. The largest turkey-producing state is Minnesota, at 39.0 million, up five percent from the previous year. …
AFBF Says Turkey Prices Down
With the holidays just around the corner, prices are less foul on a popular bird. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The cost of purchasing a turkey could be lower this Thanksgiving, thanks to a drop in avian influenza cases and a recovery of the turkey population in the United States. American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) economists analyzed …
NPPC Seeks Input on Updated Swine Traceability Standards
October is National Pork Month, and one thing U.S. pork producers asked the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) to do is to lead an effort to update the existing swine traceability system. So, NPPC is asking swine producers, veterinarians, cull swine and breeding operators and show pig enthusiasts to comment on the draft standards by Oct. 27, 2023. In 2006, U.S. swine …
USDA Restricts Poultry Imports from France, EU
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently placed restrictions on the importation of poultry from France and the European Union. The restrictions, enacted by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, include live ducks, duck eggs, and unmitigated or untreated duck products from the APHIS-recognized European Poultry Trade Region, as well as Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, but excluding Great …
New Checkoff Website for the Sheep Industry
America’s Lamb producers can now turn to LambBoard.com for resources on checkoff production, promotion, and other programs. The new American Lamb Board site officially launched on September 7. “This is a totally new site for America’s Lamb industry,” says Peter Camino, ALB Chair. “That includes commercial and seedstock producers, feeders, direct marketers, sale managers, auction markets, and processors.” He also …
Traders Looking Ahead at Two Reports This Week
Traders are looking ahead at two reports coming out this week. Mark Oppold explains what the trade is thinking. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Offers Targeted Research for Florida Cattle IndustryFebruary 20, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Allows Viable Research in the Cattle IndustryFebruary 6, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Track Record Well Received By LegislatorsJanuary 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Supports …
ASI Investigates Trade Case against Lamb Imports
The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) updated the status of a legal process initiated several months ago toward possibly filing a U.S. trade law violation by lamb importers. ASI Executive Director Peter Orwick offered an update as the association awaits the results of a preliminary investigation. “We are specifically looking for the estimate of trade case strength, which depends on …
Increasing Competition in Global Pork Trade
A recent Rabobank report says competition between major exporters has intensified in the global pork trade, meaning the competitive landscape will continue shifting in the years ahead. Low-cost producers like Brazil and the U.S. will likely have an advantage, while Europe’s position is expected to weaken following increasing market and regulatory requirements concerning animal welfare and sustainability. Countries adopting effective …