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Prepared and written by Jeff Swenson, DATCP Livestock and Meat Specialist. The Market Update draws information from several sources, including trade publications, radio broadcasts, agricultural news services, individuals involved in the industry as well as USDA NASS and AMS reports.
Rising beef prices have the potential to pull pork prices higher. Retail pork sales were stronger during July in both dollars and volume. The pork cutout value averaged $116.37 last week but was under pressure by the middle of this week. Cash hogs were slightly higher.
Harvest numbers will typically increase as fall approaches, but the seasonal trend has not begun yet. Year-to-date pork production is 2.2% less than 2024 and that has helped support both cash and wholesale prices. Last week’s estimated harvest of 2.417 million was 67,000 more than the previous week but 99,000 fewer than a year ago.
The 2025 pork production forecast was lowered by 41 million pounds in the latest WASDE report. The average hog price for the year was raised $1/cwt to $69.32 with a forecasted price in 2026 of $66/cwt. The 40-pound feeder pig price averaged $71.32/head last week with early-weaned pigs averaging $55.26
