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.
Hogs
USDA forecasts first quarter pork production at 7 billion pounds – a slight increase over last year. The producer-sold live price is expected to average $64/cwt, which would be about 1% higher. According to the USDA Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook report for January, production during the second quarter is expected to be 2.4% higher than last year. Total production this year is expected to increase by 2.3% over 2025. There is continued optimism that domestic demand will continue to strengthen. Exports have remained strong to Mexico, with 46% of all U.S. exported pork sent there in October. The pork cutout value was 58 cents higher last week, averaging $92.68. The national base carcass price was 18 cents lower at $80.37. Harvest was estimated at 2.623 million head, 60,000 fewer than the previous week and 4,000 more than the same week last year. Forty-pound feeder pigs jumped to $108.29, an increase of $4.37/head, while early weaned pig prices rose $4.25 to average $82.03/head.
