Latest News From Pork

Flexibility remains critical for animal protein industry, CoBank says, as foodservice sales are not likely to reach pre-pandemic levels before mid-2022.

On Jan. 1, Taiwan implemented market access changes for imports of U.S. beef and pork. For beef, the 30-month cattle age limit was eliminated. For pork, it established maximum residue limits for ractopamine residues.

PepsiCo Inc and Beyond Meat Inc said on Tuesday they would form a joint venture to develop and sell snacks and beverages made from plant-based protein.

New research shows I'm not the only one who upped my cooking game last year. A new study provides insight into which cooking and consumption habits are likely to continue into the new year and beyond. 

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, a farmer and businessman from southeast Iowa came up with an idea that has now grown into an expanding online marketplace known as ChopLocal.

Efforts to protect the men and women working to keep Americans’ refrigerators full are working, says Meat Institute president and CEO Julie Anna Potts.

A worker was recently killed in an accident at the Tyson Foods plant in Sherman, Texas. 

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the USDA will purchase an additional $1.5 billion worth of food for nationwide distribution through the Farmers to Families Food Box Program.

When rumors circled a few weeks ago of pork packing plants refusing loads because of diminished capacity from worker absenteeism due to COVID-19, how could anyone really be surprised?

The Centers for Disease Control agrees that frontline meat and poultry workers should be some of the first vaccinated after health care workers and those in long-term care facilities.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration extended its COVID-19 emergency declaration for Hours of Service (HOS) waivers for the transportation of livestock and livestock feed through Feb. 28, 2021.

To protect essential frontline workers, JBS USA has voluntarily removed hundreds of at-risk workers from a Greeley, Colo., beef plant in response to rising COVID-19 infections in the community.

The Meat Institute, NCBA and NPPC urged government leaders to prioritize COVID-19 vaccination for men and women who work on the front lines of the meat and poultry industry, following healthcare workers.

The company announced Friday that 100% of expenses related to COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment would be covered, effective retroactively to March 1.

The University of Illinois meat science research group was wrapping up a big project and the meats judging team was preparing to host a regional contest. Then, in the blink of an eye, COVID-19 sent everyone home. 

A new study shows U.S. meat and poultry packers and processors have reached a new, all-time low for injuries in the workplace.

Beyond Meat's stock prices dropped rapidly this week when it became apparent the company would not meet investors' or the company's expectations for profitability anytime soon.

Pork exports continue to maintain a record pace in 2020, increasing 10% year-over-year in September. Beef exports were fairly steady with last year in major Asian markets, but trended lower overall.

The North American Meat Institute and the Alliance for Meat, Poultry and Seafood Innovation call on the USDA for mandatory labeling and input on what the labeling should look like.

Brazil's J&F Investimentos, parent company of the world's largest meatpacker JBS pleaded guilty to violations of the U.S. Foreign Corruption Practices Act (FCPA) and agreed to pay $256 million in criminal fines.

A bipartisan letter was sent the FTC to investigate the growing concentration in the meatpacking and processing industry, and any anticompetitive behavior resulting from this concentration.

Cargill has closed its processing plant in Hazelton, PA, which employs 900 workers, indicating it will reopen when "it is safe" to do so.

As expected, beef packer margins jumped wildly higher the week ending Aug. 17, while cattle feeding margins slipped into the red.

Total 2019 meat production in the U.S. is currently projected to reach another record level of 103.3 billion pounds, up 1.3 percent year over year. 

WeWork’s enforced vegetarianism is a warning to livestock producers.

Feedyard profit margins rebounded slightly after last week’s $2 rally in the cash fed cattle market.

Cattle feeders saw positive margins on closeouts for the ninth consecutive week.

Cattle feeders turned a profit for the eighth consecutive week.

Feedlot closeouts continue ending on positive notes.

Cattle feeders earned average profits of $68 per head last week, $30 per head more than the previous week.

Normally when profit margins decline $50-plus per head there’s no rejoicing. 

Cattle feeders turned a tidy profit for the second consecutive week.

Cattle feeders earned a small profit on cattle sold last week, the first positive closeouts in months.

The red ink has started to slow down for feedlots and cattle prices have rallied lately, giving beef producers something to be thankful for.

Losses continue to mount for feedlots.

Feedyard margins saw only slight improvement last week as direct trade prices held steady.

Last week's market rally helped feedyards erase much of their red ink, but not all.

Calling losses of $193 per head an improvement may be painful, but it’s accurate.

Cattle prices have fallen and so are profits.

Feedyard margins dropped another $20 last week to total an average loss of $90 per head, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker. 

Feedyard margins declined $28 per head last week to total an average loss of $70 per head, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker. 

Feedyard margins improved last week despite a $3 per cwt. decline in cash cattle prices. 

Last week’s $4-plus rally in cash fed cattle prices cut average feedyard losses in half, leaving the red ink totaling $90 on every animal shipped.

With cash cattle prices tumbling another $4 per cwt lower, cattle feeding margins fell accordingly.

A decline of $5 per cwt in cash fed cattle prices pushed cattle feeding margins $60 per head lower, leaving losses at $120 per head, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker. 

Cattle feeding margins slipped further into the red last week. 

A $1 decline in average fed cattle prices and a $25 per head increase in the cost of feeder cattle pushed cattle feeding losses to $52 per head last week.

Last week’s $1 per cwt retreat in cash cattle prices took feedyard margins only modestly lower. 

Last week’s $2 per cwt cash cattle rally lifted feedyard margins to breakeven.