News

Keeping a close eye on the Hogs and Pigs report

All eyes in the pork industry are on tomorrow’s USDA Hogs and Pigs Report.

A commodity broker says pre-report estimates have been fairly conservative.

Dennis Smith with Archer Financial Services says he’s hoping those estimates are reflected in tomorrow’s report.  “I’d like to see a kept-for-breeding number not larger than up 1 percent from a year ago,” he says.  “And it’d really be a pleasant surprise to see breeding numbers even with a year ago at 100 percent.”

But, he tells Brownfield US producers are the best in the world.  “Even if the breeding numbers are stable and steady from a year ago, increased efficiencies in production – it will probably translate into a larger June/August pig crop versus a year ago,” he says.

Which means steady numbers from a year ago would result in herd expansion – and record large production.

The report comes out at 3 Eastern.

Dennis Smith, Archer Financial Service