Pig prices have reached a nine-year high - with the animal sold for NT$7,010 per 100 kilograms yesterday (€146.7) -. The cause: more expensive feed, an agriculture official said.
Prices of pigs have been going up at a rapid pace. Just in the bottom half of last year, pigs were sold for NT$4,700 per 100 kilograms (€98.3). In February, prices shot up to NT$6,000 (€125.5), before going up to an average of NT$6,491 (€135.8) for the month of April.
Just over the first few days of May, prices went up to NT$6,886 (€144) and reached NT$7,012 over the weekend, breaking the NT$7,000 level.
Things did not improve much yesterday -- the first trading day of the week after the Monday close of traditional markets island-wide -- as hogs were sold at NT$7,010 per 100 kilograms. The last time pig prices broke the NT$7,000 level was in the summer of 1999, due to a mass culling of pigs in the aftermath of the foot-and-mouth disease that broke out in 1997.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
U.S. poultry could hit EU shelves by October
By Alicia Karapetian on 5/15/2008 for Meatingplace.com
European Commission officials will reportedly propose lifting the ban on U.S. poultry imports so trade can resume by the fall, according to Reuters.
"The Commission will propose changes to EU legislation to eliminate the ban," said Daniel Price, who headed the American delegation to the Transatlantic Economic Council meeting held this week in Brussels.
Officials aim to have trade resume prior to the next TEC meeting in October.
The European Union banned poultry imports from the United States in 1997 owing to the U.S. use of chlorine in processing.
"I can tell you that there is strong support to solve this problem and I am basically optimistic," said EU Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen, leader of the European delegation to the TEC meeting.
European Commission officials will reportedly propose lifting the ban on U.S. poultry imports so trade can resume by the fall, according to Reuters.
"The Commission will propose changes to EU legislation to eliminate the ban," said Daniel Price, who headed the American delegation to the Transatlantic Economic Council meeting held this week in Brussels.
Officials aim to have trade resume prior to the next TEC meeting in October.
The European Union banned poultry imports from the United States in 1997 owing to the U.S. use of chlorine in processing.
"I can tell you that there is strong support to solve this problem and I am basically optimistic," said EU Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen, leader of the European delegation to the TEC meeting.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Canada importing more U.S. pork amid woes
By Tom Johnston on 5/14/2008 for Meatingplace.com
While Canada's pork industry struggles to sustain itself amid rising feed costs, shrinking inventory, declining hog slaughter and fleeing producers, the country's strong currency is resulting, ironically, in increased imports of pork from the United States.
According to a report by USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. pork sales to Canada rose 20 percent to 164,334 metric tons in 2007, compared with 137,302 metric tons in 2006. Most of the load consisted of fresh or chilled pork cuts, including back ribs and U.S. prepared pork including pre-packaged sausages.
Demand for U.S. pork in Canada is expected to increase in 2008, reflecting the forecast for lower Canadian pork production and a continued strong Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar. Over the January to February period, U.S. pork was up 40 percent over the same period a year ago.
Times are so tough in Canada that its hog farmers are fleeing the industry "at an unprecedented rate," the report said. According to Statistics Canada, the total number of Canadian hog farms on April 1, 2008, fell to 8,820 farms, down 19.3 percent from the level one year earlier.
While Canada's pork industry struggles to sustain itself amid rising feed costs, shrinking inventory, declining hog slaughter and fleeing producers, the country's strong currency is resulting, ironically, in increased imports of pork from the United States.
According to a report by USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. pork sales to Canada rose 20 percent to 164,334 metric tons in 2007, compared with 137,302 metric tons in 2006. Most of the load consisted of fresh or chilled pork cuts, including back ribs and U.S. prepared pork including pre-packaged sausages.
Demand for U.S. pork in Canada is expected to increase in 2008, reflecting the forecast for lower Canadian pork production and a continued strong Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar. Over the January to February period, U.S. pork was up 40 percent over the same period a year ago.
Times are so tough in Canada that its hog farmers are fleeing the industry "at an unprecedented rate," the report said. According to Statistics Canada, the total number of Canadian hog farms on April 1, 2008, fell to 8,820 farms, down 19.3 percent from the level one year earlier.
China suspends imports from three U.S. meat and poultry plants
By Tom Johnston on 5/13/2008 for Meatingplace.com
USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service said China has banned imports of meat and poultry from three U.S. protein processing facilities.
Now ineligible to export to China until further notice are products produced or stored at Swift Pork Co., Louisville, Ky.; Mountaire Farms Inc., Lumber Bridge, N.C.; and Meadowbrook Farms Cooperative, Rantoul, Ill.
Meat and poultry products produced at other facilities from raw materials originating from these establishments are also not eligible for export to China.
The latest de-listings brings to 16 the number of U.S. meat and poultry establishments on China's list of ineligible U.S. exporters.
USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service said China has banned imports of meat and poultry from three U.S. protein processing facilities.
Now ineligible to export to China until further notice are products produced or stored at Swift Pork Co., Louisville, Ky.; Mountaire Farms Inc., Lumber Bridge, N.C.; and Meadowbrook Farms Cooperative, Rantoul, Ill.
Meat and poultry products produced at other facilities from raw materials originating from these establishments are also not eligible for export to China.
The latest de-listings brings to 16 the number of U.S. meat and poultry establishments on China's list of ineligible U.S. exporters.
Pseudorabies Infection Confirmed in Michigan USA
The Michigan Department of Agriculture last week confirmed a pseudrabies infection in 19 sport swine on a privately owned facility in Saginaw County. All of the hogs associated with the facility will be euthanized. USDA Wildlife Services will attempt to capture and destroy feral swine around the facility; those carcasses will be tested for PRV. MDA encourages Michigan residents to shoot feral swine and to notify MDA so additional tests can be conducted.
"We contacted other states, and anticipate some out-of-state markets will impose restrictions on live swine from Michigan until testing proves that this is an isolated case," said Steven Halstead, MDA state veterinarian. "We need to confirm as quickly as possible that the disease has not spread to other farms."
For more, go to www.porkmag.com.
"We contacted other states, and anticipate some out-of-state markets will impose restrictions on live swine from Michigan until testing proves that this is an isolated case," said Steven Halstead, MDA state veterinarian. "We need to confirm as quickly as possible that the disease has not spread to other farms."
For more, go to www.porkmag.com.
Pork and chicken prices to rise in the US
Food inflation is expected in the US as prices for chicken and pork will go up over the next couple of months, Associated Press reports. It is expected that overall food inflation could double this year, initially lifted by the rising costs of fuel, corn and soybeans, some analysts predict.
Food inflation hit 4% last year, up from 2.4% in 2006. While beef prices were already high, chicken and pork prices didn't reflect record costs for feed and fuel. That is about to change as chicken and pig producers who have been losing money slaughter more animals to decrease the supply and raise the prices they can charge.
Industry comments
"American consumers are only just beginning to feel the impact of sharply higher food prices," Pilgrim's Pride CEO Clint Rivers told AP. The largest US chicken producer posted a wider quarterly loss Monday as it paid more for feed and took a restructuring charge.
Tyson Foods, the world's biggest meat producer, forecasts that its expenses will rise $1 billion this year, including $600 million for corn and soybean meal and $100 million on grain. The balance will come from higher prices for cooking oil, breading and fuel costs, the company said. Last week Tyson reported a $5 million second-quarter loss and withdrew its earnings outlook, saying feed prices were too volatile.
"I think food inflation has got to go up," said C. Larry Pope, president and chief executive of Smithfield Foods, the world's largest pork producer, in a recent speech. "Everything that uses wheat, everything that uses corn, everything that uses corn syrup has got to go up."
The exception may be beef, as already high beef prices may not see the increases that chicken and pork could, said Jim Hilker, an agricultural economist at Michigan State University. "I'm not sure beef prices will go up a lot, but they won't come back down."
Pork farm losses
Pork farm losses, though, may total $3.8 billion for 2008, one-quarter of total production, according to Chris Hurt, an agricultural economist at Purdue University. He calls the industry "a financial disaster in progress." The biggest driver to prices is grain costs, which have been affected by the rise in ethanol production and strong export demand due to the weak dollar. Corn costs have more than doubled over the last two years from $2.50 a bushel to $6. That has added $6 billion to chicken farmers' annual feed bills, according to the National Chicken Council, a trade group.
As a result, companies are slaughtering animals to tighten supply. The move will temporarily increase supply, lowering prices, but as farms herds and flocks get smaller, it will raise prices.
Chicken producers
Fieldale Farms, a privately held chicken producer, is cutting its production by 5% starting in the middle of the month. Tom Hinsley, senior vice president, said he expects higher chicken prices by midsummer. "They will have to rise, big-time, otherwise, there will be no chicken," Hinsley said.
Pilgrim's Pride said it plans to reduce weekly chicken processing by 5% in the second half of the year, and keep production down until margins improve. Smithfield said in February that it would slaughter 4% to 5% of its breeding sows.
Food inflation hit 4% last year, up from 2.4% in 2006. While beef prices were already high, chicken and pork prices didn't reflect record costs for feed and fuel. That is about to change as chicken and pig producers who have been losing money slaughter more animals to decrease the supply and raise the prices they can charge.
Industry comments
"American consumers are only just beginning to feel the impact of sharply higher food prices," Pilgrim's Pride CEO Clint Rivers told AP. The largest US chicken producer posted a wider quarterly loss Monday as it paid more for feed and took a restructuring charge.
Tyson Foods, the world's biggest meat producer, forecasts that its expenses will rise $1 billion this year, including $600 million for corn and soybean meal and $100 million on grain. The balance will come from higher prices for cooking oil, breading and fuel costs, the company said. Last week Tyson reported a $5 million second-quarter loss and withdrew its earnings outlook, saying feed prices were too volatile.
"I think food inflation has got to go up," said C. Larry Pope, president and chief executive of Smithfield Foods, the world's largest pork producer, in a recent speech. "Everything that uses wheat, everything that uses corn, everything that uses corn syrup has got to go up."
The exception may be beef, as already high beef prices may not see the increases that chicken and pork could, said Jim Hilker, an agricultural economist at Michigan State University. "I'm not sure beef prices will go up a lot, but they won't come back down."
Pork farm losses
Pork farm losses, though, may total $3.8 billion for 2008, one-quarter of total production, according to Chris Hurt, an agricultural economist at Purdue University. He calls the industry "a financial disaster in progress." The biggest driver to prices is grain costs, which have been affected by the rise in ethanol production and strong export demand due to the weak dollar. Corn costs have more than doubled over the last two years from $2.50 a bushel to $6. That has added $6 billion to chicken farmers' annual feed bills, according to the National Chicken Council, a trade group.
As a result, companies are slaughtering animals to tighten supply. The move will temporarily increase supply, lowering prices, but as farms herds and flocks get smaller, it will raise prices.
Chicken producers
Fieldale Farms, a privately held chicken producer, is cutting its production by 5% starting in the middle of the month. Tom Hinsley, senior vice president, said he expects higher chicken prices by midsummer. "They will have to rise, big-time, otherwise, there will be no chicken," Hinsley said.
Pilgrim's Pride said it plans to reduce weekly chicken processing by 5% in the second half of the year, and keep production down until margins improve. Smithfield said in February that it would slaughter 4% to 5% of its breeding sows.
Uproar in UK over pig remains for poultry
// 13 May 2008
Pig and poultry farmers are not sure if they want an opportunity to cut costs which could be coming their way, reports Yorkshire Post.
The EU is preparing to allow the remains of pig carcasses to be used in poultry feed, which would save UK farmers millions of pounds as cereal prices soar. This, however, has caused uproar. The practice of using pig remains in chicken feed was banned in Europe after the BSE crisis 10 years ago.
Enormous reaction
It has been reported that when the BBC's Farming Today programme reported on one of the possibilities which are now up for discussion again – feeding pig leftovers to hens – the reaction was enormous.
Reportedly, moderate vegetarians said they could not eat eggs from birds fed on meat. Additionally, a spokesperson for 2 mln Muslims in Britain (and 25 million in western Europe) said they could not eat the eggs or the flesh of any bird fed on animal protein of any kind – and it would only make it worse if it was pork.
Some halal butchers once had special sources for suitable chickens and eggs, up until BSE exposed modern farming practices, reports the Yorkshire Post. Now they are good customers for mainstream farm production. However, a change back to the old ways would put them on the spot. And they are not the only customers who might be lost. Most people were horrified to find out about the recycling of slaughterhouse waste to farms before BSE. And a lot of hostility to the practice remains.
More lost than gained
A Yorkshire pig farmer commented this week: "Pigs are omnivores. If you buy pig-meat from outside the EU, it has almost certainly been fed with meat. And it probably makes scientific and economic sense for us to do it. But the danger is that we would lose more than we gained, because of the public reaction." A poultry farmer said much the same about hens.
The jury is still out
According to the National Farmers Union, "We want a level playing field for our members to operate efficiently and competitively. However, the jury is still out. We definitely don't want to turn out products consumers don't want."
The BBC said new rules could apply by the end of this year but that looks unlikely. The EC's Standing Committee on the Food Chain & Animal Health will not consider the issue until it is satisfied that the feed industry has foolproof tests.
The RSPCA's food certification arm, Freedom Food, said it would not approve meat-fed meat. Additionally, the Soil Association said meat-fed meat would not be considered organic.
Pig and poultry farmers are not sure if they want an opportunity to cut costs which could be coming their way, reports Yorkshire Post.
The EU is preparing to allow the remains of pig carcasses to be used in poultry feed, which would save UK farmers millions of pounds as cereal prices soar. This, however, has caused uproar. The practice of using pig remains in chicken feed was banned in Europe after the BSE crisis 10 years ago.
Enormous reaction
It has been reported that when the BBC's Farming Today programme reported on one of the possibilities which are now up for discussion again – feeding pig leftovers to hens – the reaction was enormous.
Reportedly, moderate vegetarians said they could not eat eggs from birds fed on meat. Additionally, a spokesperson for 2 mln Muslims in Britain (and 25 million in western Europe) said they could not eat the eggs or the flesh of any bird fed on animal protein of any kind – and it would only make it worse if it was pork.
Some halal butchers once had special sources for suitable chickens and eggs, up until BSE exposed modern farming practices, reports the Yorkshire Post. Now they are good customers for mainstream farm production. However, a change back to the old ways would put them on the spot. And they are not the only customers who might be lost. Most people were horrified to find out about the recycling of slaughterhouse waste to farms before BSE. And a lot of hostility to the practice remains.
More lost than gained
A Yorkshire pig farmer commented this week: "Pigs are omnivores. If you buy pig-meat from outside the EU, it has almost certainly been fed with meat. And it probably makes scientific and economic sense for us to do it. But the danger is that we would lose more than we gained, because of the public reaction." A poultry farmer said much the same about hens.
The jury is still out
According to the National Farmers Union, "We want a level playing field for our members to operate efficiently and competitively. However, the jury is still out. We definitely don't want to turn out products consumers don't want."
The BBC said new rules could apply by the end of this year but that looks unlikely. The EC's Standing Committee on the Food Chain & Animal Health will not consider the issue until it is satisfied that the feed industry has foolproof tests.
The RSPCA's food certification arm, Freedom Food, said it would not approve meat-fed meat. Additionally, the Soil Association said meat-fed meat would not be considered organic.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)