WASDE Report
LIVESTOCK, POULTRY, AND DAIRY: The forecast for 2013 red meat and poultry production is raised slightly as higher pork and poultry production more than offsets lower beef production.Lower expected cattle placements in the third quarter will manifest itself as slightly lower supplies of fed cattle in early 2013.The recent Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report estimated a
small decline in the June-August pig crop and indicated that producers intend to reduce farrowings through early 2013, but it is expected that continued growth in pigs per litter will mitigate much of the decline in farrowings.The forecast for 2013 poultry production is raised slightly.For 2012, the total meat production forecast is reduced on lower beef and broiler
production forecasts, although pork and turkey are forecast higher.Egg production is forecast higher for both 2012 and 2013 based on hatchery data.
Beef imports are reduced for 2012 based on a slower pace of imports from Canada, but are unchanged for 2013.Beef exports are unchanged for 2012 and 2013.Pork exports are unchanged for 2012, but are raised slightly on expected late 2013 improvements in sales.Imports are reduced slightly for 2013.Poultry export forecasts are unchanged for both 2012 and 2013.
Only small changes are made to 2012 livestock and poultry prices, generally reflecting small adjustments to fourth-quarter prices.Cattle and hog prices for 2013 are unchanged, but the broiler price is tightened at both ends of the range and the turkey price is lowered at the high end of the range.
The 2012 milk production forecast is reduced from last month, as slower growth in milk per cow more than offsets a slower expected decline in cow numbers.Higher forecast milk prices in late 2012 and into 2013 are expected to slow the rate of decline in cow numbers and help support higher growth in milk per cow in 2013.Thus, the production forecast for 2013 is raised.Imports are forecast higher for both 2012 and 2013.Fat basis exports for 2012 are lowered but skimsolids exports are forecast higher.Exports for 2013 are unchanged from last month.
Product prices are forecast higher for 2012 and 2013 as recent strength in dairy product demand is expected to carry into 2013. Forecasts for butter, cheese, nonfat dry milk, and whey are raised from last month. With higher product prices, both the Class III and Class IV price forecasts are raised.The all milk price is forecast at $18.50 to $18.60 per cwt for 2012 and
$19.00 to $19.90 per cwt for 2013.
Source: USDA