Market Trends with Tracy

Beef production was slightly down this week but still in good production numbers. Hopefully, with nice weather, we will see demand pick up. It's a good time to buy and feature beef now before pricing moves higher this summer. Chicken pricing is steady and demand is strong. There were three new cases of Avian Flu affecting 28,000 birds. Pork bellies are down this week, but pricing has been jum...

Beef production hit numbers we haven't seen in months. This is helping to soften pricing on almost everything except thin meats and grinds. Chicken pricing is steady and demand is still strong. Only one new case of Avian Flu was reported affecting 104,000 turkeys. Corn pricing is up and planting continues with good weather keeping things steady. Soy should stay steady to low; wheat is a great...

The USDA has updated production numbers in beef harvesting for the year. This will be good news for everyone if the production lines get moving. For now, keep product on hand and continue to buy what you need, there may be a bargain or two out there. Poultry production and demand continue strong, but this week pricing is pausing. Increases are coming. Avian Flu is not going away. April has been th...

Beef production continues to be restrained, but cattle are growing in physical size, thanks to cheap corn. Pricing has taken a pause this week with increases coming soon. Chicken production and demand continue strong. Pricing is moving higher on all products except breasts, which are steady. No new cases of Avian Flu were reported in birds, but two more states have reported the illness in dairy co...

Avian flu has spread to dairy cows in six states. Affected milk is being destroyed, but pasteurized milk remains safe for consumption. Three new cases of Avian Flu in chickens were reported, totaling 3.8 million birds. This shouldn't significantly impact availability or pricing, but chicken prices continue to rise weekly. Beef production is still down and demand is creeping up, putting pressu...

Chicken pricing is moving up again for next week, wings, boneless breasts and tenders are all getting more money.  Production is increasing weekly, but demand is still strong, and everything is getting sold.  Hatch rate is down again for last week to 78.9%.  Anything under 80% is a concern but we are seeing lower hatch rates for several weeks now.  Hoping this turns around quickly.  On the avian f...

Beef harvest last week was down to 583K head, below last week’s 599K and last year, we were at 631K head for the week.  This curtailed production is continuing, some major packers are only running four days a week making this market tight.  Expect another week below 600K head this week.  The pull back is having the desired affect for the beef producers.  Product is short and pricing is moving up q...

Last week's beef harvest dropped to 583K, continuing a trend of reduced production with some major packers operating only four days a week. Expect another week below 600K. Shortages are driving prices up, particularly for strip loins, top rounds, sirloin flap, and skirt steaks, while brisket prices are expected to decrease after St. Patrick's Day. Chicken production is up from last year,...

Beef harvest continues to stay steady, but well below average compared to last year. Top rounds are moving up quickly while middle meats, loins, and ribeyes continue a steady pattern moving up. Buy what you need. The corn surplus is expected to support new biojet fuel technology, so we are not seeing it get below $4 as expected. Soy is holding steady and wheat continues the same story from the las...

Grain prices are decreasing, which is good news for food processors and animal production.  Beef production is being reduced, which has caused prices to rise for most items except for ground beef, which is getting cheaper.  Chicken production is strong, and prices are unlikely to change in the coming weeks. However, eleven new cases of Avian Flu were reported, which affected 92k birds, mostly turk...

Beef harvest is down for another week with expectations of going below 600k next week. Packers are lowering the harvest to keep inventories tight and push prices up. Next week should be a good buy opportunity. The next move will be higher prices for pretty much every item. Chicken pricing continues on the current trend upward. Only two new cases of Avian Flu were reported, affecting 21,000 turkeys...

Beef demand is not keeping up with beef production. Packers have more product than they can move without discounting and they have no interest in discounting. Buy what you need, there isn't much risk to the upside. Wings continue to increase even after the Super Bowl. Breasts and tenderloins move higher as well. Demand is strong for fresh poultry and production is about on par with last year...

Beef demand is not strong. Harvest was up this week, but we shouldn't expect that to last. Buy what you need, you may find a bargain or two. Chicken wings will hit their peak on Sunday, so pricing will move higher next week. Breasts are holding steady and tenders are moving up. Three new cases of Avian Flu were reported affecting 102,000 birds. Corn is down again this week, which is great new...

Starting with grains this week, corn is moving lower again and it's probably not done. This is good for everyone (except corn farmers). Soy and wheat are in the same mode. Beef harvest is holding up pretty well, but retailers are not interested in beef at the elevated prices pushed by recent storms. Prices are moving lower on most items, except ground beef, which should continue through Febru...

Beef production recovered nicely after the winter storm disruptions. Packers pushed pricing up pretty quickly, but this doesn't seem sustainable into February. The quick rise prices should move lower towards the end of the month, with middle meats being an exception as they have already bottomed out. Chicken pricing is moving higher as expected. Production is about 1% higher over last year an...

Multiple storms in the Midwest have turned the beef market a little more quickly than expected. The decline in the middle meats should last one more week. We'll most likely see increases in the last week of January. Next week is the time to buy middle meats, everything else is buy it now, it will cost more money later.  Chicken is up again for next week with wings, random breasts, and tenders...

Bad winter weather in the Midwest had big effects on beef production. Two major packers idled plants completely and several were only running one shift. This will tighten availability. If you need middle meats, buy what you need. Other cuts will be better to buy sooner than later. Chicken production was up slightly. Wings, breasts, and tenders are moving higher but chicken is still a good protein...

Happy New Year! In the beef market, we are seeing the seasonal market correction for ribeyes and tenderloins begin. Buy what you need weekly knowing that next week will probably be a better value. Chucks, rounds, and grinds are moving in the exact opposite way. Chicken pricing is moving higher this week with an expectation that this will continue. Only two new cases of Avian Flu were reported affe...

The beef market is moving like it is the end of the year.  Those high flying ribeye's and tenderloins will start to move lower come the first of the year and continue down typically to the end of January, maybe into early February.   Savalfoods.com  |  Find us on Social Media :  Instagram ,  Facebook ,  YouTube ,  Twitter ,  LinkedIn

Beef harvest was up from last week. Middle meats, ribeyes, and tenderloins should see their peak prices before moving lower after the New Year. If you need rounds, chucks, and grinds, buy now. 21 new Avian Flu cases have been reported affecting 2.3 million birds. Pricing in chicken is moving up, but is nothing to be concerned about. Surprising all of us, bellies closed lower than last week at just...

Beef harvest continues strong through the peak holiday season. Middle meats are moving up again for next week which hopefully means there is nowhere to go but down from here. The value in beef is in rounds, chucks, and grinds.  We are still seeing new Avian Flu reports with 11 new cases this week affecting over 3 million birds. In chicken, party wings are moving lower while breasts and tenders are...

We are in peak holiday season for beef pricing. Harvest was up this week but demand seems to have adjusted to the lower harvest numbers. Hopefully we'll see the market make some big changes after a couple of weeks. There were 13 new Avian Flu reports over the last week affecting 836,000 birds. None of this is good news as chicken flocks and turkeys are taking big hits. Pricing on chicken cont...

In the past two weeks, the Avian Flu removed close to 5 million birds from the food supply. Cases have been confirmed in 26 states so far. We're keeping an eye on the situation. Chicken production and pricing remain similar to past weeks. Middle meats are creeping higher in beef, and rounds, chucks, and grounds are coming down. Briskets have shot up as well. If you need beef, buy now. Pork be...

Beef production is down again from last week and last year. Middle meats are moving up a bit, while the others are due for some lower pricing. Bellies closed at $98 and will most likely stay in this area. Avian Flu has new numbers this week, and they aren't good. Not a trend we want to see. Pricing on chicken is mostly holding steady. Grain harvest is still looking good with exports picking u...

The beef holiday items are all moving higher for next week. We’ve been saying it for months but the lower beef production will continue into next year.  If you are in the market for beef, buy now, next week will cost you more money.  Pork production continues strong and pricing is attractive. Chicken production is down again this week, but pricing continues to move lower. Corn and soy received hug...