If you like pork, and have a freezer, now might be a good time to stock up. Pork prices are going higher. I don't really know how soon, but before too long, I predict price increases of 25-50% or more.
Might be in a month, might be 6 months, but it's coming.
I've been raising hogs more or less all my life, and was a member of the national Pork Board until they decided to chase the big $$$ and screw over us little guys (sorry, going off topic). Anyway, I still get their newsletters & as of right now, pork production (big hogs ready for processing) is at 3-5% above this time last year, but farrowings (baby pigs) are way down right now. Once the pigs running around now are processed, there will be notably less pork to go around.

On a side note, I just got the check for the last hogs I raised, my pens are cleaned out. Raised up to 1000 hogs per year on this place pretty much since my Grandpa bought it. For the first time in about 50 years, there isn't a hog on the place. The reason isn't high feed prices, but lack of markets. When Tyson bought out IBP, they took out all the competition in the area, now there is only 1 other hog buyer within 150 miles. Just no way I can haul 20-30 hogs at a time & ever come out ahead. Sad when you look up what hogs are bringing in the Chicago or Omaha markets (mid $.60/lb range) and I had to sell my last ones for $.38.

MMMMMMM ribs. Better stock up the freezer.

I mean really...this is a miracle animal...bacon, sausage, ribs, ham, roasts....

You left out PEPPERONI!!!!

Ohhhh, pepperoni, salami, beer sticks, kolbassa, garlic coil... God bless the pig

The hog industry in Canada is in the krappper. Just starting to rebound now. The high Canadian and low US dollar is putting many producers out of business. When Hutterite's are shutting down hog production, you really know there isn't much money in it. Canadian Gov't recently announced a massive sow cull to drop numbers hopefully to cut supply and raise domestic prices.

The dollar is only one factor, grain and feed prices and energy costs are the other. Just remember that Canadian producers have higher costs in heating barns in the winter time than US producers.

seems like everything on the market is going up!

True, but pork is going to REALLY go up before too long, because of all the producers cutting back production. This will cause short supplies, and drive up prices.
Cattle, not so much to worry about, at least not yet. Prices are creeping up, but with adequate supplies it looks to be more gradual. With hogs/pork, I think one day suddenly the supplies will be short, and the prices could literally double in a month.

I'll wait till later and support the hog producers. Why not? I already support the dairy industry, the beef industry, the grain industry, the oil industry and the hot hot air industry. I can't wait till they all support me.

andys wrote:

The hog industry in Canada is in the krappper. Just starting to rebound now. The high Canadian and low US dollar is putting many producers out of business. When Hutterite's are shutting down hog production, you really know there isn't much money in it. Canadian Gov't recently announced a massive sow cull to drop numbers hopefully to cut supply and raise domestic prices. The dollar is only one factor, grain and feed prices and energy costs are the other. Just remember that Canadian producers have higher costs in heating barns in the winter time than US producers.

Here in Manitoba there are hog barns shutting down as well and it's not good!!! I have a couple of freinds that run a custom manure injecting company and so far it has not really afected them much yet. But if it should get worth and more producers decide to call it quites, who knows???