Pork
Total red meat supplies were up 4 percent from March but down 4 percent from April 2025.
Year-to-date red meat production is down 2 percent, with beef lower and pork higher.
For producers, demand is strong, but drought, disease, and costs still shape supply.
Tight cattle supplies should keep beef prices supported, while dairy, pork, and poultry are poised for greater production growth.
The Meat Institute says meat sales reached a record $112 billion last year as protein demand remained strong nationwide.
Community Supported Agriculture programs continue helping farms secure early-season funding while connecting consumers with local food.
American Farm Bureau economist Bernt Nelson says consumers are still buying meat despite ongoing price pressures.
Analysts say drought, tight cattle supplies and summer grilling demand continue shaping the protein market outlook.
For more than 70 years, The Pancake Shop has served sausage supplied by the Hawthorn family’s meat operation.