WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD News) — U.S. pork demand has weakened, with supplies rising and export demand softening.
Pork in cold storage is up 12% from a year ago, while domestic consumption remains below pre-COVID levels. USDA has also lowered its outlook for pork shipments later this year.
Pork producers are also watching the farm bill for a potential fix to California’s Proposition 12. Rob Brenneman with the National Pork Producers Council said the House version includes language addressing the law.
“We’re sitting there with the true fix in the farm bill on the House side. If we can merge those together in conference, come out with something on the other end, which is what our plan is, and we believe we can get that accomplished. If the farm bill goes through, we believe we’ll be in there on that with the fix of some type through the conference.”
Brenneman also disputed concerns that overturning Proposition 12 could hurt smaller operators.
“Some people say that if we take it away, it’s going to hurt the small farmer. I will totally disagree. I think it’s going to hurt small farmer if it stays in. That’s the people that we believe, that our goal is keeping business just like the cattle guys. You got to have everybody, the more voices you have, the better off you are. That’s what our goal is, is to maintain that, keep it in the farm bill, get it passed with a fix, and we’ll all be happy. We’ll get the consumers a lower cost product at the same time.”
Brenneman added The Pork Council plans to continue working with lawmakers as the farm bill awaits a full Senate vote. No vote is scheduled before the midterm recess.
