WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD NEWS) — The latest Cold Storage Report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) showed mixed inventory signals to close 2025, with red meat supplies building month to month while remaining lower than a year ago, and dairy stocks moving in opposite directions as butter tightened further. The report suggests near-term supply pressure in some meat categories, while reduced butter stocks may offer support to dairy pricing.
Total red meat supplies in freezers on December 31 were up 4 percent from the prior month but down 3 percent from a year earlier. Beef stocks increased 3 percent month to month but were still 4 percent below last year. Pork inventories rose 5 percent from November yet remained 2 percent below a year ago, indicating seasonal stocking without a broad year-over-year build.
Within pork, belly stocks stood out. USDA reported pork bellies up 74 percent from the previous month and 8 percent higher than a year earlier, a sharp late-year increase that could influence pricing dynamics for bacon-related demand into early 2026.
Dairy inventories were split. Natural cheese stocks were up 1 percent from November and up 1 percent from a year earlier, suggesting a steady supply. Butter stocks, however, fell 5 percent from the prior month and were down 7 percent year over year, tightening available supplies.
Frozen poultry supplies edged higher from November but remained lower than last year, with chicken stocks up year over year while turkey inventories stayed sharply reduced compared with December 2024. Frozen vegetables continued to tighten, down both month-to-month and year-over-year.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Meat stocks rose seasonally but remain below last year overall, while tighter butter inventories could support dairy prices, and belly stocks bear watching for pork markets.
Tony St. James, RFD NEWS Markets Specialist
Agronomy experts explain why standing crop residue protects soil and reduces costs for crop growers, while shredding often yields little benefit at higher costs.
January 14, 2026 08:00 AM
·
Secretary Rollins also met with specialty crop producers at a local strawberry farm to discuss workforce needs and the Trump Administration’s recent wins related to significantly cutting the cost of H-2A labor for California farmers.
January 13, 2026 03:25 PM
·
China’s beef policy risk stems from domestic volatility, making export demand inherently unstable. Jake Charleston with Specialty Risk Insurance offers his perspective on cattle markets, risk management, and producer sentiment.
January 13, 2026 02:13 PM
·
USDA flash corn sales, Cattle on Feed and Inventory reports, and beef packer antitrust concerns dominate January agricultural market news.
January 13, 2026 01:53 PM
·
Larger grain stocks increase supply pressure, but strong fall disappearance — especially for corn and sorghum — suggests demand remains an important offset.
January 13, 2026 01:02 PM
·
Record corn and sorghum crops boost feed grain supplies, while reduced soybean and cotton production tighten outlooks for oilseeds and fiber markets.
January 13, 2026 12:53 PM
·
Food prices increased in December, but not as much as expected, according to the latest Consumer Price Index from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
January 13, 2026 12:46 PM
·
Lewis Williamson with HTS Commodities joined us to provide analysis on the January WASDE report and expectations for grain markets going forward.
January 13, 2026 12:34 PM
·
Structural efficiency supports cattle prices and resilience — breaking it risks higher costs and greater volatility.
January 13, 2026 08:00 AM
·
