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Meat prices in the US dropped in early February 2009 due to a decrease in exports caused by lower global demand. Choice beef prices fell 3.5% to $136.87/hundredweight, while pork prices fell 0.2% to $56.83/hundredweight.

Meat prices have risen as of May 2010, with the pork-carcass composite value up 60% from the previous year's levels. Bargain-conscious consumers must take advantage of cheap meat prices as grocers have not yet passed the higher costs to their buyers.

A few percentage point decline in supply should benefit pork prices and that should benefit pork producers and investors in hog futures. Hog prices and pork demand were thwarted in early 2009 and the overcapacity of hogs weighed on wholesale prices.

Hog and wholesale pork prices are starting to show signs of a rebound after a two-year nightmare for the North American swine producers. Retailers are featuring pork at lower prices so consumers are buying more.

Pork prices fell to 65.57 cents a pound under the onslaught of swine-flu news reports. It is too soon to tell the effect of the disease on the demand for pork but some cite how the demand for chicken cratered following the avian flu.

The rising cost of animal feeds will force meat producers to trim their herds which could affect beef prices by 2009 or 2010. 2008 hog and pork production is expected to top 2007's production despite the high price of feeds.

An analysis of U.S. pork exports to China is presented. Although there was an increase in pork production in the U.S. in 2007, cheaper pork prices will not be guaranteed, based on the amount of exports to China. The country suspended pork imports from the U.S. due to the alleged contamination of meat with ractopamine, a feed additive.

The hike in the prices of meat and poultry dye to harsh winter and reduced supplies is presented.

The article examines agricultural commodities, focusing on the turkey industry as a nod to the season.

Worries overseas about the highly pathogenic H5N1 Asian avian influenza, or bird flu, are curbing US chicken exports and pushing poultry-company stocks close to 52-week lows in May 2006. Most Wall Street analysts have Neutral ratings on the shares of the top chicken producers, namely, Tyson Foods, Pilgrim's Pride, and Gold Kist, and are taking a wait-and-watch position.

The U.S. banned cattle and beef imports from Canada on May 20, 2003, after a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or a mad-cow disease, was discovered in Alberta. Canada has cut back on cattle production since the import ban was imposed, while it increased its beef-processing capacity, so its plants are able to handle a larger portion of the animals produced there and the beef prices became very cheap because most production had to be absorbed domestically.

Meat product sellers and millions of non-vegetarian Americans are delighted as high protein and low carbohydrate diets are believed to be good for health. Livestock and wholesale meat prices have soared, as people are aware of the dietary values of a protein rich diet.

A 5%-higher hog slaughter in April/May 2002 vs. 2001 may further soften hog prices to near-1994 lows. Sugar prices also sank, to 2-year lows.