News

USDA expects higher 2019 chicken production

The USDA increased its projection for 2019 commercial chicken production slightly, while lowering turkey.

Broiler production is now seen at 43.034 billion pounds, up 43 million on the month because of hatchery numbers and expectations for heavier average weights, with slightly lower exports and fractional increase in per capita consumption.

Turkey was down modestly from June at 5.876 billion pounds because of the year to date production pace, while holding exports unchanged and raising per capita consumption one tenth of one percent.

The average broiler price is seen at $.90 per pound, down $.03 from last month because of recent price activity, and turkeys are pegged at $.86 per pound, up a half a cent following stronger second quarter prices.

The USDA’s poultry production numbers for June are out July 24th.