Meat Production Expected To Be Down In 2022

2021 was a record year for U.S. meat and poultry production. So, what's the expectation when it comes to production in 2022?

"We expect total meat production to be down, just fractionally at .2%, 106.6 billion pounds.  This should be the first decline since 2014."

USDA Livestock Analyst Shayle Shagam said declines in red meat production will offset expected increases in poultry production in the year ahead.

"If we turn to the export side, tighter domestic supplies and increased competition will be limiting exports.  We're talking about 5% lower exports of beef, about 3% lower exports of pork, but broilers will be about .1% higher."

While imports, he noted, will be similar, but in reverse.

"We have lower production, we have some increase in supplies in a number of competing markets.  On the beef side, up about .7%.  And on the pork side, up about 11%," Shagam noted.

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