Pork producers hang in there, head for 2010

摘要

FOR pork producers, the call of the moment is for them to "hang in there" and get to 2010, and getting to 2010 will be difficult given little decrease in production, sliding demand in the U.S. and 2008 exports that will be impossible to repeat in 2009, according to Feedstuffs sources. Despite horrendous losses this year — which was the second-worst year in history — pork producers seem hardly ready to cut back production. The breeding herd on Sept. 1 was down 2.6% from the year before, but that was barely the minimum analysts said was necessary to begin restoring profitability and was nowhere near the 5-10% some were urging.