Source: USDA AMS Agricultural Analytics Division Page 1

Any opinions expressed represent those of the authors for the limited purpose of this newsletter and do not represent the official position of the Department. 

A monthly publication of the USDA AMS, Livestock and Poultry, Agricultural Analytics Division Volume 02-19

February 2019

EGGS

Production

December table egg production totaled 688 million dozen, up 

4 percent from December 2017. On January 1, the number of 

birds in the table egg flock was 332 million, up 3 percent 

compared to a year earlier. Egg-type hatching egg production 

was 98 million eggs, up 3 percent from a year ago. There were 

1.09 billion broiler-type hatching eggs produced in December, 

up 3 percent from last year. 

The broiler-type laying flock on January 1 was 58.7 million 

hens, up 2 percent from 2018. Shell eggs broken totaled 206 

million dozen during December 2018, up 9 percent from 

December a year ago, and 4 percent above the 198 million 

broken in November.

Price

Table egg prices in January showed no consistent pattern. 

January prices began at 124 cents/dozen, fell to 100 cents and 

closed the month back up at 134 cents/dozen (New York Grade 

A large wholesale). Breaking stock prices were much less 

volatile in January, but their trend was similar. Prices opened 

in January at 44.5 cents/dozen, fell to 38.5 cents, and ended 

back up at 43.5 cents/dozen.

International Trade

Domestic exports of shell eggs in December totaled 17 million 

dozen with a value of $36 million, a decline of 4 percent in 

volume and 3 percent in value compared with 2017 and an 

increase of 2 percent in volume but a drop in value of 11 

percent compared with November. For the year 2018, shell 

egg exports were up 5 percent in volume and 12 percent in 

value compared with 2017.

December egg products exports were valued at $12 million, 10 

percent below last year and 11 percent below November. Egg 

products exports for 2018 were down 9 percent compared 

with 2017. The top five destinations for exports in December 

were Mexico, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan and Jamaica.

TURKEY

Production

December turkey production was 559 million pounds on a 

ready-to-cook basis. Daily production was down 5 percent 

compared with November, and down 2 percent compared with 

last December. December poults placed were 4 percent above 

2017 and the number of eggs in incubators on January 1 was 9 

percent above January 2018.

Cold storage holdings of turkey and turkey products on 

December 31 were up 9 percent from November and down 4 

percent compared with December. Inventories of whole hens 

were up 12 percent monthly and down 4 percent from 2017, 

while toms were up 3 percent on the month, and down 13 

percent on the year. White meat stocks were 7 percent higher 

than November, and 5 percent more than 2017, while dark 

meat supplies, were up 13 and 8 percent, respectively.

Price

Both whole frozen hens and toms closed the month of January 

at 83 cents/lb., 4 percent above January 2017, and up from a 

December average of 79 cents/lb. Boneless/skinless (B/S) 

breast meat closed January at 209 cents/lb., down 2 cents from 

December and up from 155 cents/lb. in 2018. B/S thigh meat 

traded at 123 at the close of January, down 8 cents from 

December and down 1 cent from last year. At the close of 

January, tom drumsticks traded at 68 cents/lb., down 2 cents 

from December and 5 cents higher than in 2017.

International Trade

The U.S. exported 22.1 thousand metric tons of turkey 

products in December valued at $49 million. This was a 

decrease of 7 percent in volume and 5 percent in value 

compared with 2017 and a respective decrease of 11 and 12 

percent compared with November. Compared with 2017, 

exports for all of 2018 were lower by 2 percent in volume but 

up 2 percent in value. In December, our five largest export 

destinations were Mexico, Japan, Canada, The Bahamas and 

Hong Kong.

The Economic Landscape The Economic Landscape
Source: USDA AMS Agricultural Analytics Division Page 2

Any opinions expressed represent those of the authors for the limited purpose of this newsletter and do not represent the official position of the Department. 

CHICKEN

Production

Broiler production in December totaled 4.3 billion pounds on a 

ready-to-cook basis. Daily production was down 2 percent 

compared with November, and down 3 percent compared with 

December 2017. Average dressed weights in December were 

down 1 percent from the previous month and down 1 percent 

from last year. Trends in eggs in incubators and in chick 

placements indicate that production will be up slightly in the 

weeks ahead. For the four weeks ending January 28, eggs set 

were up 2 percent and chick placements were up 1 percent.

Total cold storage stocks of chicken and chicken products at 

the end of December were down slightly compared with 

November, but up 6 percent compared with December 2017. 

Whole broilers inventories were down slightly month-tomonth but up 48 percent year-to-year. White meat products 

added 1 percent to November’s total, and less than 1 percent 

to the volume last year. Overall stocks of dark meat, however, 

fell 19 percent from November and 29 percent from 2017. Leg 

quarters in cold storage were down 12 percent month-overmonth and 41 percent year-over-year. Inventories of wings 

were down 13 percent compared with November but up 17 

from last December

Price

The National composite price for whole broilers, fell steadily 

through January, losing 13 cents/lb. to close the month at 92 

cents/lb. slightly higher than last year. Boneless/skinless (B/S) 

breast meat rose through the month, gaining 7 cents to close 

at 104 cents/lb., 3 percent above 2017. B/S thigh meat held 

steady and closed down 1 cent at 116 cents/lb., 20 percent 

more yearly. Leg quarter prices gained 3 cents to end at 31 

cents/lb., a yearly rise of 15 percent. Drumsticks lost 4 cents, 

falling to 33 cents/lb., but remained up 12 percent from last 

year. Wings jumped 34 cents to 191 cents/lb., still 9 percent 

below 2017.

International Trade

Broiler exports in December totaled 263 thousand metric tons, 

valued at $228 million. This was 2 percent increase in volume 

and a 12 percent decline in value relative November, and loss 

of 7 percent in volume and 10 percent in value from 2017. For 

all of 2018, exports were up 4 percent in volume and 

fractionally up in value compared to last year. Mexico, Canada, 

Taiwan, Cuba and Hong Kong were the five largest importers 

of U.S. turkey products in December.

BEEF/VEAL

Production

December commercial beef production, at 2.12 billion pounds, 

was 2 percent below 2017, and was down 9 percent compared 

to November with one less production day. Cattle slaughter 

totaled 2.58 million head, even with last December and 8 

percent below the month before. The average live weight was 

down 12 pounds from the previous year, at 1,368 pounds. 

January to December 2018 commercial beef production 

increased 3 percent from 2017. December veal production was 

down 2 percent from 2017, at 6.5 million pounds, and was 3 

percent below the November output. Calf slaughter was up 16 

percent from 2017, totaling 53,600 head, but was down 3 

percent monthly. The average live weight was 210 pounds, 35 

pounds less than last year. Total 2018 veal production rose 2 

percent from 2017. Cold storage beef at the end of December 

was up 2 percent from the prior year, but down 4 percent from 

November 2018. Boneless beef stocks increased 4 percent 

from 2017 but fell 2 percent from the previous month. Beef 

cuts in freezers were down 18 percent on a monthly basis, and 

down 20 percent year-over-year. Frozen veal stocks were 50 

percent lower than 2017 and were down 10 percent from 

November.

Price

Live cattle prices (FOB, steers and heifers) saw only slight 

changes in January and ended the month back to the starting 

price of $122 per cwt, 4 percent higher than the January 2018 

closing price. The beef cutout also initially lost some value but 

also ended back to the starting price of $216 per cwt, up 3 

percent from the year before. The 90 percent lean boneless 

beef price gained steadily in January, rising $11 to $207 per 

cwt, down 6 percent from 2018. The 50 percent lean trim 

prices started the month up $5 per cwt from the end of 

December, but lost steam through the month to end at $58 per 

cwt, 34 percent below last year. Non-packer owned veal 

carcasses fell $1 to $309 per cwt, while packer owned veal 

carcasses held steady at $306 per cwt, down 4 percent and up 

1 percent from 2018, respectively. The veal cutout average 

continued to hold at $395 per cwt, down 7 percent from last 

year.

International Trade

Compared to December 2017, beef and veal exports (including 

variety meats) fell slightly percent to 113 thousand MT but the 

export value added 4 percent to $700 million. The export 

volume and value were down by under 1 percent and 1 percent 

from November, respectively. Total 2018 exports were 7 

percent higher than in 2017, and the value rose by 15 percent. 

South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong were our largest export 

markets in December. Year-over-year beef import volumes 

were up 2 percent to 76 thousand MT and were up 3 percent 

in value to $420 million. Compared to November, beef import 

volume and value were down 3 and 5 percent, respectively. 

Total import volumes in 2018 were slightly lower in volume but 

up 7 percent value from 2017. Canada, Mexico and Australia 

were the largest importers of beef to the U.S.
Source: USDA AMS Agricultural Analytics Division Page 3

Any opinions expressed represent those of the authors for the limited purpose of this newsletter and do not represent the official position of the Department. 

PORK

Production

December pork production was down slightly from 2017 at 

2.23 billion pounds, and down 5 percent from November 2018. 

Hog slaughter was down slightly compared to last year at 10.5 

million head and lost 5 percent on a monthly basis. The average 

live weight was steady on a year-over-year basis, at 286 

pounds. Total pork production for 2018 increased 3 percent 

from 2017. The total inventory of frozen pork was down 2 

percent from the end of November, but up 3 percent from last 

year. Picnic supplies were 13 percent lower than the preceding 

month, and 28 percent below 2017. Total hams in cold storage 

fell 17 percent month over month but rose 18 percent yearly. 

Compared to November, total loin stocks were down 3 

percent, rib stocks were 4 percent higher, and inventories of 

butts were 7 percent lower. On a year-over-year basis, loins 

and ribs were down 8 and 10 percent, respectively, while butts 

were up 33 percent. Pork trimmings in cold storage added 15 

percent on a monthly basis, and 27 percent yearly. Stocks of 

pork bellies were 13 percent higher than last month and up 121 

percent from last year.

Price

The negotiated carcass price for barrows and gilts held steady 

through most of January but lost $2 to end at $68 per cwt, 17 

percent below 2018. The pork cutout value also tracked at $70 

per cwt through the month, and closed at $68 per cwt, 18 

percent less than 2018. Trimmed, bone-in hams, 23-27 pounds 

bounced around a bit before closing up $8 at $53 per cwt, 17 

percent below the 2018 price. Picnic meat combos, cushion 

out, fluctuated between $55 and $60 per cwt before spiking to 

$78 per cwt, down 6 percent year-over-year. Following 

seasonal patterns, pork trim, 72 percent lean added $12, 

closing the month at $58 per cwt, down 20 percent from 2018. 

Pork belly primal values took an early seasonal decline, falling 

$15 through the month to $115 per cwt, 23 percent below last 

year.

International Trade

Pork exports in December (including variety meats) were down 

4 percent from 2017 to 204 thousand MT, and the value was 

11 percent lower at $496 million. Pork export volume 

increased 1 percent from November, while the value lost 1 

percent. Cumulative 2018 export volume was down 1 percent 

from last year, with value down 3 percent. The largest overseas 

markets for U.S. pork were Japan, Mexico and Canada. 

December pork imports were down 12 percent in volume to 37 

thousand MT and shed 11 percent in value to $126 million. 

Import volumes were 2 percent lower and value fell 4 percent 

from November. Total yearly pork imports were down 7 

percent in volume and in value from 2017. The countries of 

Canada, Poland and Italy imported the largest volumes of pork 

to the U.S.

LAMB

Production

December lamb and mutton production gained 3 percent yearover-year and month-over-month at 13.2 million pounds. 

Sheep slaughter totaled 201,800 head, 7 percent above last 

year and up very slightly from the previous month. The average 

live weight was 131 pounds, 5 pounds below December 2017. 

Total commercial lamb production in 2018 added 5 percent to 

the 2017 volume. Cold storage of lamb and mutton in 

December was down 4 percent from November but was up 36 

percent from December 2017.

Price

After closing December up slightly, for negotiated live 

slaughter lamb prices January saw very limited changes, and 

ended down $2 to $133 per cwt, up 1 percent from the prior 

year. The lamb cutout gyrated up and down through the 

month, but lost $10 at $381 cwt, 7 percent higher than in 2018. 

Leg of lamb, trotter-off prices followed a similar pattern, 

shedding $18 to $364 per cwt, 2 percent above the prior year’s 

price. Boneless lamb shoulder prices bounced between $520 

and $560 per cwt, with a final price of $524, 4 percent below 

last year.

International Trade

December lamb exports fell 40 percent from 2017 levels at 138 

MT and decreased 23 percent in value to $1.0 million. 

Compared to November, export volume lost 40 percent and 

the value lost 30 percent. Total 2018 exports were down 1 

percent in volume and down 4 percent in value compared to 

2017. Netherlands Antilles, The Bahamas and Mexico were the 

largest export markets of U.S. lamb and mutton. Lamb imports 

in December were up 6 percent from 2017 at 8.5 thousand MT, 

and the value of imports was up 18 percent to $84 million. On 

a monthly basis, the import volume and value increased 6 and 

8 percent, respectively. The total 2018 import volume was 9 

percent higher than in 2017, and the value was up 13 percent. 

Australia, New Zealand and Mexico were the largest sources of 

imports.

Questions, comments, or suggestions for articles? 

Contact Sherry.Wise@ams.usda.gov.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture 

(USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and 

employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs 

are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, 

religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, 

disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a 

public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior 

civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA 

(not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines 

vary by program or incident.
Source: USDA AMS Agricultural Analytics Division Page 4

Any opinions expressed represent those of the authors for the limited purpose of this newsletter and do not represent the official position of the Department. 

75

85

95

105

115

125

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

cents per pound

Wkly Whole Ready-to-Cook Broiler/Fryer Prices

2019 2018 2015-2017 avg

30

35

40

45

50

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

cents per pouund

Northeast Chicken Drumstick Prices

2019 2018 2015-2017 avg

180

200

220

240

260

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

dollars per cwt

Fresh Boneless Beef, 90% Lean

2019 2018 2015-2017 avg

30

45

60

75

90

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

dollars per cwt

Wkly Bnls Pork Trimmings, Fresh 72% Combo

2019 2018 2015-2017 avg
`

A popular choice in patty 

and sausage form. In 

2016, 24% of annual 

ground TURKEY

marketings at retail 

occurred during the 

tailgate season – 1%

above the average annual 

marketing rate. During 

the 2016 season, fans 

consumed an estimated

83 million pounds of 

ground turkey.

`

lar choice in patty 

ausage form. In 

, 24% of annual 

ound TURKEY

ketings at retail 

rred during the 

ate season – 1%

he average annual 

ting rate. During 

016 season, fans 

med an estimated

illion pounds of 

round turkey.

A close second to ground 

BEEF for burgers and 

chili, 25% of backrib 

marketings occurred 

during tailgate time in 

2016 – 2% above the 

annual average rate. Fans 

cooked up an estimated 

86 million beef rib bones 

in 2016, a third of a rib for 

every American. 

A close second to ground 

BEEF for burgers and 

chili, 25% of backrib 

marketings occurred 

during tailgate time in 

2016 – 2% above the 

annual average rate. Fans 

cooked up an estimated 

86 million beef rib bones 

in 2016, a third of a rib for 

every American. 

`

Popularly known as the 

Irish potato or the

Kennebec, the most 

common variety,

originated in Maine. 

Primarily used for 

potato chip processing

and for making French

fries as it holds up well 

to frying. Accounted 

for 21% of the 2017 

U.S. crop, about 9

billion pound, most 

used for processing. 

Whites only made up 

6% of retail marketings 

in 2018 with an 

average ad price of 

$2.60 per 5-pound 

bag. 

`

Pontiac is the most 

common variety,

developed in the

1930’s. Low starch so 

they hold together 

when cooked and are

great in potato salad. 

Grown predominately 

in North Dakota and 

Minnesota, accounted

for 7% of the 2017 

harvest, about 3.1

billion pounds. Second 

most popular potato 

marketed at retail in 

2018 with 29% of 

marketings. Most 

popular in 5-pound 

bags with an average

ad price of $3.05/bag. 

`

Yukon Gold is most 

common variety grown. 

Accounted for 3% of 

U.S. production in 

2017, about 1.3 billion 

pounds. Most are 

grown in Colorado and 

Oregon. A popular 

variety in retail outlets 

with 19% of potato 

marketings in 2018

with an average ad 

price of $3.28 per 5-

pound bag. Developed 

in Canada in the 1960’s 

by Dr. Gary Johnston. 

A good all-purpose

potato. 

`

The “French Fry” potato 

developed from the 

work of Luther Burbank 

in the 1870’s. 

The most popular 

potato grown in the 

U.S., making up 69% of 

the 2017 harvest. Best 

for baking. Also, the

most popular potato in 

retail markets with 

47% of 2018 features. 

About half are

marketed in 5-pound 

bags at an average ad 

price of $2.50 per bag 

in 2018.

In 2017, the U.S. 

produced 30.5 billion 

pounds. 

The potato 

originated in

the Andes region of 

South America with 

the Incas and was

brought to Europe in 

the 1500’s by the 

Spanish. 

Thomas 

Jefferson

popularized the 

potato in the U.S. by 

introducing them

done in the 

“French style”

Henry Spalding

introduced potatoes 

to Idaho to the Nez 

Perce tribe in 1837. 

Idaho is the top 

potato producing 

state with 31%

of production 

in 2017. 

Mr. Potato Head

was first sold in 

May 1952 by 

Hasbro. The 

original version 

only had parts –

you supplied the 

potato. 

Source: USDA Agricultural Analytics; Market News, NASS . 

George Crum is 

credited with the 

creation of the

potato chip

(“Saratoga 

chips”) 

in 1853.