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 01-19

January 2019

EGGS

Production

November table egg production totaled 670 million dozen, up 

1 percent from November 2017. On December 1, the number 

of birds in the table egg flock was 326 million, up 2 percent 

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

was 86.3 million eggs, up 19 percent from a year earlier. There 

were 1.10 billion broiler-type hatching eggs produced in 

November, up 1 percent from last year.

The broiler-type laying flock on December 1 was 57.6 million 

hens, 1 percent above December 2017. Shell eggs broken 

totaled 211 million dozen during November, up 7 percent from 

November a year ago and up 3 percent from the 204 million 

broken in October. Pullets for all egg-types added to flocks in 

November were up 10 percent year-over-year.

Price

The price of one dozen Grade A Large eggs in the New York 

wholesale market began the month at 130 cents/dozen and 

rose to 133 for much of the month, before ending at 126 

cents/dozen, 11 cents below the price in 2017. Breaking stock 

prices lost 19 cents in December to close at 53 cents/dozen, 31 

cents below the price in 2017.

(a more detailed weekly review of shell and egg products 

production and marketing can be found in the weekly Egg 

Markets Overview report. 

International Trade

(trade data for November 2018 not currently available due to 

the lapse in Federal funding.)

TURKEY

Production

(production data for November 2018 not currently available 

due to the lapse in Federal funding.)

Total turkey holdings in storage on November 30 were down 5 

percent from November 2017 and down 38 percent from 

October. Total holdings of whole frozen birds were down 63 

percent monthly and 15 percent yearly, while whole toms were 

down 16 percent and whole hens were down 13 percent 

compared with last November. Stocks of white meat were up 

12 percent year-over-year, and stocks of dark meat were up 4 

percent.

Price

Whole frozen hen prices began the month of December at 83 

cents/lb., but lost ground before the holidays, falling to $73 

before closing the month 79 cents/lb. Whole frozen toms had 

the same pattern, ending the month down 3 cents, at 79 

cents/lb. Both the hen and the tom prices ended the year at 

roughly the same price as in 2017, and roughly 25 percent 

below the 2014 – 2016 average for the end of December. B/S 

breast meat prices ended down 2 cents in December at 208 

cents/lb. 34 percent above 2017 but 42 percent below the 

historical average price. B/S thigh meat fell 1 cent to end the 

month at 131 cents/lb. Tom drumsticks fell 5 cents to close 

December at 70 cents/lb.

International Trade

(trade data for November 2018 not currently available due to 

the lapse in Federal funding.)

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

(production data for November 2018 not currently available 

due to the lapse in Federal funding.)

Total stocks of chicken in cold storage on November 30 were 

down 1 percent compared with the end of October and up 4 

percent compared with November 2017. Whole 

broiler/roaster/fryer supplies were 4 percent below October 

and 14 percent below last year. Breasts and breast meat stocks 

were up 4 percent higher month-over-month and up 8 percent 

year-over-year. Dark meat supplies were down 8 percent on 

the month and 12 percent on the year, with leg quarter 

holdings down 23 percent from October and down 38 percent 

from last November. Thighs and thigh meat stocks were up 16 

percent month-over-month and up 24 percent year-over-year. 

Drumstick holdings were up 5 percent compared with October 

and up 63 percent compared with November 2017. 

Inventories of wings were up 31 percent on the month and up 

24 percent on the year.

Price

The National composite price for whole broilers ended the 

month up 9 cents at 96 cents/lb. Boneless/skinless (B/S) breast 

prices fell 4 cents during the month to close at 84 cents/lb. Leg 

quarter prices fell 3 cents to 27 cents/lb. B/S thigh meat prices 

gained 1 cent to close at 117 cents/lb. Drumsticks lost 1 cent 

to 36 cents/lb. Wings added 2 cents to 148 cents/lb.

International Trade

(trade data for November 2018 not currently available due to 

the lapse in Federal funding.)

BEEF/VEAL

Production

Beef production reached a record high for the month of 

November at 2.31 billion pounds of beef were produced, up 1 

percent from November 2017 and down 5 percent from 

October. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.80 million head, up 1 

percent from last November and down 5 percent from 

October. The average live weight was down 4 pounds from last 

year, at 1,370 pounds. Total beef production for the first ten 

months of 2018 grew 3 percent from last year. November veal 

production was up 4 percent from last year at 6.7 million 

pounds, and down 8 percent from October. 55,500 calves were 

slaughtered in October, 31 percent fewer than in 2017. The 

average live weight was down 50 pounds from last year, at 210 

pounds. Year-to-date veal production was 2 percent higher 

than in 2017.

Total beef in cold storage were down slightly from October 

2018 and up 6 percent from November 2017. Boneless beef 

stocks increased 1 percent on a month-over-month basis and 

7 percent year-over-year. Frozen beef cut inventories fell 13 

percent from the month prior were down 1 percent yearly. The 

volume of veal in cold storage was down 7 percent from 

October and down 42 percent from November 2017. 

Price

Live cattle prices (FOB, steers and heifers) steadily gained $7 

through December to close at $122 per cwt, slightly below the 

prior year value. In the first half of the month, the beef cutout 

added $6 in December to close at $215 per cwt, 6 percent 

higher than 2017. The 90 percent lean boneless beef wholesale 

price increased $1, 7 percent below the year before at $196 

per cwt. The 50 percent lean trim price lost $6 in December, 

closing at $61 per cwt, up 6 percent from last year. Nonpackerowned veal carcass added $1 to end the month at $310 per 

cwt, while packer-owned veal carcasses, rose $1 and closed at 

$307 per cwt, both 6 percent below 2017. The veal cutout 

average held steady at $395 per cwt, 7 percent below last

year’s value.

International Trade

(trade data for November 2018 not currently available due to 

the lapse in Federal funding.)
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

November pork production rose to a record level for this this 

month at 2.35 billion pounds, up 5 percent from last year and 

4 percent below October. Total hog slaughter was 11.00 million 

head, up 5 percent from last year and 5 percent lower than the 

month before. The average live weight was down 1 pound from 

last year at 285 pounds. Accumulated pork production for 

January-November 2018 was 3 percent higher than last year. 

Frozen pork supplies at the end of November were 11 percent 

lower than in October, and up 1 percent from 2017. Stocks of 

pork bellies were up 38 percent monthly and up 5 percent from 

last year. Picnics in cold storage fell 17 percent monthly and 5 

percent yearly. Ham inventories were down 45 percent from 

October, and down 2 percent from last year. Rib holdings 

added 7 percent to the prior month and 8 percent to the yearly 

volume, while loin supplies lost 1 percent from October and fell 

7 percent below 2017. Pork trimmings in cold storage were 2 

percent higher monthly and 15 percent higher yearly.

Price

The negotiated carcass price for barrows and gilts continued its 

decent, losing $8, to close December at $50 per cwt, 15 percent 

below 2017. The pork cutout value lost $6 through December, 

closing the month at $76 per cwt, down 13 percent from last 

year. Trimmed, bone-in hams, 23-27 pounds held mostly 

steady through the month, ending down $1 at $51 per cwt, 21 

percent lower yearly. The price for picnic meat combos,

cushion-out, dropped $14 in December, to $55 per cwt, 33 

percent below 2017. Pork trim, 72 percent lean lost $5 to $47 

per cwt, down 28 percent from 2017. Pork belly primals lost 

$28 to end at $111 per cwt, 22 percent above 2017.

International Trade

(trade data for November 2018 not currently available due to 

the lapse in Federal funding.)

LAMB

Production

November production of lamb and mutton was 12.8 million 

pounds, 4 percent higher than 2017, and down 2 percent from 

October. Sheep slaughter was 193,200 head, up 3 percent from 

last year and slightly lower than October. The average live 

weight was up 1 pounds from 2017 at 133 pounds. Total 2018 

commercial lamb and mutton production was 5 percent higher 

than 2017. Lamb and mutton stocks were 4 percent lower 

monthly but up 31 percent year-over-year.

Price

Negotiated live slaughter lamb prices increased $2 in 

December, closing the month at $135 per cwt, 5 percent above 

2017. The lamb cutout value added $8, rising to $391, 3 

percent above the value a year ago. Leg of lamb, trotter-off 

values gained $11 in December, to close at $381 per cwt, up 9 

percent from 2017. The wholesale price of boneless square-cut 

lamb shoulders closed the month down $8 to $544 per cwt, 10 

percent below last year.

(a more detailed review of lamb production and marketing for 

the month can be found in the monthly Lamb Markets Overview

report.)

International Trade

(trade data for November 2018 not currently available due to 

the lapse in Federal funding.)

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. 

180

200

220

240

260

280

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

dollars per cwt

Fresh Boneless Beef, 90% Lean

2018 2017 2014-2016 avg

30

50

70

90

110

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

dollars per cwt

Wkly Bnls Pork Trimmings, Fresh 72% Combo

2018 2017 2014-2016 avg

120

140

160

180

200

220

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

cents per pound

Chicken Wing Prices - Northeast

2018 2017 2014-2016 avg

45

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

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

cents per pound

Tom Turkey Drumsticks

2018 2017 2014-2016 avg
California grows virtually all U.S. 

plums for prune production, 

651 million pounds in 2017.

In 2017, the U.S. exported 

36% of its prunes, 31% to 

Japan and Germany.

Frank Crumit wrote and recorded 

“The Prune Song” in 1928

“No matter how young a 

prune may be It's always 

full of wrinkles”

In fiscal year 2018, USDA purchased 

7 million pounds of prunes at a cost 

of $12 million for various feeding 

programs, including schools. 

In 2000, the FDA granted the 

California Prune Board permission 

to use “dried plum" as an alternative 

name to “prune”.

In 1850, Louis Pellier, 

“The Prune King”

a French vineyardist, started 

the modern prune industry

in Mission San Jose, Calif. 

Source: USDA AMS L&P Agricultural Analytics; NASS; 

FAS; and California Dried Plums

Dried Plums support bone 

health, heart health, 

digestive health, immunity 

and healthy aging. They are 

naturally low in fat and 

sodium and are 

cholesterol-free