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Red meat, poultry in cold storage sharply higher
The USDA says red meat in cold storage at the end of September was up sharply on the year.
Beef came out at a record 522.862 million pounds, up 19% on the year with 2022 beef production trending ahead of 2021, including an all-time monthly high in September.
Pork was reported at 537.879 million pounds, 14% above a year ago despite slower production, due at least in part to demand.
The red meat total of 1.096 billion pounds was 17% higher than this time last year.
Poultry in cold storage was pegged at 1.269 billion pounds, 10% more than a year ago, with an 18% jump in chicken to 873.019 million pounds more than cancelling out a 5% drop in turkey to 394.455 million pounds.
That rise in chicken supplies followed a 2% year-to-year increase in September production, while turkey production fell 11%, which can be tied to flock liquidation due to highly pathogenic avian influenza.
The USDA’s next set of cold storage numbers is out November 22nd.
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