The latest USDA data is giving pork producers plenty to think about as they look toward 2026. After a year of steady profitability, markets are showing a softer tone heading into fall, but the fundamentals remain solid. The most recent Hogs and Pigs Report provided a fresh look at inventories and production trends, suggesting a slightly tighter supply picture than analysts had anticipated.
Lee Schulz, chief economist at Ever.Ag, says those government reports are an important place to start when evaluating how the next few months might unfold. He says the latest numbers came as a bit of a surprise.
Schulz says if those USDA figures hold true, pork supplies could begin to tighten as the year winds down. That could influence prices and shift how producers approach their marketing plans through early next year.
While 2025 has brought welcome relief and profitability averaging around twenty dollars per head, the industry has not moved to expand. Schulz says that restraint is intentional as producers focus on maintaining stability in the face of high costs and global uncertainty.
From a demand standpoint, exports remain a key strength, and domestic consumers are still showing plenty of interest in pork. The Checkoff-funded Taste What Pork Can Do campaign continues to help the industry reach more Americans and showcase pork’s versatility in today’s food market.
Stay informed with the National Pork Board and future insights from economists like Schulz by subscribing to updates at porkcheckoff.org.
