Cheaper feed options and stronger farrowing and hog weight expectations have the pork industry moving toward an expansion, says Purdue University economist Chris Hurt, meaning that pork supplies will begin to grow more rapidly in the last half of 2014.

Feed prices are expected to remain moderate with corn prices only increasing seasonally into the summer and then dropping again with a normal 2014 harvest. Soybean meal prices should move downward for most of the year as South American supplies come to market in the late-winter and spring, and then as larger U.S. soybean acreage continues to put downward pressure on meal prices through the fall, Hurt says.

PROFIT AHEAD? Lower corn prices and higher farrowing intentions may signal expansion, economist Chris Hurt says.

USDA reports the current number of market hogs to be down fractionally, but weights are expected to run about 2% higher and result in a 1% to 2% increase in pork production for the first half of 2014.

"Farrowing intentions for this winter and coming spring are up 1 to 2%," Hurt said. "With pigs per litter about 1.5% higher and higher weights, pork production in the last half of 2014 will be up nearly 4%. Pork production is likely to continue to expand into 2015."

Hurt said that while farrowing intentions are up, USDA's estimate of the breeding herd was down by 62,000 head, or 1%. The declines were led by Western Corn Belt states of Iowa (-30,000 head), Minnesota (-10,000) and Missouri (-5,000). A possible explanation for why pork producers were not as optimistic in those areas is reduced corn yields in those states.  Most states east of the Mississippi had record corn yields in 2013.

However, Hurt says pork demand in 2014 should remain strong based on limited competitive domestic meats and strong export demand.

Total meat supplies of beef, pork, chicken, and turkey will undergo little change in 2014, Hurt explained. Chicken production will rise about 3% and turkey about 2%. However, beef supplies are expected to drop 6% as a small calf crop and heifer retention will drag down beef slaughter numbers.

Retail pork prices will be much lower than beef and will thus continue to pull some consumption away from beef at the retail counter. USDA analysts expect pork export demand to increase by 4% and represent nearly 22% of total production.

Live hog prices averaged about $65 in 2013 and are expected to increase to about $66 for 2014. The highest prices are expected in the second and third quarters with averages of $69 and $71 respectively. With the increasing production in the late summer and fall, hog prices will drop back below year-previous levels.

Overall, Hurt estimates that much lower costs of production will continue to be the key to strong profit margins.

"From 2000 to 2006, the estimated total cost of raising hogs was about $36 per 100 live pounds. That reached a high on a calendar year basis of $67 in 2012," he said, noting that added that costs were estimated at $64 last year and are expected to average about $56 for the 2014 calendar year.

Corn price was estimated near $6 a bushel for 2013 and is expected to drop to an estimated $4.45 in calendar 2014. High-protein soybean meal averaged about $440 a ton Free On Board plant last year dropping to an estimated $395 a ton in 2014.

"Profits for 2014 are estimated at $27 per head, the most profitable year since 2005 for pork producers," Hurt said. "Profit margins are expected to narrow in the fall of 2014 and into 2015 as pork supplies increase.

"However, returns still look to be profitable at least until the fall of 2015. This positive outlook should provide the foundation for additional expansion throughout 2014," he said.

Source: University of Illinois Farmdoc