University of Missouri (MU) Extension agricultural economist Ron Plain told the Oct. 14 MU Agricultural Market Outlook conference that lower feed costs have helped the profitability of hogs. At the peak of corn prices, the break-even price for hogs was around $75 per hundredweight, but Plain sees that break-even price dropping below $50 this winter.

“Feed makes up 60 to 65% of the cost of raising hogs,” Plain says. “For 2011, 2012 and 2013, corn averaged above $6 a bushel, and now producers are looking at prices less than $3, which adds to the profitability.”

Pork production is low, in large part due to death losses from the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus. Plain says production may increase in 2015 because of fewer deaths and a larger breeding herd driven by lower feed costs.

“Next year we are expecting pork production to be up 3 to 4% over this year,” Plain says. “It may not set a record, but it will mean lower hog prices. Growth should mean consumers will see lower prices of pork in the grocery store.”

Plain also said the marketing outlook for cattle is basically a continuation of the last couple years, with more record prices. He says that fed cattle prices will set records for the fifth straight year in 2014. And not just by a bit.

“Last year, fed cattle averaged about $126/cwt.,” he says. “We’ve had prices at $160 and above this year and are probably going to average $153/cwt. for the year. That’s an increase of $27/cwt. On a 1,400-pound steer, that’s big money.”

Feeder cattle prices are also setting records. With high prices at slaughter and corn dropping more than $2 per bushel, feeder cattle are more valuable, Plain says.

“The weather has been very good, so the nation has a record corn crop, a record soybean crop and pasture conditions far better than average,” he says. “So that means lower feed cost and makes bottom-line numbers very attractive for the cattle business.”

The size of the calf crop has declined 19 years in a row, which tightens supplies of beef and boosts prices at the grocery store. In August, choice-grade beef averaged above $6 per pound for the first time ever, Plain says.