Summer’s wrapping up, but the markets are still making waves. Pork bellies take a dive, beef keeps the heat on, and chicken cools just in time for football season. From butter drops to grain gluts, it’s a late-summer belly flop across the board.

BEEF: Prices keep climbing as production stays tight – 547K head harvested this week and even fewer expected with the holiday ahead. Chucks, grinds, ribeyes, and tenderloins are leading the charge, while strips are still the relative value. The market may cool off soon, but not yet – buy now, waiting will cost you money.

POULTRY: Chicken prices finally cooled off for Labor Day – wings, breasts, and tenders are all down. Production is still running strong, about 1% ahead of last year, so we’ll take the win and enjoy cheaper chicken for now. One small avian flu case popped up, but nothing major.

GRAINS: Another rally fizzled – corn harvest is pegged at a massive 16.7 billion bushels, keeping prices in check. Corn nudged up slightly to $3.94, while soy and wheat stayed flat. With crops this strong, the market’s still waiting for a spark to push things higher.

PORK: Bellies slipped again, closing at $181 with more downside likely ahead. Butts and loins are steady, ribs are edging up, and overall production is running about 2% lower year-to-date. With nothing pushing demand higher, this market looks set to stay quiet for the next few weeks.

DAIRY: CME gave back August’s gains – barrel down 2, block down 3, and butter dropping a sharp 14. After weeks of climbing, this market is sliding fast… will the downturn stick?

Savalfoods.com | Find us on Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn