Continuing to overcome a number of difficult challenges during the past few years has resulted in positive production increases for the chicken industry.
Poultry retains its place as a consumer favorite, and the industry continues to produce more chicken and turkey products in response — but price pressures remain real, and new markets must be leveraged for the industry to take the next step.
With a continued growing economy and employment environment, demand for chicken and competing meats will most likely see 2018 build on the success experienced in 2017, says Tom Super, senior vice president of communications for the National Chicken Council (NCC), Washington, D.C.
The U.S. chicken industry is poised to set production records by the end of 2017, and based on the upward momentum in egg sets and chick placements, it’s hard to envision 2018 not exhibiting further production gains.
Barring a disruptive event, 2018 should be another Goldilocks year for chicken producers/processors. “Not too hot, not too cold” characterizes chicken market conditions for 2017 with indicators pointing to a repeat situation in the New Year.
In the broiler sector, all eyes are on the possible return of avian influenza this fall and winter, as Canadian waterfowl begin to migrate south along the Atlantic flyway, which touches major broiler production areas in Delmarva, North Carolina, Georgia and Alabama.