U.S. poultry production is accelerating. Average production during the 12 months through November was up 2.8 percent compared with the year-ago level. General rise in the quarterly rate of change signals that further accelerating growth for U.S. poultry production is probable during at least the next quarter or two. Production is at a record high due, in part, to growing consumer demand for poultry products and producer profits from low feed prices.
Despite record levels of production, we caution you not to lose sight of the upcoming period of slowing growth expected in U.S. food production. Overall slowing growth in U.S. food production could hinder upward momentum in U.S. poultry production the farther we progress in 2018.