BioSec Bob here on Thursday, September 10, 2026 — let’s get right into it.
Poultry producers are dealing with a significant H5N1 outbreak spreading across U.S. flocks. According to Legis1, millions of birds have been infected in what’s become a major disease event for the industry. The scale here is substantial enough that operations need to be running through their biosecurity protocols with real urgency right now.
Over on the trade side, Mexico’s become the largest importer of pork meat globally, according to 3tres3.com. That’s a meaningful shift in the market. Mexico’s taken the top spot, and U.S. producers shipping south need to keep close tabs on what’s moving and at what volume.
Across the Pacific, there’s trouble in the Philippines. ABS-CBN is reporting new African Swine Fever cases in Occidental Mindoro, adding to the disease pressure already hitting swine operations in that region. ASF remains one of the hardest things to manage once it establishes itself in an area.
Back to the domestic market — National Hog Farmer’s out with Smithfield’s third-quarter update on pork challenges. The company’s laying out what they’re seeing in real time on production costs, pricing dynamics, and where the market’s headed. It’s the kind of operational reality check worth tracking if you’re sizing up your own situation for the rest of the year.
Pork Business is flagging something broader: there’s a demand problem that production efficiency alone can’t solve. It’s not about getting leaner or faster — it’s about consumer appetite itself. That’s a different headwind than what producers can usually engineer their way out of.
And finally, NutriQuest’s latest numbers show weaner pig breakeven climbing again. According to Pork Business, breakeven’s up $2.97 from last week, now sitting at $14.78 per head. Feed costs and other input pressures continue to squeeze the margin on young stock.
Keep one eye on disease, one on the balance sheet.