According to USDA, U.S. commercial red meat production totaled 4.23 billion pounds in Jun ’16, finishing up 1.3% MOM and 5.2% YOY when normalized for slaughter days and reaching an eight year high for the month of June. Total red meat production has increased on a YOY basis for ten consecutive months through June while the MOM increase in total red meat production of 1.3% was greater than the ten year average May – Jun seasonal increase of 0.4%. ’15-’16 YTD U.S. red meat production is up 2.6% YOY throughout the first three quarters of the production season. Pork – Production Increases to Record Seasonal High, Finishes up 0.9% YOY Jun ’16 U.S. pork production of 2.01 billion pounds declined 1.0% MOM but increased 0.9% YOY when normalized for slaughter days, reaching a record high for the month of June. Jun ’16 total hogs slaughtered increased 1.5% YOY, more than offsetting a 0.7% YOY decline in average weights/head. ’14-’15 annual U.S. pork production finished up 4.6% YOY, which was a seven year high on a percentage basis. ’15-’16 YTD U.S. pork production is up an additional 2.0% YOY throughout the first three quarters of the production season. Beef – Production Remains Higher on YOY Basis for the Eighth Consecutive Month Jun ’16 U.S. beef production of 2.19 billion pounds increased 3.6% MOM and 9.6% YOY when normalized for slaughter days, finishing at a two and a half year high. U.S. beef production has increased on a YOY basis for eight consecutive months through June. The Jun ’16 total number of cattle slaughtered increased by 9.7% YOY while average weights/head finished 0.2% above the previous year. ’14-’15 annual U.S. beef production finished down 4.7% YOY however ’15-’16 YTD U.S. beef production has gained back a portion of the losses, finishing 3.4% higher on a YOY basis throughout the first three quarters of the production season.