Total red meat and poultry production is forecast to increase by less than 1% in 2022 compared with 2021, according to USDA’s latest “Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook.”

USDA forecasts pork production in 2022 will increase to 28.5 billion pounds, about 1%, as hog producers are expected to respond to favorable 2021 returns and anticipated continued-strong pork demand from economic expansion next year.

Beef production in 2022, on the other hand, is expected to decrease about 2%, to 27.3 billion pounds, as drought conditions quicken the pace of cattle slaughter in second-half 2021, likely reducing cattle supplies in 2022.

According to USDA, egg production is forecast to increase by more than 1%, driven by consumer demand in an expanding U.S. economy. However, growth will be constrained by feed costs.

Strong consumer demand is expected to drive both broiler and turkey demand next year, but USDA said higher feed costs are likely to constrain production growth in both sectors to about 1%.

USDA expects milk production to increase by about 1% as higher expected yield per cow more than offsets lower expected milk cow numbers.

Lamb and mutton production in 2022 is expected to decline 3%, in line with recent trends.