Ag Braces for Port Strike and U.S. Egg Production Down

**U.S. agriculture is bracing for a potential work stoppage at East and Gulf Coast ports that could greatly disrupt American red meat exports.

Contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance broke down in mid-November over issues related to automation and have shown little progress since.

The two sides reached a tentative agreement on wages in early October and temporarily extended the existing labor agreement that expires on January 15.

**U.S. egg production totaled 8.92 billion during November, down 4% from last year.

Production included 7.68 billion table eggs and 1.24 billion hatching eggs.

The average number of layers during November totaled 376 million, down 3%.

November egg production per 100 layers was 2,374 eggs, down 1% from November 2023.

Total layers in the U.S. on December 1st was 375 million, down 3%.

**The USDA says red meat in cold storage declined in November.

Meat supplies in freezers on fell 3% month over month and 5% year over year to 7.41 billion pounds.

USDA reports beef in storage totaled 440.5 million pounds, a 2% increase from October but down 4% from the same month in 2023.

Pork stockpiles were reported at 391.1 million pounds, down 8% on a monthly basis and 6% annually.