The USDA says red meat in cold storage at the end of September was up sharply on the year.
Beef came out at a record 522.862 million pounds, up 19% on the year with 2022 beef production trending ahead of 2021, including an all-time monthly high in September.
Pork was reported at 537.879 million pounds, 14% above a year ago despite slower production, due at least in part to demand.
The red meat total of 1.096 billion pounds was 17% higher than this time last year.