Analysts Take Russia Livestock, Poultry Action In US In Stride

KANSAS CITY (Dow Jones)--Livestock and poultry market analysts are taking with a grain of salt news that Russia delisted several pork and poultry processing plants and cold storage warehouses in the U.S. as eligible exporters of pork and chicken to Russia.

A total of 17 poultry processing plants, four hog plants, three packing plants and one cold storage facility will be ineligible for exports as of Nov. 1.

The reduced number of facilities eligible to export meat to Russia could stifle exports, but more than one saw it as a political move more than a matter of cleanliness as Russia's Veterinary and Phytosanitary Service said.

Russia is the fifth-largest U.S. customer for pork products, said Ron Plain, agricultural economist at the University of Missouri. However, purchases through August are down 12% from a year ago at about 126 million pounds, he said.