(Grand Island Independent) -- Nebraska was the nation's top commercial red meat producer during October as production totaled 666.3 million pounds, compared to 680.3 million pounds in October 2007. Nebraska was the nation's top cattle slaughter state with 614,900 head, but that's down from last October's 635,000 head. Nebraska's hog processing in October was 726,900 head, compared to October 2007's 724,300. According to Erin Daley, United States Meat Export Federation economist, while the world's economy is slowing down, both U.S. beef and pork export levels continued to exceed expectations through the first nine months of the year. According to Daley, U.S. pork exports built on the record set in August, increasing 61 percent in September over totals from a year ago.
