SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 24, 2018
SANDERSON FARMS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Mississippi | 1-14977 | 64-0615843 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||
127 Flynt Road Laurel, Mississippi |
39443 | |||
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(601) 649-4030
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Section 2 Financial Information
Item 2.02 | Results of Operations and Financial Condition. |
On May 24, 2018, the Registrant issued a press release announcing its earnings for its fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2018. The press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1. On May 24, 2018, the Registrant held a conference call to discuss its earnings for its fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2018. A transcript of the conference call is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.2. The information in the press release and transcript is not to be considered filed for purposes of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), and is not incorporated by reference into the Registrants filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act).
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
THAT MAY AFFECT FUTURE PERFORMANCE
Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Safe Harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions about future events and are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the views, beliefs and estimates expressed in such statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, the risks described in Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report and in the Registrants Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2017, and in subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The risks cannot be controlled by the Registrant. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Registrant. Each such statement speaks only as of the day it was made. The Registrant undertakes no obligation to update or to revise any forward-looking statements. The factors cannot be controlled by the Registrant. When used in Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report, the words believes, estimates, plans, expects, should, could, outlook, and anticipates and similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include statements about managements beliefs about future earnings, production levels, capital expenditures, grain prices, global economic conditions, supply and demand factors, growth plans and other industry conditions.
Section 9 Financial Statements and Exhibits
Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits:
Exhibit No. |
Description | |
99.1 | Press release of Sanderson Farms, Inc. dated May 24, 2018. | |
99.2 | Transcript of conference call held by Sanderson Farms, Inc. on May 24, 2018. |
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. |
Description | |
99.1 | Press release of Sanderson Farms, Inc. dated May 24, 2018. | |
99.2 | Transcript of conference call held by Sanderson Farms, Inc. on May 24, 2018. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
SANDERSON FARMS, INC.
(Registrant)
Date: May 31, 2018 | By: | /s/ D. Michael Cockrell | ||||
D. Michael Cockrell Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 99.1
Contact: | Mike Cockrell | |||||
Treasurer & Chief Financial Officer | ||||||
(601) 649-4030 |
SANDERSON FARMS, INC. REPORTS
RESULTS FOR SECOND QUARTER OF FISCAL 2018
LAUREL, Miss. (May 24, 2018) Sanderson Farms, Inc. (NASDAQ: SAFM) today reported results for its second fiscal quarter and six months ended April 30, 2018.
Net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2018 were $813.5 million compared with $802.0 million for the same period a year ago. For the quarter, net income was $41.9 million, or $1.84 per share, compared with net income of $67.0 million, or $2.95 per share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2017.
Net sales for the first six months of fiscal 2018 were $1,585.4 million compared with $1,490.4 million for the same period of fiscal 2017. Net income for the first half of the year totaled $93.2 million, or $4.08 per share, compared with net income of $91.0 million, or $4.00 per share, for the first six months of last year.
The results of our second quarter of fiscal 2018 reflect slightly lower feed costs per pound, continued favorable demand for poultry products from retail grocery store customers, higher volume, and a stable export environment, said Joe F. Sanderson, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Sanderson Farms, Inc. These positive factors were offset by weak food service demand for boneless breast meat and jumbo wings produced at our plants that target food service customers. Because of this weakness, our average sales price per pound decreased during the first half of this fiscal year compared with last year, but improved sequentially during the second fiscal quarter of 2018. Market prices for boneless breast meat improved significantly during March, but then weakened counter seasonally in April as the cold, wet spring weather kept consumers indoors.
Lower average sales prices were offset during the quarter by more pounds sold, as our new St. Pauls, North Carolina, facility is running at full capacity. Poultry pounds sold increased 3.1 percent during the quarter compared to last years second quarter, added Sanderson.
According to Sanderson, overall market prices for poultry products were lower during the second quarter compared with the same period last year. Market prices for chicken products sold to retail grocery store customers remained relatively strong during the quarter, and continue to reflect good demand. Compared with the second fiscal quarter of 2017, boneless breast meat market prices were approximately 5.3 percent lower, the average market price for bulk leg quarters increased approximately 6.2 percent, and jumbo wing market prices were lower by 23.6 percent. Market prices for chicken breast tenders averaged 4.7 percent lower than a year ago. The Companys average feed costs per pound of poultry products processed decreased by 3.3 percent when compared with the second quarter of fiscal 2017, while prices paid for corn and soybean meal, the Companys primary feed ingredients, decreased 1.3 percent and increased 3.6 percent, respectively, compared with the second quarter of fiscal 2017. The Companys feed costs per pound processed were affected by changes in feed formulation and improved broiler performance.
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Sanderson Farms Reports Results for Second Quarter Fiscal 2018
Page 2
May 24, 2018
Looking ahead to the second half of the fiscal year, we expect grain prices to be somewhat higher as we move through the crop growing season, added Sanderson. While there are ample supplies of both corn and soybeans worldwide, a slow start to the United States planting season for 2018 corn and soybean crops as a result of the cold, wet spring in the United States grain belt put upward pressure on market prices. Farmers quickly made up that early deficit, and planting progress is now on pace with historical averages. Grain market participants will now turn their attention to trade issues and weather during the growing season.
With respect to chicken production numbers, while the USDA reports that the United States broiler breeder flock is 4 percent larger than a year ago, the agency also reports that egg production, hatch rates and livability are trending below last year. The current USDA forecast for United States broiler production during calendar 2018 to increase approximately 1.6 percent over calendar 2017 seems reasonable, but even this lowered estimate could prove to be high should these production trends continue. We expect our production during our third and fourth fiscal quarters of 2018 to be up 2.8 percent and down 4.7 percent, respectively, compared to the same quarters of fiscal 2017, Sanderson concluded.
Sanderson Farms will hold a conference call to discuss this press release today, May 24, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. Central, 11:00 a.m. Eastern. Investors will have the opportunity to listen to a live internet broadcast of the conference call through the Companys website at www.sandersonfarms.com. To listen to the live call, please go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register and download and install any necessary audio software. For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, an internet replay will be available shortly after the call and continue through June 24, 2018. Those without internet access may listen and participate in the call by dialing 800-967-7140, confirmation code 1550612.
Sanderson Farms, Inc. is engaged in the production, processing, marketing and distribution of fresh, frozen and minimally prepared chicken. Its shares trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol SAFM.
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions about future events and are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the views, beliefs, projections and estimates expressed in such statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, those discussed under Risk Factors in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017, the Companys subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and the following:
(1) Changes in the market price for the Companys finished products and feed grains, both of which may fluctuate substantially and exhibit cyclical characteristics typically associated with commodity markets.
(2) Changes in economic and business conditions, monetary and fiscal policies or the amount of growth, stagnation or recession in the global or U.S. economies, any of which may affect the value of inventories, the collectability of accounts receivable or the financial integrity of customers, and the ability of the end user or consumer to afford protein.
(3) Changes in the political or economic climate, trade policies, laws and regulations or the domestic poultry industry of countries to which the Company or other companies in the poultry industry ship product, and other changes that might limit the Companys or the industrys access to foreign markets.
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Sanderson Farms Reports Results for Second Quarter Fiscal 2018
Page 3
May 24, 2018
(4) Changes in laws, regulations, and other activities in government agencies and similar organizations applicable to the Company and the poultry industry and changes in laws, regulations and other activities in government agencies and similar organizations related to food safety.
(5) Various inventory risks due to changes in market conditions, including, but not limited to, the risk that net realizable values of live and processed poultry inventories might be lower than the cost of such inventories, requiring a downward adjustment to record the value of such inventories at the lower of cost or net realizable value as required by generally accepted accounting principles.
(6) Changes in and effects of competition, which is significant in all markets in which the Company competes, and the effectiveness of marketing and advertising programs. The Company competes with regional and national firms, some of which have greater financial and marketing resources than the Company.
(7) Changes in accounting policies and practices adopted voluntarily by the Company or required to be adopted by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
(8) Disease outbreaks affecting the production, performance and/or marketability of the Companys poultry products, or the contamination of its products.
(9) Changes in the availability and cost of labor and growers.
(10) The loss of any of the Companys major customers.
(11) Inclement weather that could hurt Company flocks or otherwise adversely affect the Companys operations, or changes in global weather patterns that could affect the supply and price of feed grains.
(12) Failure to respond to changing consumer preferences and negative or competitive media campaigns.
(13) Failure to successfully and efficiently start up and run a new plant or integrate any business the Company might acquire.
(14) Unfavorable results from currently pending litigation and proceedings or litigation and proceedings that could arise in the future.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of Sanderson Farms. Each such statement speaks only as of the day it was made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or to revise any forward-looking statements. The factors described above cannot be controlled by the Company. When used in this press release or in the related conference call, the words believes, estimates, plans, expects, should, could, outlook, and anticipates and similar expressions as they relate to the Company or its management are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include statements of the Companys belief about future earnings, production levels, capital expenditures, grain prices, global economic conditions, supply and demand factors, growth plans and other industry conditions.
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Sanderson Farms Reports Results for Second Quarter Fiscal 2018
Page 4
May 24, 2018
SANDERSON FARMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Three Months Ended April 30, |
Six Months Ended April 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||
Net sales |
$ | 813,474 | $ | 802,038 | $ | 1,585,422 | $ | 1,490,384 | ||||||||
Costs and expenses: |
||||||||||||||||
Cost of sales |
703,410 | 655,283 | 1,405,511 | 1,261,674 | ||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative |
55,037 | 43,641 | 107,612 | 89,711 | ||||||||||||
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758,447 | 698,924 | 1,513,123 | 1,351,385 | |||||||||||||
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Operating income |
55,027 | 103,114 | 72,299 | 138,999 | ||||||||||||
Other income (expense): |
||||||||||||||||
Interest income |
905 | 301 | 1,324 | 496 | ||||||||||||
Interest expense |
(506 | ) | (428 | ) | (1,029 | ) | (860 | ) | ||||||||
Other |
4 | 3 | 6 | 5 | ||||||||||||
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403 | (124 | ) | 301 | (359 | ) | |||||||||||
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Income before income taxes |
55,430 | 102,990 | 72,600 | 138,640 | ||||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) |
13,482 | 35,975 | (20,554 | ) | 47,600 | |||||||||||
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Net income |
$ | 41,948 | $ | 67,015 | $ | 93,154 | $ | 91,040 | ||||||||
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Basic earnings per share |
$ | 1.84 | $ | 2.95 | $ | 4.08 | $ | 4.00 | ||||||||
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Diluted earnings per share |
$ | 1.84 | $ | 2.95 | $ | 4.08 | $ | 4.00 | ||||||||
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Dividends per share |
$ | 0.32 | $ | 0.24 | $ | 0.64 | $ | 0.48 | ||||||||
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Sanderson Farms Reports Results for Second Quarter Fiscal 2018
Page 5
May 24, 2018
SANDERSON FARMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands)
April 30, 2018 |
October 31, 2017 |
|||||||
(Unaudited) | (1) | |||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 327,260 | $ | 419,285 | ||||
Accounts receivable, net |
145,600 | 138,868 | ||||||
Inventories |
267,746 | 252,765 | ||||||
Refundable income taxes |
27,130 | | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
37,669 | 38,620 | ||||||
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Total current assets |
805,405 | 849,538 | ||||||
Property, plant and equipment: |
||||||||
Property, plant and equipment |
1,784,475 | 1,657,084 | ||||||
Accumulated depreciation |
(828,629 | ) | (780,276 | ) | ||||
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955,846 | 876,808 | |||||||
Other assets |
6,164 | 6,897 | ||||||
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Total assets |
$ | 1,767,415 | $ | 1,733,243 | ||||
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LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY |
||||||||
Current liabilities: |
||||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 104,212 | $ | 90,904 | ||||
Dividends payable |
7,307 | | ||||||
Accrued expenses |
62,188 | 101,168 | ||||||
Accrued income taxes |
| 6,649 | ||||||
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Total current liabilities |
173,707 | 198,721 | ||||||
Claims payable and other liabilities |
9,621 | 9,762 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes |
66,133 | 91,898 | ||||||
Commitments and contingencies |
||||||||
Stockholders equity: |
||||||||
Common stock |
22,836 | 22,803 | ||||||
Paid-in capital |
141,517 | 134,999 | ||||||
Retained earnings |
1,353,601 | 1,275,060 | ||||||
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Total stockholders equity |
1,517,954 | 1,432,862 | ||||||
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Total liabilities and stockholders equity |
$ | 1,767,415 | $ | 1,733,243 | ||||
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(1)The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at October 31, 2017, was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.
-END-
Exhibit 99.2
MAY 24, 2018 / 3:00PM GMT, Q2 2018 Sanderson Farms Inc Earnings Call
THOMSON REUTERS
FINAL TRANSCRIPT
Q2 2018 Sanderson Farms Inc Earnings Call
EVENT DATE/TIME: MAY 24, 2018 / 3:00PM GMT
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1
MAY 24, 2018 / 3:00PM GMT, Q2 2018 Sanderson Farms Inc Earnings Call
CORPORATE PARTICIPANTS
D. Michael Cockrell Sanderson Farms, Inc. - CFO, Treasurer & Director
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
Lampkin Butts Sanderson Farms, Inc. - President, COO & Director
CONFERENCE CALL PARTICIPANTS
Adam L. Samuelson Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Research Division - Equity Analyst
Eric Jon Larson The Buckingham Research Group Incorporated - Analyst
Farha Aslam Stephens Inc., Research Division - MD
Heather Lynn Jones The Vertical Trading Group, LLC, Research Division - Research Analyst
Kenneth B. Goldman JP Morgan Chase & Co, Research Division - Senior Analyst
Kenneth Bryan Zaslow BMO Capital Markets Equity Research - MD of Food & Agribusiness Research and Food & Beverage Analyst
Lubi John Kutua Jefferies LLC, Research Division - Equity Associate
Michael Leith Piken Cleveland Research Company - Equity Analyst
PRESENTATION
Operator
Good day, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Sanderson Farms, Inc. Second Quarter Fiscal 2018 Conference Call. Todays call is being recorded.
At this time for opening remarks and introductions, I would like to turn the conference over to Mr. Joe Sanderson. Please go ahead, sir.
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
Thank you. Good morning, and welcome to Sanderson Farms Second Quarter Conference Call. We published second quarter results this morning, announcing net income of $41.9 million or $1.84 per share for our second fiscal quarter of 2018. This compares to net income of $67 million or $2.95 per share during last years second quarter.
I will begin the call with some general observations. But before I do, I will ask Mike to give the cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements.
D. Michael Cockrell Sanderson Farms, Inc. - CFO, Treasurer & Director
Thank you, Joe, and good morning, everyone. This mornings call will contain forward-looking statements about the business, financial condition and prospects of the company. The actual performance of the company could differ materially from that indicated by the forward-looking statements because of various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties are described in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and in the companys quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed this morning with the SEC in connection with our second fiscal quarter and in our press release published this morning. These documents are all available on our website at sandersonfarms.com.
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MAY 24, 2018 / 3:00PM GMT, Q2 2018 Sanderson Farms Inc Earnings Call
Please do not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements made this morning. Each statement speaks only as of today, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise our forward-looking statements. External factors affecting our business, such as feed grain cost, market prices for poultry meat and the health of the economy, among others, remain volatile and our view today may be very different from our view a few days from now.
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
Thank you, Mike. Lower feed cost per pound processed, good demand for chicken at retail grocery stores, lower market prices for white meat produced at our plants for food service customers, higher volumes and steady export demand drove our results during our second fiscal quarter. Our sales volumes of fresh and frozen chicken was up 3.1% compared to last springs volume and reflects new production in St. Pauls.
Our feed cost per pound of fresh chicken processed was down 3.3% during the quarter compared to last years second quarter, while our average net sales price per pound of chicken sold was down 1.7%. Weak food service demand offset good retail grocery store demand. Market prices for jumbo wings, boneless breast meat and tenders produced at our food service plant were lower. While trade issues and politics continue to impact export markets, export demand was steady this spring. Leg quarter market prices moved higher as we moved through the quarter and leg quarter inventories remain manageable. However, our short-term outlook for the export market is less constructive.
On Sunday, the California Department of Food and Agriculture confirmed the presence of virulent Newcastle disease in a small flock of backyard chickens in Los Angeles County, California. This is the first case of Newcastle in the United States since 2003. Several export partners, including Mexico, temporarily banned the import of United States chicken. Product in transit was allowed to continue into the country. Mexico is the only market of consequence to us that took action. Mexico and United States authorities reached an oral agreement on Tuesday to localize the ban and reached a final agreement yesterday. We resumed shipments to that country immediately, and that means yesterday.
Other issues in other countries remain, however, and we expect leg quarter prices over the next few months to be volatile until those issues are resolved. South Korea has a de facto ban on United States product because certain product from the United States tested positive for an antibiotic our industry has not used in 25 years. Clearly, these were false positives. And while talks are underway to resolve this, they will likely be slow. Markets in Central Asia and the Middle East have been very slow in April and May due to delayed quota issuance, Ramadan and liquidity issues. Brazil, the worlds largest chicken exporter, has trade issues with the E.U., Saudi Arabia, China and South Africa. Until those are resolved, we could see excess Brazilian product showing up in markets in which we do not typically compete against Brazilian product.
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MAY 24, 2018 / 3:00PM GMT, Q2 2018 Sanderson Farms Inc Earnings Call
Prices paid for corn decreased slightly during the quarter compared to last year while soybean meal prices were higher during the quarter. However, good feed conversion rates and feed formulation adjustments allowed us to offset those higher prices with improved performance. In my view, market prices for grain do not reflect the ample worldwide supply of both corn and soybeans. Market prices moved higher as early planting progress in the United States was slowed by a cold wet spring. But farmers quickly made up that early deficit and are now on pace with historical averages. The USDA updated its 2017/18 grain balance sheet and published its first look at projected 2018/19 crop balance sheets on May 10. There were no changes to 17/18 corn balance sheet and estimated carryovers to the next year remained at 2.2 billion bushels. For the next year, the USDA assume trend yields combined with 80.7 million harvested acres to get to an ending stock projection of 1.6 billion bushels at the end of the 2019 marketing year.
Soybean estimates surprised many with stocks at 415 million bushels for 2018/19, significantly lower than trade estimates. Estimates for the 17/18 year were close to trade estimates at 530 million bushels. At the end of the day, estimates for the 18/19 year do not mean much today. Weather, trade issues and other wild cards will affect these estimates in significant ways. Stocks-to-use estimate for this year of 14.8% for corn and 12.7% for beans imply lower prices than we see currently on the board.
We have priced our corn needs and half of our soybean meal through July. Given where futures prices closed yesterday on the Chicago Board of Trade, had we priced our remaining needs through the end of the fiscal year at yesterdays close, cash corn and soybean meal prices during fiscal 2018 would be $70.5 million higher than a year ago. These numbers do not include the additional volume of grain we will need to purchase this year to feed the additional chickens we have on the ground in St. Pauls. These higher costs would translate into an increase of just over $0.005 in feed cost per pound of chicken processed for the year compared to fiscal 2017.
Feed cost per pound of chicken processed through the first half of the fiscal year averaged $0.2456 per pound. Had we priced our remaining needs yesterday, feed cost per pound would be approximately $0.265 per pound in Q3 and $0.2722 per pound in Q4. In addition to our cost, we will be closely watching the chicken markets and production numbers. Weekly egg sets, as reported by the USDA, continue to trend about 2% above a year ago while cumulative pullet placements, even with Tuesdays relatively large number, continue to run near even with year-ago numbers. While the USDA also reports that the broiler breeder flock is 4% larger than at this time last year, egg production, hatch rates and livability are lower. Through March, our industry processed less than 0.5% more head than last year, and live weights have been 1% higher than last year. The current USDA estimate for 1.6% more broiler meat during calendar 2018 when compared to 2017 seems reasonable, but could prove to be high should these production issues remain.
Looking forward to the second half of the year, both the grain and chicken markets could be more volatile than we have seen. With respect to the chicken markets, we expect retail tray pack demand to remain good. We are running our tray pack plants this holiday weekend to fill orders and see no reason good demand will not continue. We are competing against more pork and beef, but the retail price spread between those proteins and chicken remains constructive for chicken. Food service demand
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MAY 24, 2018 / 3:00PM GMT, Q2 2018 Sanderson Farms Inc Earnings Call
though remains soft. Traffic through casual dining restaurants decreased during the first calendar quarter of this year for the 15th straight quarter. We thought weak demand during March and April was at least in part because of poor weather and expected boneless breast meat and tender market prices to move higher in April and May. Instead, market prices have weakened on continued weak demand.
We do not believe supply is an issue. Compared to last year at this time, when boneless prices were strong and moving higher, only 1.1 million more pounds of boneless breast meat per week are on the market. That volume is approximately equal to our production at our St. Pauls plant and should be easily absorbed by the market. Average boneless breast meat yields in the industry are up about 0.4%, but are not a material contributor to additional production. The bottom line is, we need food service demand to improve for better white meat prices at our plants producing products for that market.
We read a report this week that estimates 5% more Americans will travel this weekend for the holiday, but that they will spend their disposable income on higher gasoline prices, not food. We continue to believe that as consumer confidence rises, disposable incomes increase and employment numbers continue to improve, consumers will return to restaurants. When that will happen though is uncertain.
I am pleased to report that we reached full production in St. Pauls in April, and that construction in Tyler, Texas is going well. A successful start-up reflects the success of our training program which prepares young managers to run new operations. We continue to train managers to start operations at our next new facilities in Tyler, Texas during the first calendar quarter of 2019.
At this point, Ill turn the call over to Lampkin for a more detailed discussion of the market and our operations during the second quarter.
Lampkin Butts Sanderson Farms, Inc. - President, COO & Director
Thank you, Joe, and good morning, everyone. As Joe mentioned, overall market prices for poultry products were lower during the quarter when compared to our second quarter last year. Market prices for chicken products sold to retail grocery store customers remain relatively strong during the quarter and continue to reflect good demand. Tray pack pricing during the second quarter was $0.0162 per pound higher than last years second quarter. Product mix also improved and contributed another $0.046 per pound to tray pack pricing. Sequentially, prices were flat, but mix contributed an additional $0.045 per pound.
Bulk leg quarter prices were higher for the quarter compared to last years second quarter for reasons described by Joe, averaging $0.366 per pound during our second quarter this year compared to $0.344 per pound last year. Leg quarter prices improved during our second quarter by 6.2% compared to our first quarter. The current Urner Barry bulk leg quarter quote is $0.31 per pound. For reasons described by Joe, we expect leg quarter prices to remain volatile this summer.
Prices for jumbo wings were lower during our second quarter than last years second quarter. Jumbo wings averaged $1.37 per pound. Thats down 23.6% from the average of $1.79 per pound during last
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MAY 24, 2018 / 3:00PM GMT, Q2 2018 Sanderson Farms Inc Earnings Call
years second quarter. The current Urner Barry quote for jumbo wings is $1.25 per pound. You will recall wing prices moved well above historical prices last summer. The current price is more in line with normal seasonal weakness, and we do not expect help on wing prices until football season.
Boneless breast prices improved during March, but declined counterseasonally in April as food service demand faltered, in part, we believe, because of bad weather. Market prices were lower on average by 5.3% when compared to the second quarter a year ago. The second quarters average Urner Barry price was $1.22 per pound. Today, the Urner Barry quoted market for jumbo boneless breast is $1.15 per pound. The overall result of these market price changes was a decrease of $0.0125 per pound in our average sales price per pound of chicken sold.
We sold 1.067 billion pounds of poultry during the second quarter, an increase from the 1.036 billion pounds sold during last years second quarter. We processed 1.092 billion pounds of dressed poultry during the quarter, up 5.3% from the 1.037 billion pounds we processed during last years second quarter. We now expect to process approximately 4.439 billion pounds of fresh chicken this fiscal year, and thats an increase of approximately 3.4% compared to fiscal 2017.
We estimate we will process approximately 1.126 billion pounds in our third quarter and approximately 1.12 billion pounds during our fourth quarter. We have factored into those estimates a lower target live weight and the improved yields in live bird performance we have experienced the past 2 quarters. Weather, bird performance and other factors could affect these estimates. We sold 43.3 million pounds of processed chicken at our prepared chicken plant through the first half of this year compared to 42.9 million pounds through the first half of last year. The average sales price through the first half of the year was flat compared to last year.
At this point, Ill turn the call over to Mike.
D. Michael Cockrell Sanderson Farms, Inc. - CFO, Treasurer & Director
Thank you, Lampkin. The 1.4% increase in net sales for the quarter to $813.5 million from $802 million last year was the result of the increase in pounds of poultry products sold, offset by the lower average sales price. Our increase in cost of goods sold for the quarter ended April 30 as compared to the same 3 months in fiscal 2017 was a result of the increase in poultry pounds sold of 32.3 million pounds or 3.1%. Nonfeed-related COGS during Q2 were $0.3696 per pound, $0.005 higher sequentially and $0.0225 higher than last years Q2. Versus last years second quarter, nonfeed-related live cost were up about $0.005 a pound. There was no single item in our live cost that made up for a significant portion of that increase, although higher grower pay was the largest mover.
Freight compared to Q2 last year was higher by $4.1 million or $0.0025 a pound during the quarter. Processing labor was up $13.7 million or 13.8%. Packaging and fixed cost were slightly higher. And other variable cost were higher as a result of higher spending on antimicrobial interventions. Average live weights were lower by 2.1%, which also contributed to the increase in cost per pound. The conversion of Hazlehurst and Hammond from big bird plants to tray pack feeder plants were completed in April. Plant
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MAY 24, 2018 / 3:00PM GMT, Q2 2018 Sanderson Farms Inc Earnings Call
cost at those 2 plants were higher by just over $0.02 per pound during Q2 compared to last year. And we continue to model for a $0.04 per pound increase during Q3 and Q4 when those 2 plants will operate for full quarters as feeder plants. Together, Hammond and Hazlehurst will process right at 100 million pounds of processed meat during each of Q3 and Q4. The $17.9 million increase in SG&A expenses for the first half of the year reflect higher legal fees attributable primarily to litigation, start-up cost at St. Pauls, higher administrative salaries and higher trainee cost. SG&A cost during the quarter came in higher than we anticipated on the last call and legal fees where the primary culprit.
We also made the determination that it is probable we will finish stronger than we previously thought with respect to performance shares granted on November 1, 2016. And those shares are dependent upon 2017 and 18 performance. We increased our accrual for that performance share grant. Were more conservative in our estimate now for the back half of the year. And we expect SG&A of $65 million in Q3 and $63 million in Q4, and both of these estimates include ESOP accruals of $6.3 million and $2.2 million, respectively.
Based on where we are today, management does not believe it is probable the company will meet the $13.03 earnings per share target to reach the threshold requirement under the companys Bonus Award Program and our estimates for Q3 and Q4 include no accrual for bonuses.
Absent onetime discrete items, the companys effective tax rate for the quarter and the first 6 months ended April 30 was 24.4%. And were using the same rate for the balance of the year.
We now expect to spend approximately $361.8 million on CapEx projects during the year. Of this total, $178 million will be spent in Tyler. We intend to use cash on hand and cash flow from operations to fund our CapEx. Our depreciation and amortization during the first half of the fiscal year total $53.9 million, and we expect approximately $111 million for the full fiscal year.
Before opening the call for questions, I want to mention that the Sanderson Farms annual investor conference will be held in New Orleans this fall. The conference will open with dinner on Wednesday night, October 10. And the conference will start at 8:00 on Thursday morning, October 11. This years conference will be at the Windsor Court and dinner on Wednesday night will be at the same place as always. We hope many of you will join us in New Orleans for the conference. And you will find information regarding the conference on our website. And well soon add registration and hotel information to that information.
Keith, that concludes our prepared remarks, and you can now open the call for questions.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Operator
(Operator Instructions) Well take our first question from Farha Aslam with Stephens Inc.
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MAY 24, 2018 / 3:00PM GMT, Q2 2018 Sanderson Farms Inc Earnings Call
Farha Aslam Stephens Inc., Research Division - MD
First, a company-specific question on your Hammond and Hazlehurst conversion. Could you share with us what your experience has been if you would consider extending just doing tray pack at those plants for a longer period of time?
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
You mean keep the bird weight beyond the right now, were scheduled to keep that bird weight there, probably end of July one plant would convert back, theoretically, maybe in the late spring of 2019 when we get Tyler up and running and maybe the 50% capacity you would convert one of the plants. Which one goes first?
Lampkin Butts Sanderson Farms, Inc. - President, COO & Director
Were probably going to move Hazlehurst first.
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
Hazlehurst first. Thats theoretically. If we saw some new tray pack business, obviously, right now, youd leave it in tray pack. It depends. Actually, for the last 36 months, tray pack has been the better market. You just have to look at it. But frankly, we cannot move any more product through our tray pack plants, not appreciably. We could move a little bit, very little into our tray pack plants. So theyre about maxed out as far as handling outside product. We could take a little, but not a lot. But the marketing decision would be, yes, to extend it.
Farha Aslam Stephens Inc., Research Division - MD
Okay. So its a wait and see. We dont necessarily have to convert it back to big bird?
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
Right. No, you dont have to.
Farha Aslam Stephens Inc., Research Division - MD
Okay. Thats helpful. And then as a follow-up, Joe, you highlighted that the industry is having issues with hatchability with layers and livability. Could you share with us the time horizon it would take to solve some of the issues the industry is facing?
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
The only way to resolve that is if theres kind of 2 things. You need more pullets, first of all. The breeds that are out there and there are primarily 2 they dont produce as many eggs as the breeds that were there 5 years ago. And so you need more pullets. And then the males that youre using might one of them in particular are more difficult to feed. We all know that from our experience. Theyre difficult to raise and feed. So theres a learning curve that goes with that male. So I think youre going to have to get pullet placement numbers up. And thats going to take some time. Youre going to have to get pullet placements up to 106%, 107%, 108%. That does not mean youre going to get 106%, 107%, 108% more chickens. Youre going to get youre still going to have a lower hatch than you had historically because of the male and because the hen does not lay as many eggs.
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MAY 24, 2018 / 3:00PM GMT, Q2 2018 Sanderson Farms Inc Earnings Call
So whenever these pullet placements start coming, and I dont think theyre coming, I think what you saw in this last pullet placement was an aberration. I think pullet placements are going to be low for the balance of the year because both primary breeders have had issues with their own breeder stock. And theyre working through that right now. And so I think its going to be a challenge to get pullets into the field. So I think youre going to see processors retaining older hens. Youre going to see as a result of that, you will see lower hatch and lower egg set the egg sets like youve seen them, a lower hatch and of course, the livability issue is going to remain because of no antibiotics. So I think youre looking for at least the balance of this year with the low pullet placement. But its going to take larger pullet placements to get out of this production bottleneck.
Operator
Well take our next question from Ken Goldman with JPMorgan.
Kenneth B. Goldman JP Morgan Chase & Co, Research Division - Senior Analyst
I wanted to ask 2 questions. First, you said your processing labor, if I heard you correctly, was up 14% year-on-year?
D. Michael Cockrell Sanderson Farms, Inc. - CFO, Treasurer & Director
Thats correct.
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
Yes.
Kenneth B. Goldman JP Morgan Chase & Co, Research Division - Senior Analyst
Mike, was that a meaningful uptick on a per head basis versus 1Q? I know you talked there were a couple of numbers thrown around in 1Q. I wasnt quite sure on a like-for-like basis how to look at that. It just felt like a little bigger of a number than maybe what you had seen the prior year.
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
Thats a combination, is it not?
D. Michael Cockrell Sanderson Farms, Inc. - CFO, Treasurer & Director
Thats correct.
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
Go ahead.
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MAY 24, 2018 / 3:00PM GMT, Q2 2018 Sanderson Farms Inc Earnings Call
D. Michael Cockrell Sanderson Farms, Inc. - CFO, Treasurer & Director
Ken, it is. Its a little bit large of a number. And Q1, of course, you had 2 months in 2017 and one in 18. The raises that went into effect at year-end went into effect on January 1, so you only had 1 month of the raises that were given. The August adjustment that we made that we talked about at the on our first quarter call was baked into both quarters, but you did have a little bit higher number this quarter because of the full quarter of those raises, yes. And all of our hourly employees get their raises at the beginning of the year as well. So both hourly and salaried, you had a full quarter of it.
Kenneth B. Goldman JP Morgan Chase & Co, Research Division - Senior Analyst
Okay. So just to clarify before I move to my next question. It doesnt sound from your response here then that this was a surprise to you in the quarter?
D. Michael Cockrell Sanderson Farms, Inc. - CFO, Treasurer & Director
No, not at all.
Kenneth B. Goldman JP Morgan Chase & Co, Research Division - Senior Analyst
And then, I know you guys dont want to be too specific on guidance, and I know its impossible in this industry to be precise, even on the short term, but I just want to help set expectations or a reasonable expectation, if I can, because the Street is still modeling over $4 in earnings for your July quarter. Boneless has been very weak lately, to your point. Youve added, I think, roughly $10 million or so in incremental SG&A. You raised your estimate for feed costs. So just as you look at your numbers now, is $4 achievable at this point if the situation doesnt significantly improve in terms of boneless? Any help you can give there would be greatly appreciated.
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
We never forecast. We dont know this is Joe. We dont know, but that will be a significant challenge, if that tells you anything. Boneless, I havent had an update today, but yesterday, boneless, tenders and wings continue to be very weak. I wouldnt expect a turnaround on Thursday. Now were going to be in the mid-80s for the rest of this week here in the Deep South, no heat, no pressure from heat. Its not I will say this. This issue is not a supply issue. And I have some numbers whenever the question comes up. But going back to your original question, the market here in the back end of May is weaker than it was the first end of May. The market is lower now than it was in April. And I dont recall, what was the market in February for boneless?
Lampkin Butts Sanderson Farms, Inc. - President, COO & Director
It was $1.03.
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
6 $1.03.
D. Michael Cockrell Sanderson Farms, Inc. - CFO, Treasurer & Director
We averaged a net dock of $0.85.
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
Okay. We may be a little bit above that, but $4 would be a challenge. Does that answer your question?
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MAY 24, 2018 / 3:00PM GMT, Q2 2018 Sanderson Farms Inc Earnings Call
Kenneth B. Goldman JP Morgan Chase & Co, Research Division - Senior Analyst
Yes, very clearly.
Operator
Well take our next question from Ken Zaslow with Bank of Montreal.
Kenneth Bryan Zaslow BMO Capital Markets Equity Research - MD of Food & Agribusiness Research and Food & Beverage Analyst
Just 2 follow-up questions. It sounds like you were prepared for a question so I figure Ill ask it. One is, if its not the supply for breast for the supply of chicken coming online, when is the demand going to come back for you to be able to kind of have a bounce in breast prices and what is the outlook for breast prices in that context is my first question.
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
Doing our research and homework prepping for the call, we looked at some industry data. And it shows, compared to a year ago, that breast meat production is up about 1 million pounds a week. And thats like 125 million pounds a week compared to 124 million pounds a week, less than 1%. And actually, thats all of St. Pauls. How much St. Pauls produce a week? More than that, doesnt it?
Lampkin Butts Sanderson Farms, Inc. - President, COO & Director
3 million.
D. Michael Cockrell Sanderson Farms, Inc. - CFO, Treasurer & Director
3 million.
Lampkin Butts Sanderson Farms, Inc. - President, COO & Director
Compared to a year ago, its about 1 million.
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
Yes. And one other thing we looked at also was thigh meat. Thigh meat is up only about 480,000 pounds a week. We thought maybe that was contributing, but that didnt seem to be a burdensome thing. And of that, somebody else, another analyst had asked us about the yield on boneless breast. The yield on boneless breast from these 2 new breeds is averaging about 0.4% increase a year. And it is part of that 1 million pounds a week increase. And that yield is higher in the big bird deboning region than it is in tray pack, which is a smaller bird, and whole bird and parts and not so much in fast food. Its much more apparent in the big bird deboning, but when you roll it all together its 0.4%. And it is included in the total of 1,100,000 pounds a week increase over a year ago. And so we dont think 0.9% supply increase thats about what the population growth is so we dont think supply is the issue.
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MAY 24, 2018 / 3:00PM GMT, Q2 2018 Sanderson Farms Inc Earnings Call
Kenneth Bryan Zaslow BMO Capital Markets Equity Research - MD of Food & Agribusiness Research and Food & Beverage Analyst
What about can you talk about the difference in production levels in big bird versus tray pack and small bird? Is there a difference there? And is that can you?
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
I can. You have some people talking about the USDA numbers. And the USDA numbers are 4.25 and down and 7.76 and up, which is a different category really than we look at in our industry data that we subscribe to. And if you will look and the industry data that we subscribe to, which has a broader range, for example, if that 4.25 and down were to move up to 4.33, it would still be a small bird. And the real change in that, instead of being down 9%, its only down 1%. And big bird deboning, when they show a the USDA shows a 6% increase in 7.76 and up. And the industry data we look at is only up 1% in the 7.76 and up category. And that is all St. Pauls. The rest of the industry is flat in that category.
Kenneth Bryan Zaslow BMO Capital Markets Equity Research - MD of Food & Agribusiness Research and Food & Beverage Analyst
So you dont think that the discrepancy...
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
When you look at the industry as a whole now remember that the industry data we subscribe to covers like 90% to 95% from week-to-week, month-to-month. Its not 100%, but Im suspicious of USDA. When you look at USDA week-to-week, you remember, if you will look if you will go in there and dig in USDA week-to-week and look at the variation week-to-week I will not criticize the USDA, but you look at the variation on their weekly reporting, their numbers change dramatically week-to-week. For example, the week of 4/28 in the 4.25 down, they reported 32 million head. The next 2 weeks, they reported 44 million head. And thats true all through the year. I mean, you go back and look at the data on the week-to-week USDA data, theyre doing theyre reporting numbers that are reported to them, so Im not criticizing USDA. I would never do that. My data is from a different service. And all Im telling you is, theres been very little change in the industry. And the total change is minus 1% head count by USDA and flat by us. So its not a big deal.
Kenneth Bryan Zaslow BMO Capital Markets Equity Research - MD of Food & Agribusiness Research and Food & Beverage Analyst
You dont think that the weight differential is creating the incremental pressure on big bird margins relative to the other margins?
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
There is no weight differential. Its flat year-over-year.
Operator
Well take our next question from Adam Samuelson with Goldman Sachs.
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MAY 24, 2018 / 3:00PM GMT, Q2 2018 Sanderson Farms Inc Earnings Call
Adam L. Samuelson Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Research Division - Equity Analyst
So I want to dig in on the demand question a little bit, Joe, really 2 ways. One, I mean, clearly, its Memorial Day and pricing is trending has trended down. And kind of you just walked through the supply side. And I mean, Im trying to think about past precedent for these kinds of very counter seasonal declines and how you think that what the implication would be both for boneless as it moves through the summer, but also, I mean, if you think that there would be some leakage into the retail tray pack market if things persisted like this in coming months.
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
A couple of things. Memorial Day has always been an on and off for us. One year its good and one year its not good. This year, we, at retail, we have very few ads. Weve got some. And were running full this week. And then were going to have to run Memorial Day both shifts in our tray pack plants. Because while we dont have a lot of ads for Memorial Day, the week after Memorial day, theyre running beef and pork Memorial Day, all of our customers. Theyre running some chicken, but its primarily for the Memorial Day weekend theyre running beef and pork with some back-page chicken. But the week after Memorial Day, its all chicken. So were having to run Memorial Day, Monday, both shifts at 6 plants to cover the ads. And were probably going to have to run the Saturday after that, some plants to cover all those ads. So thats retail.
And then Im going to go back to food service. We did a lot of homework yesterday. We talked to a lot of folks, our big customers and smaller customers, further processors, we did not get very much of anything, Adam. Nobody has an explanation about boneless breast or tenders. Wings, we think last summer is the reason wings are where they are now, the high price last summer. We just do not have a lot of ad activity. Nobody is featuring wing I mean, tenders or boneless. We do not think at food service its competing red meat. Its just not happening. We do not have a good answer. As far as the weakness in food service bleeding over into retail, I think thats what you asked. Is that what you asked?
Adam L. Samuelson Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Research Division - Equity Analyst
It is.
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
We dont see a lot of that happening. In the past, we have seen weakness in export. When we had $0.15 leg quarters, that did get into retail, but I dont remember very much about food service affecting retail that much. To be honest with you, we do not have a good explanation why here in May. And weve had decent weather now. April was not good, but weve had good weather. And grilling, no excuses about grilling. They ought to be out grilling, but that comes from the grocery store. But theres been good weather for people to go out to eat, theyre just not going out to eat. We dont compete at the grocery store, we compete with all cuts of pork and beef. At food service, we compete with steaks and ground beef really, to a limited extent with some pork ribs and maybe some pulled pork at some barbecue places and some buffets and bacon, of course, but they put that on chicken sandwiches and on hamburgers. We dont really compete with pork so much at food service. And I dont think people have lowered their menu price for steaks. We do not have a good answer for the weak demand at food service. We dont believe at all its supply. I dont believe its going to affect retail. And thats my answer right now.
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MAY 24, 2018 / 3:00PM GMT, Q2 2018 Sanderson Farms Inc Earnings Call
Adam L. Samuelson Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Research Division - Equity Analyst
Okay. I appreciate that candor. And just the second question, Ill make it brief. The issue with the Newcastle disease in L.A. County and the Mexico ban which was in place for all of 4 days. Is there any material impact to your business from the sales that got backed up at that point or no?
D. Michael Cockrell Sanderson Farms, Inc. - CFO, Treasurer & Director
No.
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
No, no, we started shipping yesterday to Mexico and its wide open again. And the other countries were immaterial. Theres been no material it was a lot of nerves nervous but no big deal about this Newcastle.
Operator
Well go next to Heather Jones with Vertical Group.
Heather Lynn Jones The Vertical Trading Group, LLC, Research Division - Research Analyst
So I have a quick details question. So Hazlehurst and Hammond with the new volume, theyre less than 10% of your combined volume. That $0.04 a pound processing cost, thats just for those 2 plants, right?
D. Michael Cockrell Sanderson Farms, Inc. - CFO, Treasurer & Director
Thats correct.
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
Yes. Yes.
Heather Lynn Jones The Vertical Trading Group, LLC, Research Division - Research Analyst
Okay. And then I want to go not to beat a dead horse, but I want to go back to demand. Because talking to a number of your competitors, they talked about some softness in fresh chicken demand even in retail and believe one of the ways thats affecting food service is that you have some plants out there that will switch between the 2. I was wondering if you think theres any possibility that, that could be the impact from pork and all at retail could be affecting the food service channel as well because I went back and looked at pricing, 07, 08, 09, back when we had a lot of pork, beef and chicken, similar to we have now. And the sequential price changes that weve seen over the last 6 weeks, I mean, drastically weaker than those periods. I mean, were talking about on the order of like 20 percentage points. Its just unheard of. And so just wondering, like is there any possibility that it could have been issues at retail bleeding into food service more than you expected and then that combined with the weather. Because it just this is its honestly unprecedented what were seeing if you look at the pricing history. And Im looking using EMI data, by the way.
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MAY 24, 2018 / 3:00PM GMT, Q2 2018 Sanderson Farms Inc Earnings Call
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
Im seeing...
Lampkin Butts Sanderson Farms, Inc. - President, COO & Director
I dont know how youd shift 2 plants from...
Heather Lynn Jones The Vertical Trading Group, LLC, Research Division - Research Analyst
Well, and I dont want to say the names and all, but theres some plants out there that do food service, but theyll also throw some of that in a tray for retail.
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
Well, we know 2 plants that are big bird deboning plants that tray for retail. They do it all the time and we see it through, but it is a very small percentage. Its not appreciable. Its a blip on the radar. Its reported every month so we we dont know who it is, but we see it every month, but its not an appreciable volume.
Lampkin Butts Sanderson Farms, Inc. - President, COO & Director
Theyve got an extra week for retail.
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
Yes, but its not theres no big theres no volume. I mean, one of our plants does that almost that much in a day, dont we? Got jumbo tray boneless. I will not dispute you because I dont have a clue why food service demand is I heard one of my competitors say in New York that theres some normally, some big bird deboning that goes to retail. And its not going for whatever reason. Well, we never do that. We would never put big bird boneless in retail, package it. He was saying, there might be some weakness because of that, but that doesnt explain tenders and it doesnt explain wings. And I got to believe thats a very small percentage. And if you look at the year-over-year increase in breast meat, its just not that much. And I mean, we have some customers that buy jumbo boneless and put it in the meat case. They throw it out in a meat case where somebody can buy it by the piece. And theres a little bit of that, but that is not that is just not the answer to the $1.15 boneless and going down in tenders at $1, whatever they are, and going down, not here in May. Theres something else on the demand side and we just dont have the answer to it. But I will not dispute you because I dont know.
Operator
Well go next to Michael Piken with Cleveland Research.
Michael Leith Piken Cleveland Research Company - Equity Analyst
Just wanted to talk a little bit more in terms of the future size of the breeder flock and maybe just some updates in terms of, have you put in some breeders yet for Tyler? And when would you start to expect to see some of those breeders coming in?
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MAY 24, 2018 / 3:00PM GMT, Q2 2018 Sanderson Farms Inc Earnings Call
Lampkin Butts Sanderson Farms, Inc. - President, COO & Director
We put some in April, just the bulk one.
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
We made our placement in April for Tyler. And that was our first placement. And I think youre going to see, based on our discussions with suppliers, we think youre going to to get over this egg shortage, youre going to have to see pullet placements of 105%, 106% and 107% for an extended period of time to get over this egg shortage. And when you see 105% and 106%, doesnt mean youre going to see 105% and 106% more chickens. You got to make up the eggs. They dont lay as many eggs. And then you got to make up the hatch from 82% to 84%. And I dont know that youre going to get 84%.
Lampkin Butts Sanderson Farms, Inc. - President, COO & Director
And livability.
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
And you got to make up the livability. When somebody starts writing, oh, were going to have 105% and 106% more chickens, thats not going to be right. But I think its going to be later in the fall. I think youre going to have intermittent because both primary pullet suppliers are having some health issues. I think its down the road before those things clear up. And it may be end of 2019 before you see that level out.
Michael Leith Piken Cleveland Research Company - Equity Analyst
Okay. And just to dig a little deeper about the pullet suppliers having health issues. Do you have any idea of order of magnitude? And is it pretty equally spread out between the pullets that would go into big bird versus tray pack?
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
I do not know. One of them we dont purchase from so I dont know the extent of their situation. So Im reluctant to comment on that. Ours is doing pretty good. Theyre a little short. They voluntarily put down a couple of flocks for health reasons and did the right thing. And they have some other lines. Frankly, we took another line for 2 of our pullet placements to test them. But I dont Im reluctant to comment on the other supplier that has a big portion of the industry, supplies a big portion. I have no idea what segment. I know they do a lot of fast food and a good bit of tray pack. I think those will be the 2 primary segments they would be supplying.
Operator
Well go next to Akshay Jagdale with Jefferies.
Lubi John Kutua Jefferies LLC, Research Division - Equity Associate
This is Lubi filling in for Akshay. So my first question, so I believe youve taken your own production targets for the back half down. And I think thats even down relative to your expectations from roughly a week ago when you presented at the BMO conference, if Im not mistaken. So I guess, number one, is that correct? And then two, if so, can you talk a little bit about the rationale behind that and whether you have any sense at all if others in the industry are talking or thinking about pulling back on production given the softer demand environment?
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MAY 24, 2018 / 3:00PM GMT, Q2 2018 Sanderson Farms Inc Earnings Call
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
No. The only adjustment we made to our production estimate was to reflect the lower weight at Hazlehurst and Hammond. Were running the same number of head. We just moved Hazlehurst and Hammond from a 9-pound chicken down to 6.75-pound chicken, but were running the same number of head that we anticipated. And we have not adjusted anything, to my knowledge, from the numbers I dont remember giving numbers at BMO.
D. Michael Cockrell Sanderson Farms, Inc. - CFO, Treasurer & Director
No. We didnt for the reasons Joe just said, we took our live weights down very marginally in the summer just anticipating heat, which may or we may or may not be right about that.
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
We havent seen heat yet.
D. Michael Cockrell Sanderson Farms, Inc. - CFO, Treasurer & Director
We havent seen any yet, but it did come down from our last estimate though. Youre exactly right, Lubi, because we adjusted for those 2 plants.
Lubi John Kutua Jefferies LLC, Research Division - Equity Associate
Okay. And then the second question is probably more for you, Mike. On your nonfeed COGS, so it did, on a per pound basis, it did come in higher than we were expecting again. And I know youve outlined a number of things that are driving the trends there, but how should we be thinking about nonfeed COGS per pound more longer term? Would you expect it to start to come down at some point or is this more like a new normal?
D. Michael Cockrell Sanderson Farms, Inc. - CFO, Treasurer & Director
No. I would expect it to come down at some point. We projected out Q3 and Q4. And for the full year, Im expecting about $0.0175 a pound versus 2017. I do expect it to level off here, particularly with respect to the labor. As weve discussed on the last call, the salaried adjustments that we made last year were made in August and we will lap those in August. As we said in response to Kens question earlier, you did have some raises that were given at the first of the year, and you wont lap those obviously, but youll lap a big portion of the processing labor because of the salaried increases in August.
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
And that was not just processing, that was all salaried across the board.
D. Michael Cockrell Sanderson Farms, Inc. - CFO, Treasurer & Director
SG&A as well. Thats correct.
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MAY 24, 2018 / 3:00PM GMT, Q2 2018 Sanderson Farms Inc Earnings Call
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
And then our hourly wages that came in were not just processing. And they were no different than they have been being for the last several years. Our hourly wage increase was about 3.5%. And it runs 3% to 3.5% annually. And the big increase was in the salaried and it wasnt processing. It was across the board. And it looked up, but it was because of what we did in August. You can normally factor in around 5% to 6% for salaried and 2.5%, 3 around 3% for hourly. And thats our normal.
D. Michael Cockrell Sanderson Farms, Inc. - CFO, Treasurer & Director
Again, Lubi, for the full year, Im modeling $0.375 a pound. Last year, it was $0.357. And thats an increase of $0.0177 for the year, but that should level off in Q3 and 4.
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
You got 2 things in there that you ought to you got the start-up expense at St. Pauls that will be...
D. Michael Cockrell Sanderson Farms, Inc. - CFO, Treasurer & Director
And SG&A.
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
Yes, oh, yes, okay. All right. You got 2 or 3 things that are not going to happen in next year though is what Im saying. And the legal comes down, too.
D. Michael Cockrell Sanderson Farms, Inc. - CFO, Treasurer & Director
I would hope.
Operator
Well take our final question from Eric Larson with Buckingham Palace Research (sic) [Buckingham Research].
Eric Jon Larson The Buckingham Research Group Incorporated - Analyst
Most of my questions have been answered, just a quick follow-up on the quarter. Your feed cost, down for the quarter. Is that just the timing of how your costs are flowing through your inventory, i.e., FIFO accounting, as opposed to what was reflected in the market that we saw in the cash markets in your second quarter?
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
It was second quarter compared to a year ago or sequentially?
D. Michael Cockrell Sanderson Farms, Inc. - CFO, Treasurer & Director
That was second quarter compared to a year ago.
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
Yes. It was just there was very little difference in corn and soy in our second quarter. And if you remember the cost, the cost a lot of the cost was feed fed in December and January that showed up.
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MAY 24, 2018 / 3:00PM GMT, Q2 2018 Sanderson Farms Inc Earnings Call
Eric Jon Larson The Buckingham Research Group Incorporated - Analyst
Right, right, more of a timing issue then?
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
Yes. Yes. It wasnt what was on the board in March or April.
Eric Jon Larson The Buckingham Research Group Incorporated - Analyst
Yes. Okay. Right, right, because your -- yes, okay, because your real inflation in meal and corn really kind of started mostly in February, which was kind of the start of your quarter.
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
Thats correct. Thats correct. That is correct.
Eric Jon Larson The Buckingham Research Group Incorporated - Analyst
Okay. I just want to make sure that I understand kind of the cadence of how that lined up.
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
Yes. And the board started moving up February, March. And we actually had purchases through March.
D. Michael Cockrell Sanderson Farms, Inc. - CFO, Treasurer & Director
Thats correct, we did.
Eric Jon Larson The Buckingham Research Group Incorporated - Analyst
Okay. Okay. So any real higher cost may have only impacted you maybe a month or so or maybe even a little bit less than a month in the quarter?
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
Yes, it was very marginal. And it will be more apparent in the third quarter.
Operator
Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes todays question-and-answer session. I would like to turn the conference back to your speakers for closing remarks.
Joe F. Sanderson Sanderson Farms, Inc. - Chairman & CEO
Good. Thank you all for being with us this morning. And we look forward to reporting our next results to you in August. Thank you all.
Operator
Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes todays conference. We appreciate your participation.
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MAY 24, 2018 / 3:00PM GMT, Q2 2018 Sanderson Farms Inc Earnings Call
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