A slow global economy means North American pork exports are also sluggish, however, Tyler Fulton of h@ms Marketing Services says with the Canadian dollar trading around 75 cents U.S., currency is still working in favour of Canadian hog producers. But, he says Canadian producers have felt the effects of the loonie strengthening slightly in 2016.

"The dollar moving up about five cents over the course of the last 45 days has probably taken about $12 or so per hog out from the pockets of producers," Fulton says.

He adds heavy supplies and low prices for beef and chicken are also negatively affecting current pork prices.

Pork supplies are already quite high, which has pushed prices downward, and Fulton says when other meats start to drop in the markets, pork prices fall further to remain competitive.

"When the economy is good, that affects the ability of the consumer to buy [pork]," he says, "and the willingness [of the consumer], that's when the values of the substitutes — so chicken and beef — enter into the equation in that the consumer would be less likely to buy pork if they see chicken is running at $2 less. So in general, I would say pork demand still remains relatively solid, but we're really calling on North American consumers to kind of bump up their consumption."

Fulton says more movement of pork on domestic grocery store shelves would hopefully mean more stability in prices for producers, as hog supplies are big and exports are slow at the moment.