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Item 1A. Risk Factors
The risk factors listed in Part I Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Annual Report should be considered with the information provided elsewhere in this Report, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations. Except as set forth below, there have been no material changes in our assessment of risk factors affecting our business since those presented in our Annual Report. The following risk factor amends and restates in its entirety the risk factor of the same heading set forth in the Annual Report.
Fluctuations in commodity prices and the availability of raw materials could negatively impact our financial results.
We purchase large quantities of commodity pork, beef, and flour. Historically, market prices for products we process have fluctuated in response to a number of factors, including changes in the United States government farm support programs, changes in international agricultural and trading policies, weather, and other conditions during the growing and harvesting seasons. Our operating results are heavily dependent upon the prices paid for raw materials, as well as the available supply of commodities. Commodity costs, including meat and flour costs, have and may continue to fluctuate due to both political and economic conditions, including the ongoing conflicts between Uthe United States and Iran, Ukraine and Russia, and Israel and Palestine, as well as increased tariffs and fuels costs. Further, the potential for the imposition of new or additional U.S. tariffs on imports as well as potential retaliatory tariffs or other measures certain other countries may impose on U.S. imports has increased with the new U.S. federal administration. These actions could further increase our cost of goods sold and negatively impact our business and operating results. Supply chain disruptions and delays as a result of any new tariff policies or trade restrictions could also negatively impact our cost of materials and production processes.
The marketing of our value-added products does not lend itself to instantaneous changes in selling prices. We have implemented price increases on our products to help offset some of our higher input costs. Increased prices of our products could lead to lower demand for our products and sales volumes. Conversely, decreases in our commodity and other input costs may create pressure on us to decrease our prices. Changes in selling prices are relatively infrequent and do not compare with the volatility of commodity markets. If there is a lag between when costs increase and when we are able to increase selling prices, our profits margins may suffer. Production and pricing of commodities, on the other hand, are determined by constantly changing market forces of supply and demand over which we have limited or no control. Such factors include, among other things, weather patterns throughout the world, outbreaks of disease, the global level of supply inventories and demand for grains and other feed ingredients, as well as agricultural, energy and trade policies of domestic and foreign governments. While fluctuations in significant cost structure components, such as ingredient commodities and fuel prices, have had a significant impact on profitability over the last three years, the impact of general price inflation on our financial position and results of operations has also been significant. Current inflationary market conditions may have a negative impact on future earnings. Future volatility of general price inflation or deflation and raw material cost and availability could adversely affect our financial results.