Hog farmers in North Carolina are watching with great concern the still-rising flood waters brought by Hurricane Florence. Farmers are providing feed and care for animals and fuel to power ventilation systems in barns.
As harvest approaches, Chad Hart, associate professor of economics at Iowa State University, urges farmers to watch their costs and be patient as they face a difficult market for corn and soybeans.
Looking at hog sales in March 2019 using April 2019 futures, the weaner breakeven was $43.44, up $1.74 for the week. Feed costs were up $0.41 per head. These numbers are for the week ending Sept. 7.
As the U.S. economy continues to grow and unemployment dwindles, labor scarcity and wage inflation threaten the rural economy and put additional stress on profitability of the agriculture industry
U.S. exports of grain in all forms (GIAF) are on track to set a new record in 2017/2018, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and analysis by the U.S. Grains Council.
