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Jennifer Shike

As the brand leader of Farm Journal’s PORK and host of “The PORK Podcast,” Jennifer Shike pairs her deep animal science expertise with a heart for the people in the pork industry. Her work is a vital resource on swine health and biosecurity, reporting on threats such as PRRS, PED and African swine fever. By keeping a close watch on national and state policy, she translates trade deals, California’s Proposition 12, environmental regulations and farm bill updates into what they mean for American pork producers.

Latest Stories
In anticipation of the USDA Hogs and Pigs Report that will be released on Thursday, Sept. 26, Steiner Consulting Group shared expectations from six analysts polled ahead of the report.
Fall is a great time to plan for seasonal ventilation maintenance and manure pit pump-out before cold weather sets in.
NutriQuest is partnering with Modulant Biosciences to develop a breakthrough technology for control of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome and other swine disease.
The conversations that took place during the Carlos Pijoan SDEC Symposium at the 50th Allen D. Leman Swine Conference in St. Paul, Minn., covered a wide expanse of topics weighing on the industry’s mind.
Within the first 1,000 days of life, a baby’s brain begins to grow and develop with the help of specific vitamins and minerals, including protein, zinc, iron, choline, folate, iodine, vitamins A, D, B6 and B12 and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. When baby’s first bite includes pork, their growth and development flourishes.
Negotiated cash cattle increased an average of $1.18 per cwt. the week ending Sept. 14 and profit margins dropped by $13 per head to an industry average of $130.66 per head, according to Sterling Marketing. Farrow-to-finish hog producers found positive margins of $16 per head last week, down $2.91 from the previous week.
Even though the majority of U.S. red meat exports flow out of the West Coast ports, USMEF’s Dan Halstrom says a strike in the east and south would still have a significant impact on the industry.
Postweaning diarrhea is a frustrating disease. Not only is it costly to the pig and producer, but often the reason why it’s happening is unclear, says Adam Schelkopf, a veterinarian with Pipestone.
NPPC appreciates that AMS intends for the proposal to promote fair and competitive markets, but it is more likely to negatively impact pork producers, including through an increase in frivolous and costly litigation.
NPPC CEO Bryan Humphreys says he honestly doesn’t know why TN visa applications are being denied. He calls it a complete frustration for the U.S. pork industry.