Inflation has increased the cost of everything over the past 12 months. First described by many economists as transitory, the reality of higher prices and decreased purchasing power of the dollar has persisted.
Live hog prices have increased substantially since the beginning of the calendar year. Kent Bang of Compeer Financial takes a look at what's driving these market moves.
The pork industry has wrapped up a pretty good year for the majority of hog producers financially. Market hog prices were strong most of the year, but will 2022 be able to make up for 2021?
The industry has been through a lot of challenges with COVID-19 and a difficult year for PRRS. As we get those issues behind us, focusing on production metrics, enterprise analysis and future direction is critical.
Consumer spending is hitting record numbers in the first two quarters of 2021, and although economic growth may be slowing, it is still occurring. Columnist Kent Bang sheds light on what to expect in the pork markets.
Kent Bang left the National Pork Industry Conference filled with hope and excitement about the next generation who will take over leadership in the pork industry. Here's why.
The U.S. inflation rate is 5.0% for the year ended May 2021. Congress is debating a spending bill and stimulus package. With more money pumped into the economy, Kent Bang says we should prepare for further inflation.
What’s driving higher prices? Pork product demand. Kent Bang of Compeer Financial explores the factors that have affected demand and the headwinds that impact product delivery to consumers today and in the future.
Columnist Kent Bang of Compeer Financial outlines five of the main factors impacting the cost of pork production today and ideas to consider to control the rising cost of production.
Price risk has become more volatile and is a critical management function in the pig business. Managing both revenue and feed cost risks are vital to success. In the end, it comes down to a strong risk management plan.
When Kent Bang thinks about the pork industry and all it has been through in the past year and continues to suffer through, he believes three traits describe how people in the pork industry feel right now.
COVID-19 related issues continue to weigh heavily on the pork industry’s financial situation. Addressing key issues impacting the pork market starts with pigs backed up on the farm.
Pork producers are making many difficult decisions. Farm Journal's PORK columnist Keng Bang suggests organizing conversations and business planning into four key considerations.
Farm Journal's PORK columnist Kent Bang of Compeer Financial shares his take on the 2020 pork outlook and says producers should work to drive down costs by managing risks associated with price volatility.
Profitability has been challenging the past 12 months. Better export expectations and sales have encouraged market prices higher, but plants have been operating at capacity pressuring market prices downward.
Fluctuations in cash hogs, the pork cutout and the futures market have many producers wondering how long this volatility will last. Money Matters columnist Kent Bang believes it will be for some period of time.
Money Matters columnist Kent Bang of Compeer Financial says timing in the marketplace is nearly impossible now, not knowing how long ASF will continue to reduce Asia's swine herd or how much pork is in their freezers.
Recent trade negotiations and African swine fever in China have resulted in some of the most difficult times to make marketing decisions as markets began reacting to significant reductions in the global pork supply.
When facing challenging marketing times, Money Matters columnist Kent Bang offers a few basics to remember in order to make the best business decisions this year.
Many pig farmers have built working capital and equity over the past five years and are in a good position to withstand some adversity. Some producers might be in a tougher position.
Evaluating what makes our production system globally competitive can also be important to the individual farm and future success. Here are some thoughts on how we got here and how we move forward in the years to come.
