Industry
Both cattle and hog finishing margins improved modestly last week, with cattle slightly above and hogs slightly below breakeven.
Both cattle feeding and hog finishing enterprises saw modest profits last week as prices for both continue increasing.
Cattle and hog finishing profit margins were little changed from last week, with modest profits for cattle and losses for hogs. Beef packer margins declined again to their lowest mark since March.
Cattle feeding margins improved $60 per head the week ending Feb. 12 and hog margins reported profits for the second consecutive week as lean hog prices rallied.
Beef packers saw per head losses nearly double last week as wholesale beef prices tumbled $7 per cwt. lower. Pork processors are also found negative margins and producer margins remain short of breakeven.
This year, U.S. pork exports to Chile have rebounded, increasing 30% through April year over year, reports the U.S. Meat Export Federation, fueled by retail and foodservice features.
Two new board members began their service with SHIC, including Joseph Dykhuis, a Michigan pork producer representing the NPPC on the SHIC Board, and Pete Thomas, DVM, with Iowa Select Farms, in an at-large position.
The National Drought Mitigation Center estimates 67% of corn and 60% of soybeans are still considered to be in drought, a slight improvement from last week when drought covered 70% of corn and 63% of soybeans.
Paul Schadegg, with Farmers National Company, shares his perspective on agricultural real estate demand, the impact of interest rates on the market and the outlook for land values later this year.
As recent as March 20, we had $15-per-head profits staring at us for the next 12 months in the futures markets. As it has turned out, this is one of the largest and quickest deterioration in markets I’ve experienced.
Following the release of the Hogs and Pigs inventory report in June, Lee Schulz, livestock marketing specialist with Iowa State University Extension, joined AgriTalk to discuss his initial thoughts on the data.
USDA released a few big surprises in the June acreage report, including a spike in corn acres and a large reduction in soybean acres. The agency also forecasts grain stocks below trade expectations.
Hurricane-force winds swept from northern Missouri and Iowa all the way east to Illinois and Indiana. The derecho brought wind gusts up to 100 mph, flattening cornfields, but it also drenched soils with crucial rains.
Katelyn Gaffield wants to provide applied research that nutritionists and producers can use to optimize efficient diet formulation. Here’s how this up-and-coming leader in the pork industry is making an impact.
While the risk of malaria infection remains low, the CDC says Anopheles mosquito vectors, found throughout many regions of the country, are capable of transmitting malaria if they feed on a malaria-infected person.
The National Pork Board recently announced a new five-year effort to address consumer questions related to the pork industry and strengthen consumers’ confidence in choosing pork for their plate.
Even with rains sweeping the Northern Corn Belt last weekend, the latest drought monitor shows drought continues to spread across Illinois with D2 (Severe Drought) taking a 28-point jump in a week.
We are living in a world where consumers are more and more removed from agriculture. Here’s why we need to help them understand the realities of pig farming so we can maintain a steady supply of pork.
No one can argue the ability to export “more” of the pig to more places around the world is important. Nebraska pork producer Bill Luckey says ability to diversify opportunities around the world is highly valuable.
Iowa State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) is set to revolutionize molecular diagnostic testing with the introduction of a cutting-edge machine—the “SmartChip.”
Through a variety of employee engagement opportunities Christesen Farms “strives to provide employees with an experience that supports team members’ differing needs” says Tim Fossen, director of human resources.
Families can expect to pay $67.73 to host an Independence Day cookout for 10 people, the American Farm Bureau Federation reports, a decrease of 3% year over year, yet 14% higher than two years ago.
World-renowned swine researcher Mike Ellis received the 2023 John B. Swisher Leadership Award from United Animal Health at the World Pork Expo, celebrating his lifelong contributions to the swine industry.
With the Fourth of July holiday weekend nearing and the upcoming Hogs and Pigs inventory report, Rabobank shares key insights to the hog and pork markets for the remainder of 2023 and into next year.
“Food inflation has definitely started to slow down, and this is good news for consumers. However, it still won’t be cheaper to celebrate the Fourth of July,” says Dr. Michael Swanson, Wells Fargo Agricultural Economist
Growing a global business while keeping that speed of innovation isn’t easy, says Alltech CEO Mark Lyons. Here’s a look at their newest product, Triad, and how the company brought this product to market in six months.
Five economists take a look at the issues most likely to spark attention in the upcoming USDA Quarterly Hogs & Pigs Report to be released on June 29.
Bosnia has reported an outbreak of African swine fever.
Drought is deepening across the Midwest with 64% of the corn crop and 57% of the soybean crop across the U.S. now covered in drought, a sizable jump in just a week after NASS showed a historic drop in condition ratings.
Three California-based cultivated meat companies have received approval from USDA to begin producing and marketing lab-grown chicken.