“If we step back and look at what that means for farmland, we're taking our energy production system from highly centralized production facilities and we have to distribute it,” says David Muth.
Research to support any person’s personal opinion is available, but that doesn’t mean it’s good research. Here are some pointers for telling the difference.
What’s the problem with organic growers starting a checkoff program? The answer to that reveals why activists tend to be such dogmatic ideologues. Because the truth is: Nothing.
Hog prices are expected to increase in 2017 even with three percent more pork production. Prices will be supported by stronger demand because of a growing U.S. economy and by a robust eight percent growth in exports as
Exports for both beef and pork have been flexing their muscles in the market, and DuWayne Bosse of Bolt Marketing says that’s because of high consumer confidence coupled with a strong Dow.
Iowa farmer Karl Fox is drowning in corn.
Reluctant to sell his harvest at today's rock-bottom prices, he has stuffed storage bins at his property full and left more corn piled on the ground, covered with a tarp.
He w
Charles Grassley, the long-time Republican senator from Iowa, feels there is too much consolidation in the livestock industry, and he intends to do something about it.
Weather and climate important factors in extreme fire events. A scientist at South Dakota State University thinks we’ll see more high-intensity fires in coming years.
A new University of Illinois study determined digestibility of energy and amino acids in soy protein concentrate ground to three different particle sizes.
Hog slaughter for week ending April 8 was 2.301 million head, 6.8% higher than the same week a year ago. This is the sixth consecutive week that hog slaughter has surpassed 2.3 million head and since the start of March
An online blog that gives voice to those visceral sentiments we harbor about people we loathe, has inspired a British writer to savage a BBC executive who mandates Meatless Mondays.
On March 17, 2017, and almost two years to the date from when it was filed, the Federal district court in Iowa dismissed the Des Moines Water Works (DMWW) lawsuit.
February results for U.S. pork and beef exports were well above year-ago levels, with pork exports posting the strongest February volume on record, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat
The effectiveness of biosecurity methods to mitigate the transmission of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) via farm personnel or contaminated fomites is poorly understood. This study was undertaken to evaluate the
Ninety ag groups sent a letter to President Trump last week calling for a new program to provide legal, documented workers to work in agriculture and related industries.
Swine and poultry viruses, such as porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), and highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV), are economically important pat
All stakeholders in animal agriculture need to be aware of the critical role they play in representing the industry to consumers. J.J. Jones with the Center for Food Integrity (CFI) knows consumers are asking more quest
Outdoor pig production suffers from the same fate in some parts of the country. Read this farmer’s experiences and prepare to protect your investment because government assistance might not be forthcoming.
March 6, 2017, started like any other day in western Kansas. High winds were forecast and fire warnings issued. Little did I know we were about to experience the largest wildfire in Kansas history, totaling more than 50
In a front page article in the Los Angeles Times last Thursday, Kate Linthicum reported that, “First domesticated here [Mexico City] 10,000 years ago, corn is not only a staple of the Mexican diet, but also a symbo
During the February 1st Animal Care Wednesday Webinar, we heard one of the leading experts discuss the challenging social concerns of antibiotic resistance. Michael Apley, Frick Professor of Clinical Sciences with the K
With the Russian market closed to U.S. pork and beef, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Manager Yuri Barutkin, who is based in St. Petersburg, is now focused on market development efforts in Europe and in the region
University of Missouri is part of a $6.6 million research initiative to promote soil health through cover crops.
Rob Myers, MU adjunct associate professor and north-central regional director of extension programs for th
It's tough to talk about the "what ifs" but planning for the worst is important for the future success of your operation. There are different kinds of plans that producers need to have in case of disasters.
Emergency
With a downturn in October futures, a slight increase in feed costs and an aggressive Hogs and Pigs Report, it's no surprise that prices were down for last week.
While pigs are a top priority for producers, so are the people who take care of them. Attracting and retaining good employees are key components of successful pork operations across the country, with salaries and benefi
Today’s farmers produce 262% more food with 2% fewer inputs than they did in 1950. What’s disturbing is that about half of all food produced is lost before being consumed.
Despite a splashy announcement meant to imply a massive — and positive — transformation, McDonald’s big switch to fresh beef patties ends up looking timid, tardy and not-at-all-trendy.
The Responsible Farm Protection Bill, Senate File 447, is now a state law. Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad signed the legislation in a ceremony at the state capitol this morning.
The Iowa Pork Producers Association supported t
When I was growing up, it was a treat to have pancakes or waffles for an evening meal. I don’t know why, exactly, because it’s not that they’re difficult to make – we just didn’t do breakfast at dinner.
There is nothing more important than the health of your pigs. Therefore, it is vital to learn about the signs and effects of enteric diseases in the swine herd. Enteric diseases are gastrointestinal disorders that, if l
The scope of a new strains of influenza for pigs appears to be expanding. The primary influenza season typically runs from late October through early April. Over the last three years, Dr. Susan Detmer, a veterinary path
Despite four new records for the first quarter, producers aren’t curtailing expansion plans. After all, new plants are coming. The big question is: Will they come online soon enough?
Brazil ordered three more food processing plants to suspend production on Monday amid an investigation into alleged corruption in its meat industry as the world's biggest beef exporter sought to regain the trust of cons
A University of Iowa student started his own company with technology that causes sows to stand up when they’re crushing a pig. His experiences on the farm compelled him to pursue a solution to a common problem.
Pork producers are helping representatives in Congress understand the devastation that would be caused by a foreign animal disease outbreak in the U.S., and why a FMD vaccine bank is so important.
Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog future's selloff last Friday carried over into Monday, led by fund liquidation and weaker cash prices, said traders.
April hogs ended 1.625 cents per pound lower at 65.650 cents, and
China lifted a ban on imports of meat from Brazil on Saturday after Brazilian authorities clarified details of a police investigation into alleged bribery of health inspectors, in a victory for President Michel Temer's
Brazil's JBS SA, the world's biggest meatpacking company, is not considering firing workers after a corruption scandal triggered import bans worldwide and drove it to suspend output in Brazil, newspaper Folha de S.Paulo
