Latest News From Industry

ICYMI: Farm Bill, Wild Pig Captures, Nuisance Trial, Tariffs
ICYMI: Farm Bill, Wild Pig Captures, Nuisance Trial, Tariffs

From the farm bill to wild pigs to nuisance trials, December was full of headlines to capture your attention. Here are some of our top stories from PorkBusiness.com in December in case you missed it.

Zeigler Meats Recalls Sausage Due to Possible Metal Contamination

R. L. Zeigler Co., Inc., is recalling nearly 12,000 pounds of ready-to-eat poultry and meat sausage products that may be contaminated with metal, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Sunday. 

Profit Tracker: Feeder, Packer Margins Steady
Profit Tracker: Feeder, Packer Margins Steady

Cattle feeding and packer profit margins were mostly steady the week ending December 21, with cash prices for fed cattle slightly higher.

Virtually every nonprofit group of any size or stature has its proverbial hand out, seeking donations from loyal or otherwise supportive followers to fund their various campaigns and causes in the New Year to come.
Dan Murphy: ’Tis The Season

For anti-industry activists to gin up their fund-raising appeals — just in time for their acolytes to divert some Christmas cash to the cause … of destroying production agriculture, that is.

With so much information available at our fingertips, consumers do about a 10-fold amount of research about food.
Google Identifies Three Marketing Trends Affecting Pork Consumption

Digital use is changing many areas of our lives, and the National Pork Board and the Pork Checkoff is working with Google to reach consumers and influence meat and food purchases in a whole new way.

How do you know it's time to walk away from your current ag lender? Three ag bankers weigh in.
How Do You Know It’s Time to Walk Away from Your Current Banker?

As agriculture enters into its sixth year of the current recession in the sector, relationships with ag lenders are growing even more important. Three ag lenders answer: "How do you know it’s time to walk away?"

Ham 1100
Reduce Food Loss and Waste this Holiday Season

The holidays are a time for entertaining and for giving back. USDA’s food loss and waste initiative offers tips on making the most of both sides of the season.

Those storybook scenes of the North Pole don’t show the tension during the last hectic hours — especially when Santa has to choose ‘appropriate gifts’ for those who’ve been naughty.
Dan Murphy: Dear Santa, Skip the Coal This Year

Those storybook scenes of the North Pole don’t show the tension during the last hectic hours — especially when Santa has to choose ‘appropriate gifts’ for those who’ve been naughty.

Company News: Merck, Alltech, Smithfield Foods 

Merck acquires parent company of Allflex and SCR, Alltech announces the winners of their #iamAG photo contest, and Smithfield adds a new distribution center and creates jobs for 250 people in North Carolina.

AgriTalk: How Red Meat Exports Impact Corn’s Value

Today on AgriTalk, Dr. Gary Schnitkey of the University of Illinois, Dave Juday of WPI, and Ben Gleason of 4R Plus.

McDonald’s Introduces ‘McVegan’ to International Menu
McDonald’s Introduces ‘McVegan’ to International Menu

Previously only available in Sweden and Finland, McDonald’s has now released the ‘McVegan’ at its Chicago headquarters.

Pork Producers Provide Holiday Meal for Struggling Iowans

Iowa Select Farms and the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation donated 17,000 boneless pork loin roasts during Operation Christmas Meal, a free pork loin giveaway for families unable to afford a Christmas meal this year.

AgriTalk
AgriTalk: How Red Meat Exports Impact Corn’s Value

Today on AgriTalk, Dr. Gary Schnitkey of the University of Illinois, Dave Juday of WPI, and Ben Gleason of 4R Plus.

2019 Livestock Outlooks: Trade, Supplies and Demand Need to Align
2019 Livestock Outlooks: Trade, Supplies and Demand Need to Align

The editors at AgWeb.com are looking at experts’ projections for 2019 to help you succeed and be profitable in the coming year. Here’s what to expect for the upcoming year in the livestock segments.

Overcooking Pork Should be a Rare Occurrence

Scientist sheds light on the science of pork cookery

Overcooking Pork Should be a Rare Occurrence

Scientist sheds light on the science of pork cookery

<p>Feedlot cattle being received.&nbsp;</p>
Profit Tracker: Feeder, Packer Margins Slip

Cattle feeding and packer profit margins both declined last week as cash cattle prices were modestly lower.

Farm Journal tax expert Paul Neiffer says the only way to defer the MFP payment is to wait and process your claim with FSA after December 31.
MFP Payments and Tax Planning: Timing is Everything

USDA announced details of a second tranche of MFP payments, but growers may want to talk with their tax specialist before rushing to the Farm Service Agency (FSA) office according to a Farm Journal tax expert.

<p>lighted tractor parade 2018</p>
My Hometown: Lighted Tractor Parade Is a Tradition I Can't Miss

There’s a tradition in my little hometown of Centralia, Mo., that’s getting bigger every year. The Christmas season truly begins when area farmers bring their tractors decked with lights down the street.

Corn Producers Benefit from Red Meat Exports

2018 beef and pork exports will use a combined total of 14.9 million tons of corn and DDGS, which equates to an additional 459.7 million bushels of corn produced – an increase of 29 percent over the 2015 projections.

Trade is the hot topic of the moment, but record production of agricultural products leads to volatile markets and subsequently, less predictable producer net income.
Nalivka: Winners And Losers In The Trade Dispute

Trade is the hot topic of the moment, but record production of agricultural products leads to volatile markets and subsequently, less predictable producer net income.

Holiday Movies Celebrate Small Town America
Holiday Movies Celebrate Small Town America

Holiday movie storylines are increasingly popular and often romanticize small towns while society seems to be running in the opposite direction. Clinton Griffiths shares his Farm Sense on these Christmas movies.

Christiana Figueres, the United Nations official behind the 2015 Paris climate agreement, thinks if carnivores want to eat meat they can do it outside the restaurant with the smokers.
A Vegetarian’s Case Against Vegetarianism

Christiana Figueres, the United Nations official behind the 2015 Paris climate agreement, thinks if carnivores want to eat meat they can do it outside the restaurant with the smokers.

<p>lighted tractor parade 2018</p>
Small-Town Lighted Tractor Parade Continues to Bring Christmas Cheer

Residents crowded into Centralia, Mo., for the 12th Annual Lighted Tractor Parade, featuring more than 70 entries of tractors, sprayers and other equipment, all wrapped in Christmas lights.

Not much firsthand data is available on how our prehistoric ancestors lived; sadly, there was no YouTube 250,000 years ago. But new research suggests what they ate was seriously primitive.
Dan Murphy: Rotten to the Bone

Not much firsthand data is available on how our prehistoric ancestors lived; sadly, there was no YouTube 250,000 years ago. But new research suggests what they ate was seriously primitive.

(L to R) Jason Propst, Illinois Pork Producers Assn.; Sister Sandra, Catholic Charities; Aaron Niebrugge, Farmweld
Illinois Pork, Farmweld Donate 1,000 Pounds of Pork to Food Pantries

IPPA continues to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Pork Power: Partnering to Fight Hunter in Illinois with donations to local food pantries

The owners of Allflex ear tags and SCR dairy monitoring technology is being acquired by Merck.
Merck to Acquire Parent Company of Allflex, SCR

The owners of Allflex ear tags and SCR dairy monitoring technology is being acquired by Merck.

AgDay logo
Your Friday Forecast: A Rainy Day!

Meteorologist Mike Hoffman says a rainy day is ahead for portions of the country.

Building a Snack Stick Empire

An entrepreneur at heart, Doug Hankes' passion to make a better snack stick has their family-owned business, Thrushwood Farms, on a path to double their snack stick production by 2020.

Expanding poultry operations in northeast Oklahoma has residents concerned about the environment and their quality of life.
Oklahoma Residents Fight 'Poultry House Proliferation'

Expanding poultry operations in northeast Oklahoma has residents concerned about the environment and their quality of life.

With so much information available at our fingertips, consumers do about a 10-fold amount of research about food.
Google Helps National Pork Board Reach Consumers in New Digital Ways

Digital use is changing many areas of our lives, and the National Pork Board and the Pork Checkoff is working with Google to reach consumers and influence meat and food purchases in a whole new way.

Building a Snack Stick Empire

An entrepreneur at heart, Doug Hankes' passion to make a better snack stick has their family-owned business, Thrushwood Farms, on a path to double their snack stick production by 2020.

President Trump Expected to Sign Farm Bill Next Week
President Trump Expected to Sign Farm Bill Next Week

The House easily passed the farm bill Wednesday, sending it on to President Donald Trump to sign.

Culver’s Support of Agricultural Education Surpasses $2 Million
Culver’s Support of Agricultural Education Surpasses $2 Million

Culver’s is making sure younger generations have access to agricultural education by giving back to organizations training young leaders to maintain and improve our country’s future food supply.

Changes to Smithfield’s bacon and ground seasoned pork operation will bolster its ability to support increased demand by domestic and export markets.
Smithfield Invests $45 Million In Sioux Falls Bacon, Ground Pork Plant

Changes to Smithfield’s bacon and ground seasoned pork operation will bolster its ability to support increased demand by domestic and export markets.

National Pork Producers Council Applauds EPA's Proposed New WOTUS Rule
National Pork Producers Council Applauds EPA's Proposed New WOTUS Rule

The National Pork Producers Council applauded the Trump administration's announcement of a proposed new Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.

Wondering what the 100 Hottest Food Trends for 2018 might be? Wonder no more. Despite the media’s salivation over alt-meats and veggie eats, meat and poultry still dominate foodservice.
Dan Murphy: Ruler of the Restaurant

Wondering what the 100 Hottest Food Trends for 2018 might be? Wonder no more. Despite the media’s salivation over alt-meats and veggie eats, meat and poultry still dominate foodservice.

Pork
October Pork Exports set a New Monthly Record

More good news for the beef and pork industry-October pork exports set a new monthly record.

Conference Panel Approves 2018 Farm Bill
Conference Panel Approves 2018 Farm Bill

The National Pork Producers Council is urging lawmakers in both chambers of Congress to approve the new five-year agricultural blueprint.

Smithfield Foods, Inc., is partnering with The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) s the dedicated sponsor of Smithfield’s Fundamentals Teaching Kitchen.
Smithfield Foods, Culinary Institute of America Help Educate Next Gen

Smithfield Foods, Inc., invests in future chefs at the Culinary Institute of America.

The Ohio Pork Council sponsored the machine, with bacon donations from Smithfield, Hormel and Sugardale.
Bacon For A Buck—Ohio State Gets Bacon Vending Machine During Finals

Ohio State University students can pig out on bacon this week as they study for finals, and it’s a big hit.

Thanksgiving Turkey
Trends: Turkey Consumption Retreats, Beef, Pork and Chicken Up

Turkey consumption (disappearance) per person is on track to decline for the second consecutive year.

Thrushwood Farms: The People Behind the Pork

Thrushwood Farms meat products add value from farm to fork

You can no longer say “bring home the bacon” or “be the guinea pig” according to an animal rights group because it belittles animals.
PETA 'Beating a Dead Horse' with Politically Correct Animal Sayings

You can no longer say “bring home the bacon” or “be the guinea pig” according to an animal rights group because it belittles animals.

Bid Boom: Giant Farm Equipment Online Auction Begins
Bid Boom: Giant Farm Equipment Online Auction Begins

The Year-End Unreserved Online Dealer Auction, featuring a complete range of farm machinery, will kick off opening bids on Dec. 6 and close on Dec. 27. Unreserved. Nationwide. Adios to buyer’s fees.

AASV
Hogg Scholarship Applications Available

Applications for the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation's Hogg Scholarship will be accepted through February 1, 2019.

Up and Coming Leaders: These Pork Leaders Are Making a Big Impact

We're proud of this new series, highlighting the young leaders impacting the future of the pork industry. Click below to meet each one, or email editor Jennifer Shike to nominate others. 

Idaho to Pay $260,000 in Legal Fees in Livestock Farm Spying Lawsuit
Idaho to Pay $260,000 in Legal Fees in Livestock Farm Spying Lawsuit

An animal rights group applauded a court ruling ordering Idaho to pay $260,000 to attorneys for animal rights groups over the state's law banning spying at farms, dairies and slaughterhouses violated free speech rights.

<p>Fed cattle in a feedlot.</p>
Profit Tracker: Margins Continue Improving, Packers Slip

Cattle feeding profits improved for the third consecutive week as cash fed cattle prices gained $1 per cwt.

These farmer elves have us all in the Christmas spirit.
Elf On the Shelf Goes to the Farm!

These farmer elves don't spend much time on the shelf! They are just like any other farmer—working hard to feed the world!