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Profit Tracker: Cattle Improve, Pork In The Red
Profit Tracker: Cattle Improve, Pork In The Red

Average feedyard closeouts saw modest profits for cattle last week as cash prices improved. Hog finishing margins declined from near breakeven to a loss of $6 per head.

The 4 Crisis Management Types
The 4 Crisis Management Types

Since we all react to crisis differently; it helps to understand employees’ and family members’ perspectives.

Stiegelman Wins Best Mustache in the Pork Industry
Stiegelman Wins Best Mustache in the Pork Industry

The first winner of the “Best Mustache in the Pork Industry” is a mustache “fit for bank robbery or a night at the opera...maybe both!” describes judge Davis Michaelson, co-host of AgriTalk. See the results here.

Broiler chicks
Court Rejects Meat Institute’s Prop 12 Appeal

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rejected the Meat Institute’s challenge to California’s 2018 ballot initiative that imposes new standards for animal housing.

Unsettling and Awe-Inspiring: Kipker Wins 2020 Beard Contest
Unsettling and Awe-Inspiring: Kipker Wins 2020 Beard Contest

Judges describe 2020's winning beard entry as "equal parts unsettling and awe-inspiring to gaze upon." See the complete list of winners here.

2020 Rewind: Farm Journal's PORK Cover Stories
2020 Rewind: Farm Journal's PORK Cover Stories

We're recapping this year's most important issues though a look back at the covers of Farm Journal's PORK magazine.

A Magical Rural Minnesota Christmas Tree Decked Out with 50,000 Lights
A Magical Rural Minnesota Christmas Tree Decked Out with 50,000 Lights

Jerry Lageson bought a piece of property along Interstate 35 south of Faribault, Minn. in 1976.  And today, the tree is a sight to see as American Countryside's Andrew McCrea shares this Christmas weekend.

Fox Business' Maria Bartiromo talks with an animal activist posing as the CEO of Smithfield.
Animal Right Activist Poses as Smithfield CEO on Fox Business

Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo on Wednesday thought she was talking to Smithfield CEO Dennis Organ, while in reality she was being punked by animal activist Matt Johnson of Direct Action Everywhere.

AgriTalk: Final Days of 2020 Provide Hope for Pork Producers

2020 was filled with a lot of bumps in the road for the U.S. pork industry, but announcements made during the final days of the year offer great hope to pork producers as they look at what’s ahead.

Farmer Forum: Pork Producer Weighs in on Feed Costs and Profitability

There’s no doubt about it, the feed situation has changed drastically in the last couple of months, said Illinois hog farmer Chad Leman on AgriTalk’s Farmer Forum.

Packing plant workers
UFCW, Meat Institute Ask Governors to Prioritize Vaccinations

The Meat Institute has joined with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union in asking governors from all 50 states to prioritize COVID-19 vaccinations for frontline meat and poultry workers.

Industry Rallies to Fight Swine Disease: A 2020 Review

The swine industry is no stranger to dealing with disease. As human doctors battled COVID-19, the pork industry didn’t let up on its fight against diseases that threaten pigs. Here’s a look back. 

Purposeful Transition Guides Indiana Father-Son Team
Purposeful Transition Guides Indiana Father-Son Team

Jim Douglas and his son, James, are navigating the joys and hurdles of succession planning.

What Does Grit with Grace Look Like?
What Does Grit with Grace Look Like?

If you know me, you know I’m always looking for ways to tell real stories of resilience in agriculture. One thing's for sure – 2020 gave us a lot of opportunity to practice and live out “Grit with Grace.”

The view of the Nations Capitol as the Democrats and Republicans continue moving forward on the agreement of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) aid package in Washington, D.C., U.S. December 21, 2020. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno
Covid Aid Bill Provides Ag Funding for Sectors Left Out of CFAP

The coronavirus aid package approved by Congress overnight Monday provides $13 billion in ag funding, much of it destined for sectors left out of previous aid packages.

“The early part of the year should look very different than the latter, but in total, economic growth is estimated to be about 4%, following a retreat of roughly 4% in 2020,” Dan Kowalski, vice president of CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange division.
CoBank: COVID-19 Will Continue To Steer Economy In 2021

“The early part of the year should look very different than the latter, but in total, economic growth is estimated to be about 4%, following a retreat of roughly 4% in 2020,” says Dan Kowalski.

7 Reasons Your Best Employees Quit
7 Reasons Your Best Employees Quit

Learn how to avoid these frustrating and deal-breaking mistakes.

Don’t Pay For Energy Lost During Digestion, Swine Nutritionists Say

As feed costs climb, some experts say it's time for a different approach to swine diet formulation. Can formulating diets based on net energy lower production costs? Here's what a few nutritionists think.

Producing a Quality Weaned Pig: Focus on Health

Who doesn't love walking into a farrowing room and seeing large, healthy litters of uniform pigs? Good health is one of the most important factors a quality weaned pig must have. Here are four key things to consider.

PORK's Top 10 Articles of 2020
PORK's Top 10 Articles of 2020

We've rounded up the top 10 stories of the year as decided by you, our readers. Take a look back at these memorable stories on PorkBusiness.com in 2020.

3 Ways to Lessen the Impact of High Feed Prices in Pork Production

Soybean prices surpassed the $12-mark last week, taking away from margins in pork production. So, what can U.S. pork producers do to lessen the impact of high soybean prices? 

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Stress
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Stress

Find out how to recognize the warning signs of stress, practical ways to deal with tough times and 3 tips to get your health on track in Farm Journal’s PORK’s new e-book, “Your Guide to Mental Health.”

NPPC Applauds USDA Oversight of Gene-Edited Livestock

The Trump administration announced its intention for the USDA to have primary oversight over gene-edited livestock. NPPC has been a leading advocate for USDA regulatory oversight over the last two years.

New Technology Aims to Improve Early Disease Detection in Swine Herds
New Technology Aims to Improve Early Disease Detection in Swine Herds

The winning project in the Merck Animal Health High-Quality Pork — Precision Farming Award contest monitors the feeding habits and weight gain of pigs and can identify those that have gone off feed.

USDA Oversight of Gene-Edited Livestock: A Seismic Shift for Agriculture

USDA announced its intent to have primary oversight over gene-edited livestock. Secretary Perdue said this would be a significant step in modernizing regulations of agricultural animals produced by genetic engineering. 

Rethinking the Role of Enzymes in Swine Rations

Join this webinar to learn how the research behind enzymes impacts their effectiveness in optimizing feed efficiency and performance in monogastric diets.

Fine-Tune Your Water System for Summer and Fall Disease Challenges

Connect with our webinar where experts discuss how to get the best value when you choose water as your method of antibiotic delivery.

Successfully Removing Ractopamine - Feed Mill to Production to Processing

This one-of-a-kind webinar sponsored by Zoetis provides insight on how to successfully remove ractopamine from pork production systems from feed mills to production to processing.

PORK Perspectives: A Minute with Edward Seed
PORK Perspectives: A Minute with Edward Seed

When Edward Seed, now vice president of global sales and marketing for Pharmgate, began knocking on doors about 10 years ago with a new product no one had heard of, he wasn’t sure what doors would actually open.

CDC Prioritizes Frontline Meat Workers for COVID-19 Vaccination
CDC Prioritizes Frontline Meat Workers for COVID-19 Vaccination

The Centers for Disease Control agrees that frontline meat and poultry workers should be some of the first vaccinated after health care workers and those in long-term care facilities.

Batch Farrowing Requires ‘Different Mindset’

Batch farrowing used to be a common practice, but as farms got bigger, continuous-flow production became the norm. Now it appears batch farrowing is making a comeback, according to John Deen.

Eat Meat to Support Your Immunity During a Crisis
Eat Meat to Support Your Immunity During a Crisis

Don’t wait until you’re sick to do these three things that will support your immunity.

Everett Forkner: What Does it Mean to Leave a Legacy?
Everett Forkner: What Does it Mean to Leave a Legacy?

What's the role of a stockman in the future? Everett Forkner weighs in on what's ahead for the next generation of pork industry leaders.

A Stockman Reveals His Trade Secrets
A Stockman Reveals His Trade Secrets

Stockmanship. The innate ability by visual appraisal and common sense to know what works and what needs to happen. That’s how Everett Forkner, newest inductee of the Saddle and Sirloin Portrait Gallery, defines it. 

Pork Industry Applauds Regan Nomination to Head EPA
Pork Industry Applauds Regan Nomination to Head EPA

President-Elect Joe Biden nominated Michael Regan, North Carolina's top environmental regulator, as the next administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Here's the pork industry response.

Virtually Connecting Candidates and Employers from Farm to Fork
Virtually Connecting Candidates and Employers from Farm to Fork

AgCareers.com surveyed ag employers and found the agricultural industry is surely resilient, and this is clear as over one half of companies surveyed expect their workforce will increase in size over the next two years.

Tyson Temporarily Idles Iowa Plant Following Mechanical Issue
Tyson Temporarily Idles Iowa Plant Following Mechanical Issue

A mechanical malfunction in the refrigeration system caused an evacuation of the plant Tuesday night. Company officials do not yet have a timeline for resuming production.

Tyson Fires Seven Managers After Probe Into COVID-19 Wagering at Pork Plant

Tyson Foods Inc said on Wednesday it had fired seven managers at an Iowa pork plant after investigating allegations that they took bets on how many employees would catch COVID-19.

5 Key Steps to Manage Market Risk

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. 

New nursery, new generation grows family farm
New nursery, new generation grows family farm

Read about this nursery’s blend of proven and new technologies. See link to a video tour at the end.

Don’t Forget the Most Important Nutrient in the Nursery

Water is often the forgotten nutrient in swine programs. Iowa State University assistant professor Laura Greiner shares six ways to make sure pigs are getting the best start possible in the nursery.

Profit Tracker: Beef Packer Margins Decline 33%
Profit Tracker: Beef Packer Margins Decline 33%

On a percentage basis, beef packer margins declined significantly last week. It's all relative, of course, since the starting point from the previous week was stunning.

5 Ways USDA Protected Animal Ag in 2020

From feral swine damage prevention to foot-and-mouth disease vaccine purchases, USDA APHIS has been focused on critical work for animal agriculture amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are five noteworthy achievements.

Iowa State Students Win Top 2020 College Aggies Online Scholarships
Iowa State Students Win Top 2020 College Aggies Online Scholarships

More than 275 individuals and 16 collegiate clubs enroll in the 2020 College Aggies Online competition, representing 87 colleges and 39 states. Here are the results.

3 Tough Questions to Ask Yourself About Antimicrobials

Cara Haden, associate swine veterinarian with Pipestone Veterinary Services, offers three key questions to ask yourself as you consider the role of antibiotics in your operation in 2021.

Realizing the full value of pork exports starts with listening and understanding what other countries want.
How Do We Capture the Most Value for the Supply Chain?

The competition is heating up around the world as more countries look for ways to fill the pork protein gap caused by the after-effects of the deadly ASF virus. Experts share how the U.S. can grow exports.

2021 Industry Outlook: Adapt and Overcome
2021 Industry Outlook: Adapt and Overcome

Around every corner is a new pressure point on each of our businesses. Whether it’s continued global spread of ASF, chaotic markets, labor shortages or fluctuating export demand, the risks have reached new heights.

Will More Fences Stop ASF Spread In South Korea?

South Korea authorities are building more fences to raise its guard against the deadly African swine fever virus. Since October 2018, 883 cases of ASF have been discovered in wild boars in border areas.

FDA Approves ‘First-of-its-Kind’ Intentional Genomic Alteration in Pigs

The FDA approved a first-of-its-kind intentional genomic alteration in a line of domestic pigs on Monday.

China's Pig Herd Nears Normal Levels, But Hog Prices Still Rising

China's pig and sow herds, ravaged by African swine fever over the past two years, recovered to more than 90% of normal levels by the end of November, the official news agency Xinhua said.