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Getting pigs off to a good start is both an art and science, and even under the best of circumstances it can be challenging. Here are five key areas to for producers to focus on this year.

China's securities regulator said hog futures would be listed on the Dalian Commodity Exchange on Jan. 8, as the world's top pork producer finally rolls out a commodity contract that's been discussed for over a decade.

No one denies the pandemic ramped up changes that needed to be made in the food supply chain. Will past hesitations be set aside as the industry seeks to find ways to be more resilient to avoid a repeat of the spring?

NPPC says it looks forward to working with the U.S. Trade Representative in 2021 on numerous trade-related issues, including the U.S. rejoining the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership.

It doesn’t matter if your employees present clinical signs or if they feel “fine,” if they test positive for COVID-19, they need to leave the farm and self-isolate. Here are 4 steps to prevent future transmission.

When it comes to the global pork market, how much do other countries care about taste? Although every culture has its own definition, Pork Checkoff's Norman Bessac says there are three basic things customers want.

While hogs have grown heavier and leaner over the years, improvements in handling and processing have allowed for improved quality.

The Animal Agriculture Alliance's 2021 Stakeholders Summit will be hosted virtually May 5-6 bringing top thought leaders in the industry together to discuss hot-button issues and out-of-the-box ideas.

As COVID-19 continues to run its course, farms need to not only work on implementing prevention practices, but also prepare for how to respond if one or multiple employees were to test positive for COVID-19.

2020 hog slaughter has certainly challenged capacity this year, and it’s been a good test – and no minor test at that – said Iowa State University ag economist Lee Schulz.

As agriculture awaits confirmation Joe Biden will tap Tom Vilsack as the next Secretary of Agriculture, Washington insiders say Vilsack is a known entity, which would be a positive for U.S. farmers and ranchers.

An RNA genetic sequencing method studied by researchers at the University of Minnesota finds that rapid, unbiased pathogen detection can be achieved at the species and strain level.

Three meat industry trade groups sent a letter to the nation’s governors seeking to prioritize meat and poultry workers for COVID-19 vaccinations following healthcare workers and those in long-term care facilities.

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden plans to nominate former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack for agriculture secretary, according to two sources familiar with the decision. 

As the dust settles on a difficult 2020, the National Pork Producers Council is gearing up for a busy 2021. A new administration and congressional turnover means educating policymakers about pork producer priorities. 

I will be validating a model on branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) developed by Dr. Henrique Cemin on finishing pig growth performance as well using increased synthetic BCAA in late nursery and growing pigs. 

Measuring antibody response to a commonly used vaccination against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus could better predict swine reproductive success than common genetic selection strategies.

Shawn Smeins will lead Rabo AgriFinance, while Nikki Snider has been named interim executive director of the Oklahoma Pork Council.

U.S. pork exports continued on a torrid pace through the first 10 months of the year, with exports up 15% over last year and now accounting for 26% of all U.S. production.

Behind the walls of a hulking industrial compound in rural China, top pig producer Muyuan Foods is trying to raise more hogs on a single site than any company in the world - a risky investment with deadly ASF lingering.

Iowa State University PhD candidate Leticia Sanglard provides the first concrete example of the development of a novel trait that can be used for selection of PRRS-resilient animals with improved sow productivity.

Affordable health insurance is a pain point in rural America, an issue National Rural Health Association says is getting worse, not better. Now, agricultural groups are helping find solutions for farmers and ranchers.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration extended its COVID-19 emergency declaration for Hours of Service (HOS) waivers for the transportation of livestock and livestock feed through Feb. 28, 2021.

To protect essential frontline workers, JBS USA has voluntarily removed hundreds of at-risk workers from a Greeley, Colo., beef plant in response to rising COVID-19 infections in the community.

U.S. states, cities and hospitals are scrambling to buy freezers that can safely store Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine at temperatures of minus 70 Celsius, significantly below the standard for vaccines.

Pigs will no longer be allowed to fly inside the cabin on U.S. airlines as emotional support animals under a new rule from the Department of Transportation. Neither will peacocks or alligators or monkeys.

Multi-disciplinary collaboration by academia, industry partners and the veterinary community is improving the diagnostics for and management of Streptococcus suis, a key endemic bacterial pathogen of pigs.

The Meat Institute, NCBA and NPPC urged government leaders to prioritize COVID-19 vaccination for men and women who work on the front lines of the meat and poultry industry, following healthcare workers.

Here’s the latest in new product news.

JBS USA, a unit of São Paulo-based JBS S.A., and a group of direct purchasers in an ongoing pork price-fixing lawsuit filed a motion on Tuesday for preliminary approval of a class action settlement. 

Officials have confirmed another 42 cases of ASF in wild boar in eastern Germany, the state government of Brandenburg said, as an outbreak of the disease that has halted German pork exports to Asia persists.

By applying nutrition strategies wisely, North Carolina State University PhD student Gaby Martinez says the industry can reduce stillborns and farrowing duration while improving litter performance during lactation.

The best of the best barbeque pitmasters went head-to-head during the 2020 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) World Invitational. Find out who brought home the bragging rights in 2020.

People want purpose. They no longer want to work for just a paycheck. If that's true, how do you make your farm an irresistible place to work?

The report says total crop receipts are expected to increase $6.5 billion from 2019 levels. Total animal product receipts are expected to decrease $9.7 billion.

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden has said that he will not immediately act to remove the Phase 1 trade agreement, which President Donald Trump inked with China, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.

The January 2021 Iowa Pork Congress will look much different than the 48 previous events hosted by the Iowa Pork Producers Association. Here's what you can expect.

With the amount of pork that the U.S. is producing right now, trade and exports have never been more important, said AgriTalk’s Chip Flory during the Farmer Forum on Wednesday. 

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.

The demonstration video is part of an effort to help producers prepare for a foreign animal disease outbreak.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught the pork industry many lessons that National Pork Producers Council president-elect Jen Sorenson believes will help pork producers mitigate future challenges. 

The surge of COVID-19 cases across the country is hitting rural hospitals especially hard. Many aren’t equipped to handle critical patients. Now some hospitals are unable to send patients to urban hospitals for care.

Cattle feeders saw modest profits for the 10th consecutive week, a headline-worthy observation in normal times. The beef complex is not operating in normal times.

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.

Despite everything 2020 has thrown at the pork industry, Scott Brown, University of Missouri ag economist, says hog production is lining up reasonably well right now. He shared his thoughts on what's ahead on AgriTalk.

How diverse are influenza A viruses circulating in U.S. swine herds? Tavis Anderson, PhD, says there's a great deal of diversity within the virus. His team is studying the factors driving this diversity.

The National Pork Producers Council says it welcomes the idea of being added to the updated Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Deal (CPTPP), despite having bilateral trade deals with many of the countries.

U.S. Meat Export Federation Vice President of Marketing Jesse Austin discusses the latest regarding U.S. pork sales to Japan, in particular chilled and ground seasoned pork.

Struggling to find joy this holiday season? Editor Jennifer Shike shares what changed her perspective and how it provided a much needed reality check.

Cattle and hog feeding operations saw their margins remain modestly profitable last week with little movement in cash prices. Both cattle and hog feeding margins are higher than last year at the same time.