Latest From Opinion

Paige Carlson
The Hit Series “Yellowstone” and Its Ironic Truth

Although the hit series highlights the struggle of the Dutton ranch fighting to maintain a family legacy, a rather ironic story truth surfaces and an unfortunate reality hits home.

Elanco Animal Health
Industry Considerations: Microbiome Connections

Production efficiency is critical to keeping productivity high, which means management decisions become critical.

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Jennifer Shike
Why You Should Prioritize People

We live in such a hurried world, and don’t get me wrong, I hurry with the best of them. But I never want to hurry so much that I fail to show up for others. Doug Parrett knew the importance of prioritizing people.

Dr. Jack Shere - USDA
We Can't Fight African Swine Fever Without You

As African swine fever continues to spread throughout the world, we see firsthand the devastation it causes to swine populations. The U.S. has remained on high alert and has aggressively taken steps to protect our herd.

Greg Henderson
‘Moo’ Intelligence: Google’s New Sustainability Initiative Misrepresents U.S. Beef

America’s cowboys think the tech giant could have Googled more accurate scientific information about beef’s sustainability and value to the environment.

Clayton Johnson - Carthage Veterinary System Ltd.
Sustainability: Where Should Pork Producers and Allied Industry Focus?

Ask a room of people to define sustainability and you’ll see people fidget and squirm. Nobody wants to go first because there isn’t a universal definition; this is concerning given the attention it receives.

Clayton Johnson - Carthage Veterinary System Ltd.
Sustainability: Where Should Pork Producers and Allied Industry Focus?

Ask a room of people to define sustainability and instantly people will fidget and squirm. Nobody wants to go first because there isn’t a universal definition, which is concerning given the attention it receives.

Dennis DiPietre and Lance Mulberry
Unemployment and Revenge Spending: What Will Unfold Next in Pork Market?

As we move into the fall quarter, the usual expectations of declining prices and heavy weights are before us, but will they be realized and to what extent? What could unfold in potentially unusual ways?

Steve Malakowsky
How to Make a Successful Transition to the Next Generation

Of all the change Steve Malakowsky has witnessed in the past 25 years, the most important has been next-gen producers making their mark. He offers three things to consider before transitioning to the next generation.

David Newman - Arkansas State University
The OG "Ham"Burger

Pork burger has traditionally taken a back seat in retail stores for consumers looking for a grilling item or diverse meal option. But ground pork is making a comeback. The original ‘ham’ burger is back...but why?

Paige Carlson
How to Boost Lab-Grown Meat? Issue an Executive Order

An Executive Order recently called for "advancing biotechnology and biomanufacturing" to create a more "sustainable" bioeconomy. What is this, you may ask? A decoy.

Aidan Connolly
Is This a New Movie for Pork Leaders?

What should companies do when they are cash-rich and have fundamentally sound business generating record profits, but all the professional forecasters say disaster is around the corner?

Jennifer Shike
3 Reasons Why Luke Bryan is Good for the Pork Industry

I’d like to pretend interviewing superstar Luke Bryan didn’t get my heart racing just a little, but it did. Here's an inside look at what I learned.

Jennifer Shike
Beyond Face Value: How Will You Get to the Next Level?

It was a big day at our house when our son brought home his Ascend One Limited Edition Gable Steveson wrestling shoes. If you follow wrestling, you know Gable.

Dennis DiPietre and Lance Mulberry
Ukraine and China Hold the Economy’s Wild Cards Now

Will higher prices associated with pork in the U.S. begin to erode the demand for pork permanently? Dennis DiPietre and Lance Mulberry provide perspective on the global pork outlook.

Nick Giordano - NPPC
Ill-Conceived Schemes Contribute to Higher Global Food Prices

Mother Nature is wreaking havoc on global ag again. This time she’s being aided by man-made conditions, including supply chain disruptions, a war in Ukraine, worldwide inflation, and extremist activists’ schemes.

Abby Kornegay-Animal Agriculture Alliance
Activist Threats Aren’t Just on the Farm Anymore

Grocery stores have become a battleground for extremists pressuring retailers to remove meat, milk, poultry and eggs from shelves. Recent trends have shown an uptick in store protests, demonstrations and food tampering.

Will Fombelle - Carthage Veterinary Service LTD
Find and Develop Your Replacement in the Pork Industry

"I now understand the importance of dedicating time and energy to developing young students into veterinarians – these students are the future of the industry," says William Fombelle of Carthage Veterinary Service.

Chad Carr - University of Florida
Bacon Makes Everything Better

It was a sad day when my wife discovered $6 per package bacon at our local grocery store last spring. She passed it by. We cannot continue to be dependent solely upon belly value as the sole driver of carcass value.

Jennifer Shike
Barn Cats Are Worth the Inevitable Heartache

Being a barn cat farmer is not for the faint of heart. But as I’ve reflected on the great cats that have graced our barn and departed too soon, one thing is clear: They are worth the inevitable heartache.

Jennifer Shike
No, Showing Livestock Isn't Always Supposed to Be Fun

Showing livestock is supposed to be fun. But if we are really honest with ourselves, like all good things, it has its moments.

Aidan Connolly
Pork’s People Problem 

Where does farming's ‘people problem’ start? Aidan Connolly takes a look at the war for talent and what that means for the pork industry when it comes to finding, training, motivating and keeping the best workers.

Jennifer Shike
Growing Deep Roots

We all know that deep roots matter on our farms – whether in actual practice or in theory. Too often we get caught up worrying so much about the pace of our growth that we miss the importance of the depth of our roots.

Abby Kornegay-Animal Agriculture Alliance
Let’s Celebrate Some Wins in the Pork Industry

North Carolina native Abby Kornegay is the newest member of the Animal Agriculture Alliance staff, focusing on crisis management and animal activist monitoring. She celebrates industry wins in her first PORK column.

The Maschhoffs
Why Culture Matters More Than Money

Zoey Dinkla spent her summers working for large integrators, gaining crucial experience. At the time, she did not fully appreciate her exposure to a variety of companies’ workflows, processes and ultimately, culture.

Jennifer Shike
Break the Stigma: It Starts With You and Me

What would it look like for suicide to be a topic we don’t avert our eyes to? I think it starts with understanding and a willingness to break the stigma.

Jennifer Shike
When You're A Little Uncomfortable

Something I never thought I would do: judge a llama show. Here's why getting a little uncomfortable was just what I needed.

Terry Wolters - NPPC
Court’s Decision Could Affect New ‘WOTUS’ Rule

A proposed Clean Water Act regulation that could affect millions of acres of farmland is moving forward. Still, SCOTUS will hear a case that will clarify what CWA covers, likely sending it back to the drawing board.

Reuters
Unusual Drop in China's Soy Demand Could Precede Pork Contraction

China appears to be significantly throttling soybean imports this year to well below recent norms following a record haul last marketing year, which had coincided with a meaningful restoration of its hog herd.

The Maschhoffs
Showing Pigs Built My Future in the Swine Industry

Lexi Ammann says she would not be where she is today without the opportunity she had to show a pig. It sparked a passion and drive to pursue a future in the commercial swine industry.

Dennis DiPietre and Lance Mulberry
The Global Agricultural Supply Chain: A New Battlefield

It is not easy to get a clear handle on how pork producers in the U.S. or any major pork country can mitigate against disruption. Maybe the best strategy is one forced by sensible economic judgment – reduce production.

Kent Bang
Dollar Power Continues to Decrease: What Does That Mean for Pig Farmers?

Inflation has increased the cost of everything over the past 12 months. First described by many economists as transitory, the reality of higher prices and decreased purchasing power of the dollar has persisted.

Hannah Thompson-Weeman
Biosecurity and Farm Security are Closely Linked

Although activism and activist activity certainly pose a reputational concern, biosecurity is one of the key drivers behind the importance of implementing farm security measures. 

Greg Henderson
Colorado Animal Activist Kessler Charged With Animal Cruelty

A controversial animal rights activist and former member of the Colorado State Board of Veterinary medicine has been charged with animal cruelty. The blatant hypocrisy is stunning.

Greg Henderson
U.S. Senate Works Overtime to Protect Sunshine

A foreign leader addressing a joint session of Congress this week was a rarity. Not to be outdone, the partisan and often cantankerous members of the U.S. Senate passed legislation unanimously on a voice vote!

Julie Anna Potts
Potts: Supply, Demand Balance Without Government Intervention

In an exclusive Drovers commentary, the president and CEO of the North American Meat Institute says despite popular arguments, America's cattle and beef industries are better without government intervention.

Jan Archer
ASF: Biosecurity Is Our Responsibility

Biosecurity is not a new concept, says Jan Archer, a N.C. pork producer. But she says producers may not fully realize the impact keeping farms safe, pigs healthy and businesses operating means to their communities.

Jennifer Shike
Look at the Person, Not the Mistakes: Tosh Farms Opens New Doors for Women in Ag

It’s all too easy to judge a book by it’s cover, isn’t it? Editor Jennifer Shike says she had her eyes opened during a recent visit to Tosh Farms to see an unlikely group of women in action in the sow barn.

Dan Hueber
Bulls Still Have a Little Kick Left in Them

China pushing for self sufficiency

Greg Henderson
Colorado Gov. Polis Transparently Undercuts Agriculture

Colorado ranchers say they are “under attack” by their governor after hiring a director of the Bureau of Animal Protection who has ties to Mercy for Animals and leads a project that promotes plant-based food choices.

Greg Henderson
Plant-Based Chicken Plucking

Plant-based chicken pluckers are not satisfied with a 1% market share, but they have the difficult task of convincing folks a concoction of pea protein, soy protein, flour, oils and sodium tastes just like chicken.

Jennifer Shike
Stop Calling Nolan DeWall a Pig Farmer

A news story about a "pig farmer" in Iowa facing allegations of livestock neglect went viral this week. After reading the stories and doing research, here's why I think he's being mislabeled as a pig farmer.

North Carolina Pork Council
A Rare Moment of Honesty from a Waterkeeper

A new year brought with it another attack on North Carolina’s pork industry. This one arrived in the form of a 16-minute video from an online outfit called Vox. It produced the video with money from an activist group.

Jennifer Shike
Numbers Matter: How Will You Crush Your Goals This Year?

18:28–the number on her tile, the number on her heart and the number that fueled long practices, sore muscles and mental exhaustion. Here's one perspective on why numbers matter so much in our industry and our lives.

Greg Henderson
Activists Play Grinch, Seek End To ‘Animal Gifting’

Animal activist groups went full Grinch-mode this week, calling for the end of "animal gifting" programs such as Heifer International and 'Hatching Hope' that work to support impoverished people. Because, well, Humbug!

Chad Carr - University of Florida
Help Wanted: Animal Agriculture Needs to Increase Career Awareness

It feels like every business I enter has a “help wanted” sign right now. Opportunities for hardworking, honest, reliable employees are limitless. Unfortunately, many college students overlook the swine industry.

Hannah Thompson-Weeman
Animal Rights Extremists Take Their Cause to the Courtroom

While some animal rights activist organizations rely on tactics like undercover video campaigns where individuals misrepresent themselves to get hired on farms or plants, others are much more brazen in their approach.

Dyneah Classen - Carthage Veterinary System Ltd
Advocacy is Leadership: It’s Time to Take a Stand

Farmers have always been leaders, whether among their peers or leading the next generation. Agriculture has made the U.S. great; however, some seek to see it end. It’s time to embrace advocacy, Dyneah Classen says.

Paul Neiffer
The Three C's of Succession Planning

What makes a good family farm transition? It is difficult to achieve a good farm transition without at least doing well in each of these C's.

Jennifer Shike
Feed the Right Dog and 4 Other Things I Can’t Get Out of My Head

Since I was a kid, I found myself drawn to motivational leaders and inspiring words. I’ve been a notetaker wherever I go, scrawling out words I want to remember and live by. I'm fascinated by what makes people tick.