Pork Business

Bridging the $300-Billion Gap: WOAH Launches Global ‘PREVENT’ Forum to Boost Animal Vaccination

Wed, 20 May 2026 18:59:26 GMT

Global animal health threats are no longer distant risks—they are immediate economic disruptors. From the devastating spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to the persistent threat of Newcastle disease, the cost of “acting too late” has reached a staggering $300 billion annually. Despite these stakes, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) reports that vaccination rates for the most critical notifiable diseases remain stalled below 20%.

To close this gap, WOAH officially launched the PREVENT Forum on May 19. This five-year public-private platform is designed to dismantle the barriers preventing widespread vaccine adoption and to modernize global animal health defense.

A Strategic Response to a Global Crisis

The forum’s launch follows the publication of The State of the World’s Animal Health , that calls for better-resourced animal health systems to protect human health, food security, trade and livelihoods.

“The PREVENT Forum is a concrete response to that call, advancing prevention through structured public-private dialogue with a strong focus on vaccination,” WOAH reports. “Vaccination is one of the most effective tools available to prevent and control animal diseases, alongside strengthened biosecurity, surveillance, early detection and rapid response.”

By expanding access to quality vaccines, PREVENT aims to protect livelihoods, support food security and contribute to efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance.

Unlike previous high-level dialogues, this forum is built around seven specific priority areas that address the practical “why” behind low vaccination rates:

Planning and Regulatory pathways
Economic evidence
Vaccine access and Equity
National strategies and Trade

The forum seeks to align the entire supply chain—from the lab to the barn.

A Shared Space for Action

The initiative will culminate in its first global technical session in October 2026, where members intend to draft a global declaration to overcome existing regulatory and financial barriers.

“Vaccines are one of our most powerful tools against animal disease — but access, regulation and financing gaps mean the potential is far from fully realized,” says Dr. Emmanuelle Soubeyran, Director General, WOAH. “The PREVENT Forum gives governments and industry a shared space to identify what is holding back progress and to act on it together. WOAH is proud to convene this effort, and we are committed to ensuring it delivers results for our members and strengthens animal health systems globally.”

Cargill Initiates Lockout at Fort Morgan Beef Plant After Contract Rejection

Wed, 20 May 2026 19:25:59 GMT

A spokesperson for Cargill confirms the company initiated a lockout on May 20, 2026, at its Fort Morgan, Colo., beef facility following months of bargaining and an employee vote against the latest contract offer.

The Fort Morgan plant has not been harvesting since April 23 due to these ongoing labor negotiations with Teamsters Local 455 and the concern of a potential work stoppage. Beef processing involves live animals and highly coordinate operations. Cargill explains a sudden stoppage during production could create risks related to food safety, animals welfare and could result in extensive food waste.

“This was a difficult decision and not the outcome we wanted,” the Cargill spokesperson says. “The lockout was initiated because continued uncertainty around a potential work stoppage creates challenges for operating safely, responsibly and reliably. We respect employees’ right to vote and remain committed to reaching a ratified agreement with the union.”

Cargill reports the halt in processing in Fort Morgan is not impacting its weekly harvest numbers, just shifting production to other plants. At full capacity, Fort Morgan harvests 4,700 per day; prior to the halt it was averaging 4,000 head.

“We believe our proposal is fair and competitive, representing an estimated $33.4 million investment over five years,” the spokesperson stresses. “While negotiations continue, our focus remains on maintaining safety, managing operations responsibly and using Cargill’s broader supply chain network to continue serving customers. Under our current plans, we do not expect material impacts to producers or customers.”

On social media , a union leader says: “The members at Cargill have spoken loud and clear — by an overwhelming 85% vote, the company’s offer was rejected. Unity and solidarity sent a strong message that the membership deserves better.”

According to Teamsters , more than 1,700 teamsters were locked out after months of fighting for a new collective bargaining agreement.

“Shame on this company for shutting out our members. Cargill can afford to give these workers a fair deal that reflects their hard work and dedication,” says Dean Modecker, Teamsters Local 455
secretary-treasurer. “This was a disgraceful move by a company that has long taken its workers for granted. We won’t stand for it.”

Your Next Read:

Cargill Invests in Beef Business and Employees

Maximize Swine Grow-Finish Performance: Health, Nutrition and Benchmarking

Wed, 20 May 2026 15:55:29 GMT

Pig farming remains a critical component of the global agricultural industry, supplying a reliable source of protein to a growing population. As producers look to capture current margin opportunities and position for long-term success, attention to detail in day-to-day management matters more than ever.

Three areas continue to stand out: grow-finish health, nutrition and benchmarking. Each plays a direct role in driving performance, supporting animal well-being and maintaining economic efficiency.

Grow-Finish Health: Foundation of Performance

The grow-finish phase is one of the most important stages in a pig’s life cycle, representing the period of most rapid growth. Maintaining herd health during this stage is essential to achieving strong performance and avoiding costly disruptions that can quickly erode margins.

A strong biosecurity program remains the first line of defense. This starts with building a culture of consistency across the operation. Clear protocols should guide everything and everyone entering the farm, from access control to sanitation practices to load-in and loadout procedures. Attention to detail in these areas helps reduce the risk of introducing disease and protects overall herd performance.

In addition to biosecurity, proactive herd health management is critical. Communication with your veterinarian and animal health partners can help identify emerging risks and tailor programs to specific regional or operation-level challenges. Common threats such as influenza and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) continue to require close monitoring and a disciplined approach to prevention.

Managing stress throughout the grow-finish phase is equally important. Barn density, environmental conditions and handling practices all influence stress levels, which in turn impact immune response and feed efficiency. Providing adequate space, maintaining proper ventilation and ensuring consistent handling practices can help reduce variability and support more predictable outcomes.

Nutrition: Driving Growth and Efficiency

Nutrition is a primary driver of performance during the grow-finish stage, directly influencing growth rates, feed efficiency and overall herd health. While balanced rations are essential, consistency in feed delivery and access to clean, high-quality water are just as important.

Regularly reviewing performance data and adjusting feeding strategies can help fine-tune results over time. Many producers benefit from working closely with a nutritionist or veterinarian to evaluate ration formulations, assess feed efficiency trends and identify opportunities for improvement. Even small adjustments can have a meaningful impact on overall performance.

Technology is also playing a larger role in nutrition management. Tools such as bin sensors and water monitoring systems provide greater visibility into consumption patterns, helping identify issues earlier. More advanced technologies, including camera-based systems, are being used to monitor growth and variation within groups of pigs.

With more data available than ever, the opportunity lies in turning that information into actionable insights. Timely, data-informed decisions allow producers to respond more quickly, manage performance more precisely and reduce inefficiencies that may otherwise go unnoticed.

Benchmarking: Measuring What Matters

Benchmarking is a valuable tool for evaluating performance and identifying areas for improvement. Key grow-finish metrics such as average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), mortality and market weight should be reviewed consistently to understand how an operation is performing.

Tracking these metrics over time provides insight into trends and helps highlight areas where adjustments may be needed. While comparing against industry benchmarks offers useful context, evaluating performance against your own historical data is equally important. Internal benchmarking allows producers to measure progress, assess the impact of management changes and determine whether those changes are delivering the expected results.

Benchmarking can also support better decision-making across teams. When data is clearly understood and consistently reviewed, it becomes easier to align on priorities and focus efforts where they will have the greatest impact.

In addition, benchmarking across peer groups or production systems can offer valuable perspective. Understanding how others are performing and where differences exist can help identify new strategies or management approaches worth considering.

Strong performance in the grow-finish phase comes down to consistent execution in the areas producers can control. Maintaining herd health, delivering effective nutrition programs and leveraging benchmarking insights all contribute to improved efficiency and profitability.

By staying focused on these fundamentals and making informed, timely adjustments, producers can position their operations for long-term success while remaining responsive to changing market conditions.

5 Pig Farmers Share the Real ROI of Smart Barn Technology and Equipment

Wed, 20 May 2026 12:49:44 GMT

While apps have replaced paper records and smart controllers allow for remote adjustments, the fundamental work of pig care remains manual. For many contract growers, today’s technology offers a welcome sense of ‘peace of mind,’ but it has yet to provide the financial return or labor relief needed to offset the modern operational squeeze.

“Until there is a robot doing chores for me or a camera’s telling me if I even need to do chores, I’m not sure what could replace the daily tasks of a human in the barn,” says Jason Klein, a Michigan pig farmer.

Five contract growers weigh in on equipment and technology in the barn.

Top ROI Investments

“I think it comes standard now, but the water meters connected to the EDGE control system have helped us mitigate water waste from leaking or broken nipples. Being able to identify higher-than-normal water usage helps point us in the direction of an issue if we missed it while walking through the barn.” – Wyatt Clemens

“Smart controllers and alarms that I can operate from my phone have been amazing. Remote technology has been very helpful. I can set everything from my phone and monitor things at any time. It is very helpful when there is extreme weather and it allows you to make changes more quickly.” – Aaron Juergens

“We have been using AI (artificial intelligence) in many different applications in our operating systems and the business/farm, and accounting. AI is a huge timesaver on many applications, but it has been a big help on gathering information and putting together my 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year business plans for myself and lenders.” – Bryan Bennett

Equipment That’s Built to Last

“All our feeders and waters are stainless steel, wet/dry feeders. If the whole barn could be stainless, that would be great.” – Joe Kendrick

“I operate all major brands, and they have all held up well: AP, Choretime, Hog Slat and Marting.” – Aaron Juergens

“The Thorp feeders of any style have proven to pass the test of time. I have both wet/dry shelf feeders and tube feeders. Both seem like they could last forever. I have airstream TC-5 controllers in my barns. They are simple and durable. I almost never have trouble with them. Lighting is the only thing that seems to cause trouble and it’s super rare that it’s a problem. Most of the time it’s just a blown fuse.” – Jason Klein

Young Pork Advocates Prepare to Compete for $10K Scholarship

Tue, 19 May 2026 17:46:48 GMT

NOVUS and Nutra Blend are partnering to bring young pork enthusiasts to center stage – literally. The Young Pork Advocates Issues Meet is returning to the World Pork Expo for the third time. The competition will take place June 3-4 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Hosted by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and sponsored by NOVUS and Nutra Blend, the event features participants ages 18 to 22 who will take the stage to offer their solutions to specific industry issues. Those solutions are then translated into mock motions that mimic the NPPC policy development process, giving competitors a look at how industry decisions in the U.S. are made, a release said.

The top advocates will receive scholarship funds with first place earning $10,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to the NCCP’s Fall Legislative Action Conference later this year in Washington, D.C.

The event showcases some of the best and brightest who are planning to make pork production their lifelong career, says NOVUS Regional Sales Manager Eric Sanny.

“The young people who participate are exceptional,” Sanny says. “The ideas they present demonstrate the strength of the future pork industry workforce. I’m looking forward to meeting the next generation of pork experts during this year’s meet.”

Rounds one and two of the competition will be held on June 3 at the Varied Industries Building on the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The final round will be held on June 4 at the Anne & Bill Riley Stage immediately before a live concert to close the Expo.

For more information about Young Pork Advocate Issues Meet, visit worldpork.org/issues-meet .

Mitloehner Named Animal Science Chair at UC Davis

Tue, 19 May 2026 17:39:54 GMT

Frank Mitloehner, an air quality specialist, professor and director of the CLEAR Center, will be the new chair of the Department of Animal Science, which has the highest undergraduate enrollment in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of California-Davis.

“Frank brings tremendous experience and a strong commitment to the department’s teaching, research, extension and outreach missions,” Dean Ashley M. Stokes said in an email announcing his appointment, which takes effect June 1.

Mitloehner is deeply honored to lead one of the nation’s premier animal science programs.

“This department has long been recognized as a global leader in animal agriculture, research and extension,” Mitloehner says. “I look forward to working with our incredible faculty, staff and students, as well as our industry partners, to build on this work and ensure the department continues to be recognized around the world for its leadership in animal science and for solutions that support both agriculture and the environment.”

In 2022, he joined the university as an assistant extension specialist for air quality. He is the founding director of the CLEAR Center , which stands for Clarity and Leadership for Environmental Awareness and Research. The center focuses on bridging research, community and outreach and works closely with industry to measure and reduce livestock emissions. Recently, he initiated a project to grow corn silage on campus to feed dairy cows and better align their diets with industry standards, bolstering research and sustainability efforts.

Since 2016, Mitloehner has served as an adjunct professor in the College of Animal Science at Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University in China. He earned his master’s degree in animal science and agricultural engineering from University of Leipzig in Germany and his doctorate in animal science from Texas Tech University.

“Over the coming months, I look forward to listening, learning and engaging broadly across the department as we continue to build on the strengths of animal science at UC Davis,” Mitloehner adds.

Mitloehner replaces Michael Mienaltowski , who served as interim chair when Anne Todgham was named associate dean of agricultural sciences in October 2025.

NPPC Urges USTR to Secure Market Access Gains in AGOA Renewal

Tue, 19 May 2026 19:02:13 GMT

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is calling on the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to ensure that the upcoming renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) delivers “tangible gains” for U.S. agriculture, specifically for American pork producers.

As the trade law nears its renewal deadline early next year, NPPC is advocating for a modernized agreement that addresses persistent trade barriers and ensures “reasonable and equitable” access to sub-Saharan African markets.

Addressing Non-Tariff Barriers in African Markets

In recent comments to USTR, NPPC highlighted that while AGOA provides sub-Saharan African nations with duty-free access to U.S. markets, U.S. exporters continue to face significant hurdles. NPPC is urging USTR to incentivize beneficiary countries to adopt science- and risk-based sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures.

Key trade obstacles include:

Import Licensing: Complex and restrictive permit processes.
Facilities Registration: Burdensome registration schemes that delay market entry.
SPS Measures: Trade restrictions not based on international scientific standards.

“The modernization of AGOA provides an important opportunity to establish standards that bolster market access for U.S. pork producers and build a framework for future trade that is mutually beneficial,” NPPC wrote in its comments. “It is imperative to incentivize AGOA beneficiaries to ensure that SPS measures are science- and risk-based and do not operate as disguised restrictions on bilateral trade.”

Key Markets with Restricted Access

Several AGOA-eligible nations currently maintain restrictions that limit the growth of U.S. agricultural exports. NPPC specifically identified the following countries as areas of concern:

South Africa and Nigeria: Both nations currently maintain de facto bans on U.S. pork imports.
Angola, Cote d’Ivoire and Kenya: These markets continue to present “clear and persistent” barriers to U.S. goods and services.

The NPPC has recommended that the USTR withhold or limit AGOA benefits for nations—specifically Nigeria and South Africa—until they provide full market access for U.S. pork products.

The Importance of the African Market for U.S. Pork

The primary objectives of AGOA are to stimulate economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa and integrate these nations into the global economy. Because pork is a vital protein source in many of these regions, NPPC views these countries as high-potential growth markets.

Narrow Spreads Keep Pork Packers in the Red Despite Marginal Gains

Tue, 19 May 2026 15:37:53 GMT

Last week there wasn’t much change in the pork complex regarding prices and margins with the W. Cornbelt Lean Carcass Value averaged $93.44/cwt. against $95.12/cwt. while the Pork Cutout averaged $96.53 for the week and nearly unchanged from the prior week’s average of $96.32.

Packer margins showed modest improvement but continued to post red ink with Sterling’s average margin for the week at -$3.44/head compared to -$7.60/head the previous week. The estimated farrow-to-finish breakeven was $65.41/cwt. for hogs marketed last week and $69.34/cwt. for hogs placed on the finishing floor.

View the full Sterling Pork Profit Tracker for the week ending May 16.

The Beef and Pork Profit Trackers are calculated by Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

(Note: The Sterling Beef Profit Tracker calculates an average beef cutout value for the week in its estimates for feedyard and packer margins. Other prices in the weekly Profit Tracker also are calculated weekly averages. Feedyard margins are calculated on a cash basis only with no adjustment for risk management practices. The Beef and Pork Profit Trackers are intended only as a benchmark for the average cash costs of feeding cattle and hogs. Sterling Marketing is a private, independent beef and pork consulting firm not associated with any packing company or livestock feeding enterprise.)

NPPC Weighs in on FDA Food Chemicals Assessments

Tue, 19 May 2026 14:57:19 GMT

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration continues to implement its “bold food agenda.” Not only did FDA take steps to ensure the safety of chemicals used in food production, but it’s finalizing a new post-market assessment program and commencing reassessments of two additives commonly used in a variety of food products.

“Americans want the FDA to take a fresh look at some of the chemical additives that have become widespread in our food supply,” FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said in a release . “By establishing a comprehensive, science-based framework for reviewing chemicals like BHT and ADA, we’re delivering the rigorous oversight Americans deserve. We will act swiftly based on our findings.”

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) achieved a critical change in one of the two guidance documents for the post-market assessment program.

Based on input from NPPC and other organizations, the FDA made modifications to its previously proposed method for ranking chemicals for assessment, including dropping a broad “other decisional criteria,” which would have allowed food chemical risk scores to be influenced by non-scientific factors. The “Post-Market Assessment Prioritization Tool” document helps identify priority food chemicals – based on certain criteria – for full scientific assessment by focusing on their potential risk to public health, NPPC says.

The second document, “Enhanced Systematic Process for Post-Market Assessment of Chemicals in Food,” describes how the FDA will monitor and triage signals that provide information on hazards, use, or exposure related to food chemicals and how it will prioritize for assessment, evaluate and manage those chemicals in the food supply.

“The FDA’s assessment program provides consumers with confidence that the agency is ensuring chemicals in the U.S. food supply remain safe as new scientific information becomes available,” NPPC says. “The systematic, transparent approach helps protect public health and reinforces the rigorous safety standards that protect American consumers, according to the FDA.”

NPPC points out that its input in the post market assessment ensured that it was based on science and will continue to protect food ingredients already approved and safe in pork products.

Use Benchmarking to Improve Wean-Finish Performance Under Disease Pressure

Tue, 19 May 2026 13:52:33 GMT

By Erin Little, Director of FarmStats for Pipestone Business Services

Swine production systems inherently have variation or deviate from the average. Differences in mortality, growth rate, feed efficiency and market outcomes exist even when pigs are managed under the same general protocols. The goal of performance improvement is not to eliminate variation but to understand it, manage it and use it to improve the overall system.

Individual closeouts provide valuable information about what happened in a single group, but on their own, they lack context to accurately evaluate system performance. A poor‑performing group may be influenced by a short‑term health challenge, while an exceptional group may benefit from favorable conditions that are not repeatable. Benchmarking aggregates many closeouts over time, turning isolated outcomes into patterns. This allows producers to identify repeated successes and what attributes repeat themselves. The same for repeatedly poor health groups – identifying commonalities educates a producer on their system limitations.

Disease rarely presents as a single, uniform event across a system. Its impact is shaped by age of pig, previous health status and day-to-day management. Benchmarking allows producers to evaluate how consistently health pressure affects performance, identify where resilience exists and focus improvement efforts on repeatable weaknesses rather than isolated outcomes.

Internal Vs. External Benchmarking

Internal benchmarking shows differences between barns, caretakers, pig sources, wean ages, health status and many more. This analysis allows producers to identify impactful characteristics. When lower‑performing groups repeatedly align with certain health attributes, those patterns signal real opportunities for intervention. Importantly, internal benchmarks show that top‑performing groups are not anomalies; they demonstrate what is biologically achievable under the system’s existing constraints.

External benchmarking adds another critical layer by setting expectations. Comparing performance against a large population of similar producers helps answer an essential question: are current results being limited by avoidable or unavoidable health challenges and is there unrealized potential for improvement? When producers see that peers with comparable health status are consistently achieving better outcomes in metrics such as percent tops or average daily gain, it reframes animal health from a fixed constraint into a manageable lever. External benchmarks help ensure that health‑related performance targets are both realistic and competitive.

A Strategic Driver

Animal health has a direct economic impact that benchmarking helps quantify. Health challenges influence feed cost per pound of gain through reduced growth rate and feed consumed by pigs that do not reach market. They also affect mortality, uniformity and market timing. Benchmarking translates these biological effects into economic terms, allowing producers to prioritize health interventions based on financial impact rather than perception alone.

Ultimately, benchmarking supports better animal health management by reducing overreaction and improving focus. Rather than making system‑wide changes based on a single bad closeout, producers can rely on aggregated data to identify repeat issues, examine targeted adjustments and measure results over time. Benchmarking does not replace production expertise or on‑farm observation; it complements them by providing the context needed to make confident, data‑driven decisions. When used effectively, benchmarking turns animal health from a source of uncertainty into a strategic driver of improved performance and profitability.

2026 Swine Profitability Strategies: How to Maximize Market Weight and Returns

Tue, 19 May 2026 13:34:56 GMT

By Joel DeRouchey, Jason Woodworth, Jordan Gebhardt and Katelyn Gaffield

For 2026, the terminology around summer marketing has a slightly different context. Normally, the crush sheets indicate that those few summer months might be the only months of the calendar year that offer a market profit opportunity. However, for 2026, depending on individual production costs, all months have had and continue to have this potential.

While all swine operations implement diets and management strategies with the end in mind, 2026 should bring even a sharper pencil to maximize this opportunity.

Real time decision-making economic tools discussed below for stocking rate influence on growth rate, DDGS inclusion recommendations, ideal net energy and amino acid inclusion (lysine and tryptophan), optimal diet phosphorus levels and feed additives use such as Skycis, among other tools, are available at asi.k-state.edu/extension/swine/calculators.html .

Try these postweaning practices

For the first three to four weeks postweaning, there is a limited opportunity to accelerate growth rate to have a measurable impact on final market weight.

In many cases, more time and investment should be devoted to ensuring pigs are started correctly, with properly sanitized facilities, accurate implementation of standard operating procedures for newly placed pigs, proper ventilation and timely treatment of challenged pigs to ensure they are set up for the remainder of their growth stage to market. However, nursery nutritional programs that include in-feed acids, pharmacological zinc, super-dose phytase and other feed and water additives, with consistent data, can increase final body weight by 0.4 to 1.5 lb. at the end of this period.

Late nursery to marketing tips

Once postwean pigs are about 28 days postweaned, they often respond to various nutritional practices to increase growth rates that are sustainable until marketing. These practices include increased dietary energy intake and use of growth promoters (some already mentioned in the postwean section), such as pharmacological copper, ionophores and other feed additives. Some nutritionists formulate dietary phosphorus and various amino acids, such as tryptophan, at slightly higher concentrations to achieve higher growth rate targets.

A commonly used practice is to reduce or eliminate higher-fiber ingredients, such as distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) or wheat middlings, to increase growth. This also allows for increased dietary soybean meal, which can improve growth rates if currently included at low diet concentrations.

The use of added fat is a decades old practice that always gets discussed, but often the resulting improvements are only in the 1-2 lb. carcass weight basis, but the added feed cost in many U.S. locations can still be greater than the revenue received.

While nutrition is a piece of maximizing profitability in high market price months, management practices can often override nutrition changes for extra weight gain.

Practices to increase days to market could include:

Double stocking nursery pigs longer for fall-marketed pigs to allow for more days on feed of finishing pigs during the summer months.
Utilizing a lower stock rate for targets periods of time as possible as a means to improve daily gain.
Altering marketing strategies to maximize days of feed of an entire barn population.

Weaner Pig Breakeven at $62.14, Up $1.76 From Last Week

Mon, 18 May 2026 22:16:52 GMT

NutriQuest Business Solutions publishes weekly weaner pig profitability calculations which uses industry representative production costs and futures pricing for lean hogs, corn, and soybean meal, using historical basis assumptions, to establish approximate profitability and break-even pricing for the current sale or purchase of weaner pigs. Prices are based on closing futures prices on May 15 and assumes CME Lean Hog Index cost and historical basis assumptions.

When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in October 2026 using December 2026 futures, the weaner breakeven was $62.14, up $1.76 for the week. Feed costs were down $0.34 per head, and December futures increased $0.68 compared to last week’s futures, while historical basis is unchanged from last week.

The “weaner pig breakeven” is an all-in break-even considering fixed costs (e.g., housing and labor) that would be incurred by the buyer. However, many buyers of weaners have empty space and therefore will incur these fixed costs whether the buildings are stocked with weaners. For those producers with empty space, the maximum price a buyer could pay for a weaner pig and breakeven is the “margin over variable costs,” which is $88.25.

(NutriQuest)

Note that the weaner pig profitability calculations provide weekly insight into the relative value of pigs based on assumptions that may not be reflective of your individual situation.

From the National Direct Delivered Feeder Pig Report

Cash-traded weaner pig volume was above average this week with 88,565 head being reported which is 119% of the 52-week average. Cash prices were $76.45, down $0.63 from a week ago. The low to high range was $64 to $90. Cash prices were 91.82% of average 6-month Lean Hog Futures for the week.

Formula-priced weaners were down $3.28 this week at $59.16.

Cash-traded feeder pig reported volume was above average with 19,950 head reported. Cash feeder pig reported prices were $109.46, up $0.91 per head from last week.

Graph 1 shows the seasonal trends of the cash weaner pig market.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 2 shows the seasonal trends of cash weaner pig market as percentage of 6-month Lean Hog Futures.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 3 shows the cash weaner price and cash feeder price on a weekly basis through May 15.

(NutriQuest)

Graph 4 shows the estimated weaner pig profit by comparing the weaner pig cash price to the weaner breakeven. The profit potential increased $2.39 this week to a projected loss of $14.31 per head.

(NutriQuest)

Jennifer Brown is Director of NutriQuest Business Solutions, a division of NutriQuest. NutriQuest Business Solutions is a team of leading business and financial experts that bring years of unparalleled experience in the livestock, row-crop and financial industries. At NutriQuest our success comes from helping producers realize improved profitability and sustainability through innovation driven by a relentless focus on helping producers succeed. For more information, please visit our website at www.nutriquest.com or email jenniferbrown@nutriquest.com.

The Contract Hog Grower Squeeze: Will Generational Farmers Be Forced Out?

Mon, 18 May 2026 16:59:29 GMT

Raising pigs is all Bryan Bennett knows. As a third-generation farmer, he’s spent the last 60 years pursuing his calling to raise pigs and he plans on another 10 years. But that’s a long time, he points out, as operating costs continue to rise and contract payments stay the same.

You can’t deny the tension between the contract finishing business model established decades ago with fixed-rate contracts and the modern pressures of inflation, skyrocketing insurance and maintenance costs, all amidst a shrinking labor pool. The ‘fixed income’ nature of the majority of contracts makes inflationary environments particularly hazardous for growers.

Although growers remain committed to pig health and biosecurity, the ‘math’ of contract growing is reaching a tipping point, forcing a shift in how they manage labor, technology and succession.

The Stagnant Pay vs. Inflation Crisis

For the first part of his life, Bennett worked alongside his father operating a 300-head sow, farrow-to-finish operation in southern Illinois. As they watched the industry rapidly change before their eyes, they knew they had to make changes to continue to do what they loved – raising pigs.

“We saw our risk growing greater by the year, so we began to investigate the possibility of transitioning to become a contract grower,” Bennett says. “We signed a contract in 1996 and began construction of a 4,000-head nursery barn. We placed our first pigs on site that October.”

They continued to expand over the years and now operate a continuous flow 12,000-head nursery site. But business in 2026 looks much different than it did in the late 1990s and even in 2013. Input costs continue to rise at an alarming rate, with some of the greatest cost increases in labor, insurance, utilities, and repair parts, explains Bennett, who is paid monthly on a fixed rate.

Approximately 240 miles away near Palmyra, Mo., Joe Kendrick, 63, faces similar challenges. He and his wife, who passed away in 2014, were in the process of building a 2,400-sow farrow-to-wean facility in 2005.

“We changed our mind on our loan signing day,” Kendrick says. “The lender showed us the contractor proposal and that’s how we got here with hesitation.”

He now has 3,600 pig spaces and mainly finishes antibiotic-free pigs (NAE). With rising maintenance and operating costs, the struggle to find outside labor, and no pig space pay increase since 2006, he admits it’s been hard.

“I am paid monthly for our pig spaces, full or not,” Kendrick says. “Most all our performance bonuses have been taken away in the last two years. I still get a NAE bonus for each pig marketed that wasn’t medicated out the door. I also get some bonus when we are overstocked on weaned pigs.”

Jason Klein, 42, gets paid once a month for his services as a contract grower. He owns and operates 3,000 wean-to-finish pig spaces near Holland, Mich. During his time raising contract pigs, he’s been eligible for some bonuses. His current bonus is based on how many pigs get sold to the primary/full value market.

“Bonuses in the contract finishing world are a tough thing to deal with,” Klein says. “The performance metrics of the pigs don’t necessarily correlate to the quality of work that the contract grower is providing. A huge percentage of the outcome has to do with the quality and health status of the incoming pig. It’s like grain farming – in the end, weather is 70% responsible for the yield. With pigs, a huge percentage of the outcome is a result of the incoming pig.”

Although he points out that contract-grower pay rates are finally starting to rise a little in the last year or two, they still have not caught up with the last 20 years of inflation.

The Labor Hurdle

In 2018, Wyatt Clemens began helping with chores in his father-in-law’s barn. Despite the challenges that exist, he saw opportunity in the contract finishing business.

“Having the experience of helping out in a contract barn prior to building my own definitely helped me make my decision,” says Clemens, a 31-year-old pig farmer from Ashland, Ohio. “It was good to experience what went into the day-to-day aspect of raising pigs, as well as the other factors such as manure management, time and labor needed, etc.”

He purchased his own farm utilizing a USDA Beginning Farmer loan. This loan also helped build a double-wide contract barn. The rest of the barn is mortgaged through a local lender. He also manages two other barns, with about 7,500 pigs between the three facilities.

“Every month, the designated funds for my payments get sent straight to the lenders, and I receive the balance,” Clemens says. “We receive a bonus after every completed group, which is a huge benefit.”

Some of the biggest challenges he faces as a grower are finding help to load pigs, making sure emergency backup equipment is working properly when it’s needed, and keeping up on maintenance in the older barns.

Klein runs into the same problem of finding extra labor in the barns.

“Between my dad and I, we do the chores ourselves day in and day out,” Klein says. “This isn’t a huge hurdle to overcome since the contract barns are only a small piece of what I do in a day. But twice a year we need to market the hogs, clean the barns, do repairs, and start baby pigs again. It can be challenging to find people to help load market pigs and wash barns.”

Contract finishing will change a lot over the next few years, Klein predicts. He sees a time coming when large integrators and contract growers will enter into new types of agreements where the integrator provides the labor for the pigs.

“The contract barn owner will receive payment only for the investment in the barns and to handle the manure,” he says. “I think when contract growing took off in the late 90s, you had a lot of small to mid-size farmers building contract barns at a very reasonable price ($140-$160/pig space). They managed and cared for the animals and buildings themselves and had pride in what they did. The return on investment was great.”

The Future of Pig Care

But as time marched on, the mid-2000s brought more attention to the success of the contract model and larger sites began looking for more people to finish pigs.

“As 8,000-head sites got built, the owners of the sites no longer were involved in the day-to-day care of the animals and buildings since it was a full-time job at that scale,” Klein says. “The return on investment at this time was still good enough to promote the hiring of proper amounts of labor to do the work.”

But during the last five years, things have changed. Costs skyrocketed.

“The contract grower community has cut back on labor expense as much as possible to try and control one of the costs they have a little control over,” Klein points out. “This cutback has not been in the integrator’s favor. Pig care is not the same as it was when pigs were raised on 4,000-head or less sites.”

Klein believes integrators will use their scale to build teams of people to care for finishing pigs in contract grow sites regionally.

“Having teams help get work done and managing multiple sites with one large crew allows the workload to become flatter with less mountains and valleys since you are always caring for animals in all stages of the production system,” he says. “I don’t think the whole industry moves to this immediately, but I see it happening over time.”

Manure: From Waste Product to Critical Asset

For many growers, the manure opportunity drew them into the business. Manure is no longer just a byproduct of pork production; it has become a vital shield against high commercial fertilizer costs.

Aaron Juergens, a 47-year-old grower from Carroll, Iowa, has also raised pigs his entire life but became a contract barn holder in 2005. He now has 50,000 pig spaces.

He is maximizing the value of his fertilizer through tight water management. Juergens focuses on water management to prevent manure dilution. By minimizing water waste, he ensures the manure is more concentrated, which increases its nutrient value per gallon and reduces the volume (and cost) of hauling and application.

“If the opportunity is available to market manure, it can retail for up to 85% of commercial fertilizer,” Juergens says.

Meanwhile, others are using manure to help mitigate fertilizer cost on their own farms.

“I am adamant I control more than enough land base to handle my manure,” Klein says. “I’m not willing to get myself into a tight situation with manure. Where I’m located, the large volume of animals per acre doesn’t create a huge opportunity to sell manure. There are many large manure producers who give manure away just to get it spread out from their existing land base.”

Protecting the Integrator’s Investment

One of the biggest changes since Bennett started raising pigs is how biosecurity has moved from ‘common sense’ to highly regulated protocols.

“Biosecurity protocols have increased as diseases are always on the horizon,” Bennett says. “We shower in and out and have separate laundry facilities for each site. All truckers must wear Tyvek coveralls and plastic booties. We maintain rodent and bird control inside and outside all sites. We power wash with hot water between every turn, and disinfect after washing with a foam application.”

In addition, no one other than service personnel and veterinarians are allowed to be on site and cannot be around other swine within 48 to 72 hours, Bennett adds.

Following the integrators’ biosecurity plans has made a positive difference in Juergens’ barns.

“Things have really improved since I started raising pigs,” Juergens says. “Tracking is the biggest thing. Signing into farms and being transparent about where you came from and where you are going is key.”

He appreciates the integrators’ biosecurity experts who conduct farm visits and provide good training for staff.

“They also help lay out the farm for biosecurity success and help improve upon any weakness the farm may have,” Juergens says. “We always want to do the correct thing for long-term success for the farm and the pig owner.”

Who Will Take on the Risk in the Future?

Knowing what he knows today about efficiencies and costs in contract finishing, Klein says he should have built another barn in the mid-2000s.

“I looked into it, but it would have required quite a bit of debt, which I’m normally against,” Klein says. “Looking back, it would have been a home run.”

Klein hopes one of his children will have an interest in the farm someday.

“My farm does not carry any debt,” Klein says. “My dad built the barns one at a time as money was available to build them. When I’m too old to do the work or one of my children takes over the farm, I will lease the barns to them until I pass and then they can inherit them. Debt-free farming doesn’t impress the neighbors but it’s very sustainable in its own way. The risk is low, but the growth is slow.”

Succession planning is a concern for many farmers, contract growers alike. Kendrick admits it will be hard to get his sons interested in taking over the farm with pay as it stands now.

If the ‘math’ of contract hog production doesn’t change, the pork industry risks losing the generational workforce and personal commitment that built it. If the financial pressure forces the owner out of the barn, the industry doesn’t just lose a facility manager; it loses the daily, expert husbandry and pride of ownership that has historically been the backbone of U.S. pork production.

Financial Strain & D.C. Disconnect: Shaping the Rural Vote

Sat, 16 May 2026 10:33:00 GMT

Frustrations over the skyrocketing costs of doing business, trade policies and lack of E15 expansion have put producers’ votes – many in competitive political battleground states – in play, according to an exclusive poll of Farm Journal readers.

The poll, which surveyed producers through April and was commissioned by the agriculture-focused public affairs firm Amato Advisors, shows the following:

Four in 10 producers are currently undecided or considering voting for a different party.
Half of those surveyed report fair to poor finances. Twenty-five percent fear they will restructure or leave farming or ranching entirely.
Rising input costs are listed as the top challenge; of those listing tariffs at the top, almost 90% have a negative view.
Year-round E15 approval is a decisive voting factor for nearly half of all producers.
The biggest frustrations that can move voters vary by state. In Iowa, it’s E15 and trade, but in Wisconsin, it’s healthcare and input costs.

Researchers, lobbyists and analysts who reviewed the poll for Farm Journal stress this is not a realignment toward Democrats. Rural America remains Republicans’ home turf.

Instead, producers increasingly think neither party knows nor cares to understand them, let alone solve their problems, according to the findings. If a candidate from either party can prove they are serious about farm-country issues that could be enough to win votes and change the course of up-for-grabs midterm elections.

“The frustration is not simply with ‘government,’” says Nicholas Jacobs with the Bram Public Policy Lab at Colby College , who reviewed the poll’s findings. “It is with a government that is too removed from the consequences it creates and poorly aligned with the realities of rural economies. When people feel squeezed while also believing elected officials do not understand their lives, that creates real political vulnerability heading into a midterm election.”

Amato Advisors ’ founder Mike Amato , who served in senior positions in the Biden-Harris and Obama-Biden administrations, says the findings apply to both parties.

“[The results show] a strong signal of disconnect between what is happening on the land and what is happening in D.C.,” Amato explains.

This Farmer & Rancher Policy Sentiment Survey polled farmers and ranchers from April 2 to April 24. A total of 974 producers from 44 states responded. About one-third live in “swing districts” with competitive elections in November, including areas in Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Michigan and Ohio. Amato Advisors details more of the data here .

The findings come at a crucial moment for agriculture and the political direction of the country.

Year-round E15 stands front and center. Producers and retailers consider E15 expansion as the single fastest way to generate real, immediate demand for corn and reduce reliance on government support. Resentment reached a boiling point when legislators continued to delay a vote .

On Wednesday, Congress passed a bill by 15 votes that would allow nationwide year‑round sales of gasoline containing 15% ethanol. It now faces a tough battle for passage in the U.S. Senate .

In the meantime, Republicans have been losing what were comfortably safe districts, including some with agricultural voters. For example, Democrats flipped two Iowa state Senate seats in 2025 special elections (Iowa’s 1st and 35th Senate districts).

Anecdotally, producers have shared their frustrations over policies during the second Trump administration. But this Farm Journal-Amato Advisors survey is among the first to try and measure whether any of those changes will result in changes at the ballot box.

Status Quo or Shakeup? What Moves the Rural Voter

According to the poll, 61% of producers say they plan to vote for the same party as usual. However, nearly 1 in 5 say they aren’t sure yet, and 17% are actively considering either a different party or an independent/third-party candidate.

“That leaves a lot of rural America potentially up for grabs,” says Jessica Schulken , a lobbyist with the Russell Group based in Washington, D.C., who viewed the results of the poll.

Jacobs looks at it as roughly 40% of respondents express either uncertainty, openness to independents or willingness to consider another option.

“That does not mean Democrats are suddenly competitive everywhere,” he says. “It does mean this block of rural voters – who tend to be even more conservative than their neighbors – are feeling downright frustrated with the status quo.”

Noting that machinery costs, input prices, trade policy and tariffs are pinching margins for producers, Callie Eideberg , a principal with Washington lobbyist the Vogel Group , says these issues are also policy choices made by the administration.

“The administration was not forced to take action on trade and input costs, and these policy choices can be reversed or muted at any time,” she says. “If you assume respondents understand the president chose to implement policies increasing machinery costs and dismantling trade agreements, then their reporting that 61% will still vote for the same party in November implies they are also choosing to keep those policies in place.”

Rural ag voters don’t hold much confidence in the current slate of elected officials to grasp their situation. Nearly three-quarters say office holders don’t understand the realities farmers face.

So how does that translate to the rural vote?

23% say nothing would change their vote. “Until Democrats stop showing up in an election year in rural areas and then disappearing again, nothing will change my Republican vote. Words don’t help, action does.” — says a Congressional respondent
26% say candidate quality is the primary determinant. “ … I am open to voting for a solid candidate, regardless of party, which brings a strong knowledge and positive position to the table for the rural landscape and production agriculture in particular.” — says a Congressional respondent
51% name specific conditions or issues that could move them. “High input costs, tariffs causing market volatility, loss of health insurance, frustration with SNAP changes, high interest rates, high fuel prices and global conflicts coinciding with planting and harvest.” — says a Congressional respondent

“Partisanship in rural America has become increasingly layered on top of older frustrations that predate any single administration or price fluctuation,” Jacobs says. “For many rural voters, dissatisfaction with economic conditions does not automatically translate into openness to Democrats because the Democratic brand itself remains deeply unpopular.”

He says it would be similar to asking why urbanites didn’t revolt against Democrats when housing prices shot up or when schools keep failing.

The Split: Row Crop Strain vs. Livestock Optimism

When farmers were asked to describe the overall financial condition of their farming operation over the past 12 months, about half say they’re in good to excellent shape. More than 1 in 10 consider their economic condition poor or very poor.

“The farm economy at 50/50 shows the split between livestock profitability versus row crops,” adds Tyson Redpath , chairman of advocacy and business strategy for the Russell Group.

Eideberg looks at it another way.

“Just 43% of respondents reported their farm’s financial condition was ‘good’ and 38% reported ‘fair’ financial conditions,” she says. “This stands in opposition to the repeated proclamations from this administration that the ag economy is turning around.”

Rising Input Costs and Trade Policy: Farmers Rank Top Challenges

In the poll, participants were asked to identify the three biggest challenges currently facing their operation. Machinery and input costs top the list at more than 78%. Another 44.3% say it’s commodity price volatility, and another quarter say either weather or trade policy and tariffs.

When it comes to farmers who would consider changing their vote, one congressional respondent says: “I’m fed up with the U.S. financing other countries when our farmers are going bankrupt. Our politicians need to do their job on a bipartisan level!!!”

Of those citing tariffs and trade, nearly 88% say the policy is either somewhat or very negative, and 65.5% say tariffs will hurt long term.

When asked to describe the overall effect of federal government policies on their farming operation over the past year, 54.6% of nationwide respondents describe the effect as moderately or significantly negative. Just under 1 in 5 describe the effect as positive to any degree.

Why Input Costs and Trade Lead Farmer Concerns

As producers look past this vote and to the next presidential election, respondents ranked nine policy areas in order of priority for the current administration. Regardless of whether respondents are in targeted swing districts or the broader nationwide sample, input costs rank first by a wide margin, followed by trade policy and export markets. Conservation programs come in at the bottom of the priority list.

“If you look at the top issues identified by producers, input costs and trade policy, there’s not a whole lot that can be done about either one of those that will directly impact the farmers’ bottom line before the elections,” Redpath says.

Based on his analysis of the survey results, Jacobs says farmers and ranchers are searching for stable rules and better prices.

“I think both parties should pay attention to the fact that these concerns are overwhelmingly operational rather than ideological,” Jacobs says. “Rural voters are not saying the government should disappear, but rather that it needs to get its act together.

Year-Round E15 and Competition: Critical Factors for Rural Voters

The tariff and trade debate is all about finding and developing new markets for U.S. ag goods as global competitors erode a once dominant position. There’s been no bigger “new market” debate than year-round E15.

When asked how important year-round E15 approval was as a voting issue, 45.5% of nationwide respondents say it is very or extremely important — making it a direct candidate selection factor for nearly half the sample. Another 28.2% say it is somewhat important.

The poll results show E15 is one of the few issues in the survey where support for a specific policy is explicitly tied to electoral behavior rather than just expressed as a preference. Voters in key swing states and districts rate E15 as a voting issue at a slightly higher clip, which appears to reflect the higher concentration of corn and ethanol-producing states in the sample.

While trade and export markets continue to rank high, respondents are also focusing on competition abroad. More than 85% say they are very or somewhat concerned about global agriculture competition from producers in Brazil, Argentina and the European Union. The poll shows this is one of the highest rates of agreement on any issue in the survey.

How Ag Priorities Vary Across the Rural Vote

According to this poll, not all swing states are focusing on the same issues. For example:

Iowa. The most swing-available state in the sample with the highest E15 mobilization.
Wisconsin. The most financially distressed state — and the only one where Democrats are genuinely competitive on healthcare.
Nebraska. The most economically conservative electorate — but with the highest E15 intensity and notable tax concerns.
Ohio. A distinct issue mix – commodity prices and weather dominate, not input costs or tariffs.
Michigan. The highest vote motivation and switch potential in the survey — Democrats lead on farm labor.

“People do not experience politics as detached issue-by-issue calculators,” Jacobs says. “That does not make economic concerns irrelevant – and they are clearly not in this poll – but it does mean that dissatisfaction alone is often insufficient to fully reorder political loyalties.”

As Nov. 3 approaches, Amato describes midterm elections as an accountability checkpoint – a referendum on whether political actions match campaign words.

“Polls like this, combined with additional advocacy and farmers using their voices to talk to elected officials, can help close the gap so federal policy actually meets farmers where they are,” he says. “I hope this poll sends a signal to everyone who’s in elected office, or who wants to be an elected official, to take into consideration the challenges producers are facing today.”

Darren Bailey and Hallie Shoffner: Top Producer Award-Winning Farmers are Running for Governor and Senate

Fri, 15 May 2026 21:38:55 GMT

In November 2026, there are two previous Top Producer awardees on ballots in different parts of the country to serve for statewide political representation.

Top Producer of the Year finalist in 2018, Darren Bailey, of Bailey Family Farm, is running for Illinois governor
2024 Next Gen Award winner, Hallie Shoffner is running for U.S Senate in Arkansas

For both, running for office is an extension of the “sweat and service” they were taught on the farm. Both candidates are motivated by a fear that the “next generation” is being pushed away from farming while there’s simultaneously a growing lapse in representation from rural America.

Catching Up With The Candidates

When Bailey Family Farm, located in Clay County Illinois, was named a TPOY finalist, the business was farming 12,000 acres and managing trucking and excavating businesses. Bailey says in 2017, he was actively transferring farm management to two of his sons, Cole and Zach, and it was also the first year he was elected to serve as a state representative in Illinois. He went on to serve as a state senator, and had a campaign for governor in 2022.

Its farming footprint is similar today. One recent addition to the business portfolio was a large storage facility for paper goods and wood, which was managed by Zach. After Zach’s death in an aviation accident in October 2025, Bailey sold the business.

Read more about Bailey Family Farm here.

Hallie Shoffner, who farmed near Newport Ark., made the hard decision to exit farming in 2025.

“I knew that the farm would not go another year on February 10, 2025. I was looking at six different spreadsheets, and I thought to myself ‘we can’t put a seed in the ground knowing that we’ll lose money on everything we were growing,’” Shoffner says.

The next day, she called the auction company.

“I didn’t know who I was if I wasn’t a farmer. Even on the campaign trail, I still say, I’m a sixth generation farmer. Because I don’t know what else to say. I grew up farming and returned in 2016. I really do still hope that farming is in my future.”

Read more about Hallie Shoffner here.

Vision For the Future

They both believe that the resilience, multitasking, and problem-solving required on the farm serve them well in politics as well.

Bailey emphasizes that farmers deal with “uncontrollable situations” daily. On a farm, if something doesn’t work, you cut it; if it works, you add to it. He views the state budget and regulations as a piece of broken machinery that requires a farmer’s “roll up the sleeves” mentality to repair rather than gross mismanagement.
“On the farm we have equipment failures, equipment breakdowns, weather sets in, you have uncontrollable situations, and what do we do? We have to roll up the sleeve, and as soon as we can we get to work or we have to start all over again,” he says.

Bailey’s perspective is one of preventative stewardship. For Bailey, the state of Illinois is facing a succession crisis. He mentions that families and children are leaving the state for better opportunities elsewhere. He famously chose to spend money intended for a home expansion to accommodate larger holiday gatherings on his first governor’s campaign instead.

“There was no reason to build a bigger living room if the grandkids all lived in different states and we were traveling there for Christmas?” he says.

Shoffner believes the Senate needs the “integrity and care” of someone who knows how to get their hands dirty and can represent the largest industry in Arkansas saying one in six jobs in the state ties back to agriculture.

“Hard work and service is really at the heart of this campaign, because that’s what my parents taught me on the farm,” Shoffner says.

Bridging the Disconnect

Both candidates feel that rural America has been “overlooked” or “rigged” against, and they see themselves as the necessary bridge between the field and the capitols.

Shoffner focuses on the “empty chair"—the fact that no elected officials showed up to hear farmers in crisis in her state during farmer organized meetings. Her “why” is about providing a voice to the voiceless who are “grinding their teeth” at night.

“Rural America matters much more than people realize. Unless you have people from rural America representing these states in Congress, you’re not going to have anybody fighting for them,” Shoffner says. “The most important thing, that I have learned is that politics is more about listening, then it is talking. I think most of all, people just want to be heard.”

Both candidates believe the “long economic chain” of agriculture is invisible to current leaders, and only a farmer can effectively advocate for the rural hospitals, banks, and schools that rely on that chain.

Bailey views public service as “giving back” and using his own experience to help others.

“Growing up as a farmer, we’ve got a broad range of abilities, of experiences, of gifts, and I’m able to bring all of those to the table,” Bailey says. “So if I show up to the trucking company, and they’re telling me how they’re so fed up with too much regulation, you know what? I get that.”

Call To Serve

“Being involved in government, being involved in civic organizations, is of utmost importance to maintaining a constitutional republic, the greatest nation that the Earth has ever known–will ever know,” he says. “We have a responsibility to uphold that, and in order to uphold it, it is being involved giving up our time, giving up that one day a month, or whatever it is. Get involved and be the difference,” Bailey says.

He admits in the first half of his life, he wouldn’t have thought to step outside of his farming business and serve in a civic capacity. But he’s quick to say, he now firmly believes such a sacrifice is worth it.

Shoffner has learned through her own grieving process of closing down her family’s farm that public service can provide an outlet to share a vision—and perhaps prevent another farmer from having to make the same hard decision.

“I have this vision of being able to drive around and say, you know, that field that used to be just all soybeans or corn, and now look at it. It’s a whole mix of all sorts of different things that people eat, and we’re selling those back into the communities, and Arkansas is a place that not just feeds its own people, but, you know, exports food all over the world. That’s the vision that I have for when I am old, driving around in the truck with my son.”

Pig Movement Restrictions Lifted Within 5-Mile Surveillance Zone in Iowa

Fri, 15 May 2026 20:31:23 GMT

Pig movement restrictions have been lifted within the 5-mile surveillance zone surrounding the small commercial pig herd in Iowa with confirmed detection of pseudorabies. All premises in this zone completed round one testing with no further detections.

Following the April 30 confirmation, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in coordination with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), shut down movement of pigs in this five-mile radius surrounding the site.

“All animals from both the Iowa index herd and the non-commercial source herd in Texas have been depopulated and properly disposed of,” APHIS reports. “All herds with direct exposure to these positive sites have been identified, and epidemiological investigations and diagnostic testing of these sites are ongoing. Cleaning and disinfection of the Iowa premises were completed on May 12.”

No additional commercial sites have been identified as having direct exposure to the commercial site in Iowa or the source herd in Texas, APHIS says.

2-Mile Surveillance Zone Remains Active

Officials say the 2-mile surveillance zone around the index herd remains active, and movement restrictions within that zone continue.

Premises within the 2-mile surveillance zone, along with all exposed herds, must complete a second round of testing 30 to 60 days after the affected site is cleaned and disinfected. This testing is scheduled to occur between June 12 and July 11. Until negative results from this second testing round are confirmed, movement restrictions for exposed herds and all swine premises within the 2-mile zone will remain in place, APHIS says.

The affected site remains under quarantine pending a 30-day fallow period and completion of the second round of testing for all exposed herds and all swine premises in the 2-mile surveillance zone.

“Strong biosecurity practices are the best defense for producers to protect their herds from pseudorabies and other diseases of concern,” APHIS advises.

Although this detection does not pose a risk to consumer health or affect the safety of the commercial pork supply, there may be limited, short-term impacts on exports of U.S. swine, swine genetics and certain animal products.

USDA is working with trading partners to clarify and mitigate these impacts.

“APHIS and IDALS appreciate producers’ continued cooperation and adherence to strong biosecurity practices,” APHIS says. “We are committed to supporting producers throughout this process and ensuring the continued security of the nation’s agricultural systems.”

Pseudorabies is a contagious viral disease of livestock and other mammals. However, pigs are the only natural hosts. While pseudorabies virus can infect most mammals, humans, horses and birds are considered resistant.

Red Meat Exports Add Over $3 Billion in Value to U.S. Corn and Soybeans in 2025

Fri, 15 May 2026 20:05:40 GMT

U.S. red meat exports emerged as a multi-billion dollar engine for domestic grain producers in 2025, adding more than $3 billion in combined market value to corn and soybean crops. According to a new study by the Juday Group and the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), the global demand for American beef and pork accounted for over 600 million bushels of grain usage, effectively boosting the price of corn by $0.58 per bushel and soybeans by $1.05 per bushel.

“Red meat exports bring significant value to corn and soybean producers by driving demand for feed,” says USMEF Chair-Elect Dave Bruntz, who raises corn, soybeans and cattle in south-central Nebraska. “This study shows that red meat exports accounted for more than 500 million bushels of corn usage and nearly 100 million bushels of soybeans in 2025.”

From a national perspective, U.S. beef and pork exports accounted for $2.18 billion in market value to corn producers in 2025, $1 billion to soybean producers and $375 million to distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), according to the study. U.S. beef and pork exports contributed an estimated total economic impact of 13.5% per bushel to the value of corn and 10.3% per bushel to soybeans in 2025.

“We initiate this study every year because it quantifies the value that beef and pork exports bring to the red meat supply chain. This added value is why a diverse range of ag industry sectors work together through USMEF to build global demand for U.S. red meat,” says USMEF Senior Vice President John Hinners.

Key findings from the study, which utilized 2025 statistics provided by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service and data compiled by the Juday Group, include:

Exporting corn through U.S. beef and pork

Beef and pork exports accounted for 508.4 million bushels of U.S. corn usage, which equated to a market value of $2.18 billion (at an average 2025 corn price of $4.29 per bushel).
Beef and pork exports accounted for 2.68 million tons of DDGS usage, equating to $374.7 million (at an average price of $139.82 per ton in 2025).
Beef and pork exports contributed an estimated total economic impact of 13.5%, or $0.58, of bushel value at an average price of $4.29 per bushel in 2025.

Exporting soybeans through U.S. pork

Pork exports accounted for 98.8 million bushels of U.S. soybean usage, which equated to a market value of $1 billion (at an average price of $10.17 per bushel in 2025).
Pork exports contributed an estimated total economic impact of 10.3% of bushel value, or $1.05, at an average price of $10.17 per bushel in 2025.

From Storm Ruin to 'Barn Hero': How Partnership and Family Fuel This Indiana Pig Farm

Fri, 15 May 2026 13:05:32 GMT

When the barn alarm screeches in the middle of the night, every pig farmer feels an ache deep in his gut. There was no way Kameron Donaldson could have prepared for what he saw back in 2013 when the sheriff deputy drove him up to the site of his new finishing barn.

With power lines snapping like firecrackers on the Fourth of July, he was grateful for the officer who came upon the scene after a devastating windstorm flattened his livelihood. With the patrol car’s lights beaming on the scene, all Donaldson could see were shards of glass, twisted metal and splintered wood.

All he could think was, “This is bad.” His quad buildings were in ruins.

Through the pouring rain and striking lightning, he knew he had to act fast to get the pigs moved to a better location.

“One half of one building was basically gone – no roof or even lumber on one end,” Donaldson recalls. “The other building just collapsed and basically laid down on the gates. The unbelievable part is that, of the 8,000 50-lb. pigs in the buildings, only 20 died during the storm from debris falling on them.”

(Kameron Donaldson)

A Convoy of Support

Overwhelmed doesn’t even begin to describe how Donaldson felt the next morning as the sun rose over the wreckage and revealed the true damage. But he says it wasn’t because of the cleanup and hard decisions ahead. It was because of the convoy of pig farmers, neighbors and friends who showed up with bolt cutters, trailers and food.

As a contract grower for Dykhuis Farms, Donaldson was relieved that his barn supervisor was focused on finding spaces for the pigs so he could concentrate on getting pigs out of the buildings.

“We needed to move approximately 16 semi loads of pigs to new locations until the buildings could be repaired,” he says. “In the building that collapsed, the gates had to be cut because they were pinched by the ceiling that lay on top of them. Men were literally crawling on their hands and knees to move these pigs out of the pens.”

Some people moved debris. Others loaded pigs onto trailers. Some even hooked up the barn watering system to a firetruck so the pigs could drink.

“The support of our community meant so much to our family,” he says. “Everyone understood that this was a serious situation and did anything they could to help.”

The support the Donaldsons received after the storm is unforgettable. He says that is something he appreciates about being a contract grower — knowing you have a support team who is willing to help and solve problems alongside you whatever they may be.

(Kameron Donaldson)

The Power of Partnership

This crisis solidified Donaldson’s trust in Dykhuis Farms and the partnership model he uses today. He knows he is able to do more with the support Dykhuis Farms provides than if he were raising hogs independently.

Growing up on a grain and pig farming operation in Miami County, Ind., Donaldson was no stranger to the challenges of raising livestock. In 1996, his family exited the hog business. A few years later, he married his high school sweetheart, Hayley, who also grew up on a pig farm. It came as no surprise when the young couple decided contract finishing hogs would be a wise way to use some empty barns and bring in a little extra income so they could return to the farm full time.

A friend introduced them to Dykhuis Farms of Holland, Mich., and said they were a great group to work for, Donaldson recalls.

“Once I met the president at the time, Bob Dykhuis, I knew that was the direction I wanted to go,” he says. “They are a faith- and family-based farm operation. They were easy to connect with and that was important to me as I was getting my start. I’ve been with them ever since and never regretted it.”

In addition to great health and technical support, Dykhuis Farms offers an incentive opportunity for growers who maintain a daily log of data and performance records. Examples range from recording barn temperatures to vaccinations to death loss.

“They keep numbers on virtually everything they can keep numbers on,” he says. “When you have a good group, and you’ve done your paperwork, you may receive a certain dollar amount per head bonus.”

One of the advantages of feeding hogs for a company is the number of people you meet along the way, Donaldson says. Whether it’s truck drivers other hog growers, he says it opens up your world to opportunities you never knew were possible.

(Don Green)

That incentive to reach high standards is motivating, he says. It feels good to be affirmed for doing exceptional work in the barn. He focuses attention on indicators of barn performance, including ventilation, feed and water systems, to make sure the pig has the best environment possible.

“I appreciate that they are open about numbers and share those across the company,” Donaldson points out. “It allows you to compare and see where you sit with other growers. That’s important for me to be at the top. If we are a little weak in an area, I focus on that pretty hard.”

The Discipline of Daily Care

Although many things have changed since he started feeding hogs 19 years ago, like technology and finishing weights, the most important things are still the most important things.

“A successful contract grower needs to be observant,” he says. “You need to slow down enough to take a good look at the pigs and observe them. How are they feeling? Good growers can go in a barn and get a sense real quick if something’s off.”

He says it starts with a passion to want the pigs to do well because it’s the right thing to do for the pig. But it also makes his job easier, too.

“Being a contract grower takes a lot of hard work,” Donaldson adds. “Success doesn’t happen overnight. It takes many years of doing the work, day in and day out, before you get your expenses covered. But even when you are starting to make a little money, you must always think about reinvesting because the barn is going to need maintenance.”

The Donaldson farm consists of pigs, corn, soybeans and wheat and is staffed mostly by Donaldson, Hayley and their son, Keagan. They also have two daughters, Kendra and Kayden, who put in hours in the barn when needed. His father, now 68, still works on his own farm every day and helps with the grain side of Donaldson’s farm.

“We load out most of our own pigs ourselves,” Donaldson says. “We have hired help to come in to do the sorting and the washing of the barns, but on the day-to-day chore stuff, it’s myself and family members.”

Working alongside his son, Keegan, on the farm is a privilege, Donaldson says.

(Don Green)

Working with family members means a lot to Donaldson, who views it as a great opportunity to teach his children and pass on values.

“They always say, “A family that prays together stays together.’ But a family that sells pigs together? Now that’s a challenge,” Donaldson laughs. “I’ve learned to be more patient. If our kids see that I can get it done without a forceful nature, and it’s just as effective or even quicker, they may take that approach the next time, too.”

One of his expectations in the barn is observance.

“Use all your senses when you’re in there,” Donaldson says. “Use your eyes to look for potential feeder adjustments, pig problems and things like that. Keep your ears open. Can you hear a pig breathing hard? Use every sense you can to be observant. When you do that, you’ll be able to make sure the pigs are in the best environment for growth possible.”

Securing the Future

Hayley works on the farm with her husband every day. From loading pigs to driving the tractor to handling the farm’s paperwork, Donaldson says she can do it all.

“Working with your spouse can have its challenges, and that’s mostly my fault,” he says. “There’s not much of a buffer zone. If something’s not going well when I come in for lunch, she’s the person who gets an earful.”

(Don Green)

However, their joint desire to see the farm succeed and provide opportunities for future generations to be on the farm aligns their purpose and helps cover the daily stresses of farm life. It’s also why they’ve prioritized succession planning.

“We wanted to have something in place as our operation grew,” he says. “Once we started that process, that encouraged my dad to do the same. My dad thought you had to have every detail worked out. And that’s just not true when it comes to succession planning.”

The first step is starting with something, Donaldson says. He reached out to an attorney who specializes in farm succession plans to help devise a strategy for the future of their farm business.

“Even though we knew our lawyer, she still wanted to spend time talking to us to understand the ‘heartbeat’ of our family,” he says. “She wanted to understand each family member’s role on and off the farm.”

Once his dad realized the process wasn’t that difficult, and he could make changes to the plan along the way, he softened to the idea and went through the process to set up his own trust for his farming operation.

“He has peace now knowing that the land he owns will continue, and whether it’s me or my son, we will rent off of the trust and continue to farm his land,” Donaldson says.

A True Barn Hero

Donaldson’s stewardship of the animals and the environment is noteworthy. His desire to be more efficient and make the pigs’ lives the best possible is one of the reasons why Caton Howard, a fieldman for Dykhuis Farms, calls Donaldson a barn hero.

“Kameron always does things the right way and in a timely manner, which can be a struggle with contract growers,” Howard says. “He cares for the pigs daily like they are his own and keeps his facilities in pristine condition. He also maintains the barns like they are brand new.”

Kameron and Hayley Donaldson wouldn’t be where they are today without the examples their fathers set for them to work hard and prioritize animal care.

(Don Green)

In addition, the family’s decision to do all their own loading is becoming a bit of a rarity, Howard says. He believes this shows their determination to be the best and provide the best care for the pigs.

“I really enjoy working with Kameron and cherish the conversations we have about pigs,” Howard says. “He helps motivate me to always strive to do better every day.”

Jason Klein, manager at Dykhuis Farms, says many obstacles in the pork business can be overcome by simply executing the basics really well day after day. He believes Donaldson represents a guy who does this well.

“Everything on the site works like it’s supposed to, and chores are done every day like they are supposed to be done,” Klein says. “There is never any drama or surprises with Kameron Donaldson. He owns and manages all his responsibilities really well. He takes pride in what he does. It’s obvious every time I talk with him that he’s truly glad to be a farmer.

Donaldson recognizes his success is not his alone, and without his team, including his family and the crew at Dykhuis Farms, he wouldn’t be where he is today. He is proud to be called a barn hero.

“We want to keep doing a good job for Dykhuis Farms and make sure the finished product is in line with what they started,” Donaldson says.

Hayley believes this is possible because of her husband’s superpower – making things happen.

“He’s good at doing a lot of things,” she says. “He pays great attention to detail. If something needs done, we all rally around him and do what he says we need to do.”

This system works well for the Donaldson family.

“It’s a good life,” he says. “Farming is hard to get into, but if you have an opportunity to work with somebody who is already in operation, go for it. There are always farmers looking for people willing to work on a farm, especially on the animal side. I don’t think people realize how many opportunities may be out there with farmers who don’t have a succession plan or children wanting to take over the farming operation. It takes some time to find, but it’s worth it.”

Why U.S. Pork Exports to Mexico Remain Resilient Despite Pseudorabies Hurdle

Thu, 14 May 2026 21:58:39 GMT

Mexico is the U.S. pork industry’s $2-billion customer, but a recent isolated pseudorabies confirmation has put a portion of that trade on temporary hold, specifically high-value variety meats.

While the border remains open for U.S. pork muscle cuts , which make up most of the export volume to Mexico, pork byproducts (skins) and offal/viscera have been unable to clear due to Mexico’s precautionary restrictions.

“As a producer, I understand the science behind why we don’t need to be concerned about this incident,” says Katie Brown, an Illinois pig farmer and president of the Illinois Pork Producers Association. Brown recently returned from the U.S. Red Meat Symposium in Mexico along with Andy Tauer, National Pork Board vice president of international market development.

The relationship between the U.S. pork industry and the Mexican consumer is strong, Tauer points out.

“They have confidence in U.S. Pork,” he says. “That’s demonstrated every time we go down to Mexico. They value its versatility, consistency and flavor. Yes, we are having a small challenge right now in getting our variety meats across the Mexican border, but that’s where we lean on relationships with the National Pork Producers Council to help us navigate through this.”

(John Herath )

He believes the industry will work through this in “relatively short order” thanks to rigorous traceback and surveillance, in addition to interagency cooperation.

“Pseudorabies is not a human health risk,” Tauer emphasizes. “The U.S. pork supply is safe. With NPPC and USMEF having those important conversations, I think we will see the value of their strong relationship with the pork industry and red meat trade.”

Why Variety Meats Matter: The Whole Hog Value

The current restriction on variety meats is significant because these products that are often undervalued in the U.S., are high-demand delicacies in Mexico that drive the overall value of every pig raised in the U.S. by an additional $2.53 per pig.

“Mexico is a market where the whole hog has value,” Tauer says. “Our partnership with U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) allows us to really dig deep into the marketplace to connect various retailers and consumers with the individual parts and pieces of the pork carcass that they’re really interested in.”

(John Herath )

During a visit to Mexican wet markets, Brown saw firsthand the demand for all parts of the pig. As a producer, she admits that this gives her an even greater sense of fulfillment knowing that the entire pig is being utilized to feed people. It also adds more value to the work she does day in and day out as a producer.

“I remember walking by a box of uteruses and thinking, “Wow. I don’t think those would sell well at our grocery stores,’” she says. “But, that’s one of the things they’ve requested – to send more uteruses and brains as often as we can.”

Of course, Brown’s inquisitive mind didn’t let it stop at that. She began asking them how they use those products and learned more than she expected.

“Understanding how they cook and use these products in their daily life was definitely eye-opening,” Brown says. “I may not start feeding my family uteruses and brains, but if I can send those products off to a market like Mexico, where it adds value to their life, why not? It’s a win- win situation for both of us.”

A Market with Upside Opportunity

Mexico serves as the leading export market for U.S. pork, with hams leading the pack. Despite how strong the market is now in Mexico, the long-term outlook is even stronger. Per capita pork consumption continues expanding in Mexico, growing an estimated 40% between 2010 and 2024.

“I’m a very numbers-based person,” Brown says. “One of the most impactful moments for me was when they started sharing statistics around pork consumption in Mexico. They love pork, but only about 12% is consumed in the household. That is mind-blowing to me.”

She is excited about how the U.S. pork industry is focused on shifting consumer habits from this 88% out-of-home consumption to more at-home meals.

(John Herath )

“There’s so much opportunity to help expand that,” Brown says. “The majority of the time, they consume pork at a celebration, at restaurants or at food vendors over a lunch break. So, what can we do to help them bring more pork home to cook? Is it about making smaller packaging for a couple of people? Do we need to make it more convenient and an easier eating experience?”

Tauer highlighted how USMEF is using QR codes on packaging to provide recipes. The click-throughs on those recipes have been tremendous and are teaching other ways to prepare dishes using pork as an ingredient, which is very popular in Mexico.

“It was exciting to see the volume of Weber grills and Big Green Eggs as we went through a couple of different retail stores,” Tauer says. “American-style barbecue is really starting to catch on there as well. As income continues to increase for the middle class in Mexico, they will continue to have more opportunity to eat pork more on a daily basis. Education around ways to do that is critical.”

In an export market that is already “so good,” the opportunity for growth is huge, Brown adds.

From Barn to Border

Mexico has been “a shining star” in terms of overall demand for the pork product U.S. pig farmers raise on a daily basis, Tauer says.

“Although we talk a lot about selling more pork, trips like these are really about building long-term demand in Mexico,” he says. “It’s about protecting that market share and bringing that value back home to our U.S. producers. This ultimately drives rural communities across this country and helps the next generation stay on the farm. It’s all connected.”

(John Herath )

For Brown, traveling to Mexico provided a bridge between her daily work in Illinois and the global reach of her product. Seeing familiar brands in a foreign context reinforced the scale of the industry.

“To understand the impact we have as farmers, not just in our neighborhood and in our nation, but in other countries, was powerful,” she says. “We need to think on a more global perspective, rather than only about what’s happening on our farms.”

US House Passes Bill Allowing Year-Round Sales of E15 Gasoline

Thu, 14 May 2026 16:40:34 GMT

The U.S. House passed legislation on Wednesday that would allow nationwide year‑round sales of gasoline containing 15% ethanol, handing a major win to biofuel producers and farm groups while raising concerns among refiners about higher compliance costs.

The H.R. 1346 bill , or the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, approved by a vote of 218 to 203, would permit fuel retailers to offer E15 year‑round, removing seasonal restrictions linked to smog concerns.

The legislation would need to pass the Senate, where it needs 60% of votes, and get a signature from President Donald Trump to be enacted.

Supporters say allowing year-round E15 sales would expand biofuel demand and help lower fuel prices that have spiked since the start of the Iran war. Critics argue it risks raising costs for refiners already facing higher compliance burdens under federal biofuel mandates.

Some lawmakers have also raised fiscal concerns, with Representative James McGovern, a Massachusetts Democrat, saying the measure will add billions to U.S. debt.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would increase direct spending by $2.7 billion while raising revenues by $0.4 billion, resulting in a net deficit increase of about $2.3 billion between 2026 and 2036, based on an assumption that the legislation would take effect in August 2026.

High fuel prices due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, conduit for a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, have become a major vulnerability for President Donald Trump and his Republican party ahead of the November midterm elections.

(Reporting by Siddharth Cavale in New York; Editing by Sonali Paul)

The Only Other Humans You See All Day: Why Producer-Veterinarian Relationships Matter

Thu, 14 May 2026 19:19:25 GMT

A production animal veterinarian finishes a farm call, climbs back into the truck and starts driving to the next stop. Depending on the day, the producer they just spoke with may have been the first real conversation they’ve had in hours — or the interaction that shapes the tone of the rest of the day.

That isolation is one of the unique realities of production animal medicine. Unlike many clinic settings, there often is no team gathered in a treatment area and no coworkers nearby between appointments. Much of the work happens alone, moving from farm to farm. As Andi Davison, positive change agent at Flourish Veterinary Consulting , put it, production medicine is often “just them, and the only other human that they talk to all day long is the producer.”

During Mental Health Awareness Month, conversations around veterinary well-being often focus on burnout, long hours, compassion fatigue or staffing shortages. Those issues are important, but another factor may deserve more attention: The quality of the everyday interactions veterinarians have with the people around them.

In production medicine, that frequently means producers.

More Than People Skills

Most veterinarians are not trying to become polished communicators or extroverts. They simply want smoother conversations, less tension, better collaboration and the feeling that everyone is working toward the same goal. Those interactions can carry more emotional weight than many people realize.

A productive relationship with a producer can make difficult herd health conversations easier, improve follow-through on recommendations and create a stronger sense of teamwork. A strained relationship can do the opposite — increasing frustration, emotional exhaustion and the feeling that recommendations are going nowhere.

As Davison explains: “We can make all the recommendations all day long, but if we don’t feel like we’re working together as a team, it doesn’t matter.”

Most veterinarians recognize the difference immediately. There are days when you leave a farm feeling productive and respected, and days when you replay the conversation all the way to the next call.

That emotional carryover can leave an impact.

Why Positive Interactions Matter

Research in psychology and workplace well-being has shown even brief positive interactions with other people can influence how individuals experience their work. These high-quality connections are associated with greater trust, collaboration, engagement and a stronger sense of purpose.

Importantly, those interactions do not have to be dramatic or deeply personal to matter. Even short, repeated moments of positive communication can influence workplace relationships and resilience over time. For veterinarians, that sense of connection is often tied directly to the reason they entered the profession in the first place.

At the core of those conversations is a shared goal: We all want to do better for the animals.

That shared purpose may be one of the biggest strengths in veterinary medicine and agriculture. Even when producers and veterinarians disagree on management decisions, timing or finances, there is usually still a common goal underneath the conversation — healthier animals and stronger operations.

“When we are able to cultivate productive communication between the humans of veterinary medicine, we are building trust, motivation and self-efficacy, which then supports the animals of our industry to receive the quality care they deserve. In other words, when we know we matter and the work that we are doing matters, we are much more motivated to do that work well,” Davison says.

Keeping that shared goal in mind can help shift conversations from adversarial to collaborative.

Small Changes That Build Trust

Of course, knowing communication matters and feeling naturally comfortable with it are two very different things.

Many veterinary professionals describe themselves as introverted or socially drained, especially after long days and emotionally difficult cases. Building stronger relationships does not always come naturally, and small talk can feel forced or awkward.

But communication is not necessarily about charisma. Often, small intentional shifts can noticeably change the tone of an interaction over time.

Communication Tips for Veterinary Professionals

Not quite sure where to get started on improving your interactions with producers? Try these small things out during your next farm visit.

Use names and eye contact

Small signals of recognition can help interactions feel more personal and collaborative.

Ask broader questions

Instead of: “How was your weekend?”

Try: “What’s something good that happened this weekend?”

Questions like that give people something real to respond to instead of an automatic one-word answer.

Get curious

Ask open-ended questions about challenges, goals or concerns on the farm before jumping straight to solutions.

Share appropriately

Small personal details can make conversations feel more human and less transactional.

Listen for understanding

Focus less on preparing the next response and more on understanding the producer’s perspective.

Reinforce strengths

Point out what is going well, not just what needs to improve.

None of those things require a dramatic personality change. But over time, they can help build trust — and trust is often what turns difficult conversations into productive ones.

The Human Side of Production Animal Medicine

Better communication will not solve every challenge facing veterinary medicine. It will not eliminate stress, staffing shortages, financial pressures or difficult cases. But when you spend much of the day working alone, stronger human connections can make difficult work feel less isolating and more purposeful.

In a profession built around problem-solving and animal care, feeling connected to the people involved in that work may shape well-being more than many veterinarians realize. The other humans you see during your day may matter more than you think.

What the USDA’s FSIS Reorganization Means for Farmers and Producers

Wed, 13 May 2026 18:58:21 GMT

As USDA continues to move more jobs across the country, the organization expects fewer employees will turn down relocation offers this time around.

When USDA relocated hundreds of Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) positions to Kansas City in 2019, about 85% of impacted employees quit their jobs or retired, rather than relocate, reports Federal News Network .

The American Federation of Government Employees Local 3403, representing USDA researchers, expects to see similar results this year, the article says. An internal survey found that 76% of its members have indicated they are not planning to relocate. AFGE Local 3403 said in a statement that these relocations, which are expected to go into effect by the end of the summer, will trigger a “brain drain” within the department.

The goal is to move research closer to the farmers, ranchers and rural communities who benefit from it, USDA points out.

What the FSIS Reorganization Means to You

USDA announced a reorganization of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on April 23 to modernize operations, streamline support functions and better align the agency with the nation’s agricultural landscape.

As part of this effort, USDA will establish a new National Food Safety Center (NFSC) in Urbandale, Iowa, which will serve as the primary hub for FSIS administrative, technical and support operations.

“This is about building a stronger, more resilient food safety system for the country,” says U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. “By establishing a National Food Safety Center in Iowa and expanding our scientific capabilities, USDA is ensuring that the Food Safety and Inspection Service is positioned where it can best support American agriculture and protect public health. These changes reflect our commitment to modernizing the department while staying focused on delivering results for the American people.”

Dwight Mogler, an Iowa pig farmer, believes this is a positive move for U.S. agriculture and is an efficient allocation of resources.

“I get pumped when we can highlight positive things that are going on in the U.S. pork industry,” Mogler says. “The closer farms are to government entities that regulate us, the more apt they are to not only serve us from a place of understanding, but also improve their agility to recognize and respond to a crisis in real time. Proximity matters.”

Deputy Secretary Stephen A. Vaden says this approach ensures that resources are used efficiently while maintaining the high standards the public expects from our food safety system.

A Central Hub for Food Safety Operations

FSIS plans to repurpose existing USDA space in Urbandale, Iowa, to establish the new National Food Safety Center (NFSC), which will become the agency’s largest office in the U.S. with approximately 200 employees.

The NFSC will serve as FSIS’ primary location for headquarters support functions, including resource management, training, food safety education, financial operations, information technology and administrative services. By consolidating these functions in a centrally located hub, FSIS will reduce duplication, improve coordination and expand access to career opportunities for employees across the country.

The establishment of the NFSC marks a significant shift in the agency’s operational footprint, placing key functions closer to the agricultural and food production systems that FSIS regulates and supports.

Who Does Relocation Impact?

FSIS will also establish a Science Center in Athens, Ga., building on its existing Eastern Field Services Laboratory and expanding its capabilities in microbiology, chemistry and epidemiology. FSIS will also establish a presence in Fort Collins, Colo., for staff supporting international activities, further aligning the agency with USDA’s broader geographic footprint, USDA reports.

Under the reorganization, FSIS will relocate approximately two-thirds of its National Capital Region workforce to mission-critical locations, including the National Food Safety Center in Iowa and the Science Center in Georgia. Approximately 200 positions will be relocated from Washington D.C., while roughly 100 positions will remain to support congressional engagement, policy development and interagency coordination.

The reorganization does not impact FSIS’ frontline inspection workforce, representing 85% of employees and operating across more than 6,800 regulated establishments.

“All food safety inspection activities and public health protections will continue without interruption, and the reorganization does not include any reduction in force. All FSIS employees will retain positions within the agency,” USDA says.

Packer Margins Flip Negative as Hog Prices Rise

Wed, 13 May 2026 16:17:46 GMT

Farrow-to-finish margins gained nearly $8/head last week as indicated by Sterling estimated average of $65.55/head. Calculated break-evens were down slightly from the prior week while the W. Cornbelt Lean Carcass Value averaged $95.12/cwt. for the week compared to $92.55/cwt. a week earlier.

Pork packer margins eroded further last week with Sterling’s estimated average for the week at -$7.60/head compared to $1.01/head the previous week as the result of the stronger Lean Carcass Value and weakness in the Pork Cutout. The Pork Cutout averaged $96.32/cwt. down from $97.81/cwt. a week earlier.

View the full Sterling Pork Profit Tracker for the week ending May 9.

The Beef and Pork Profit Trackers are calculated by Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

(Note: The Sterling Beef Profit Tracker calculates an average beef cutout value for the week in its estimates for feedyard and packer margins. Other prices in the weekly Profit Tracker also are calculated weekly averages. Feedyard margins are calculated on a cash basis only with no adjustment for risk management practices. The Beef and Pork Profit Trackers are intended only as a benchmark for the average cash costs of feeding cattle and hogs. Sterling Marketing is a private, independent beef and pork consulting firm not associated with any packing company or livestock feeding enterprise.)

WOAH Report Highlights Growing Disease Pressure and Veterinary System Gaps

Wed, 13 May 2026 19:46:49 GMT

A perfect storm may be gathering over the global food system.

As unprecedented outbreaks of bird flu, African swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease, and New World screwworm spread across regions, the financial systems meant to prevent and contain these threats are shrinking.

That is the central warning from the World Organisation for Animal Health’s (WOAH) newly released 2026 State of the World’s Animal Health report , which argues that global investment in prevention is failing to keep pace with a rapidly expanding biological risk profile.

According to the report, more than 20% of global animal production is lost to preventable disease every year, yet animal health receives less than 0.6% of total global health spending. At the same time, approximately 75% of emerging infectious diseases in humans originate in animals.

For food-animal veterinarians in North America, many of the report’s themes already feel familiar. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle, growing antimicrobial stewardship pressure, increasing biosecurity demands, workforce shortages and concern around emerging and transboundary diseases all feature prominently in WOAH’s assessment of global animal health trends.

“Animal health systems are the first lines of defense against the next pandemic,” said WOAH director general Emmanuelle Soubeyran during a panel discussion accompanying the report release.

Global Animal Health Funding Declines as Disease Risks Increase

One of the report’s strongest warnings centers on what WOAH describes as a rapidly contracting financing landscape. Despite the growing importance of animal health systems, they remain chronically underfunded globally.

Official Development Assistance, government-funded international aid intended to support the economic development and welfare of lower- and middle-income countries, fell to $174.3 billion in 2025 — a 23% decline that WOAH says represents the largest annual contraction on record and effectively erases a decade of growth in global development aid.

Meanwhile, less than $1 billion annually reaches veterinary services and zoonotic disease prevention worldwide. According to WOAH, that amounts to less than 2.5% of an already shrinking global health aid budget.

WOAH estimates bringing veterinary services worldwide up to international standards would cost approximately $2.3 billion annually — a figure the organization contrasts against the trillions of dollars in economic losses associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The choice before governments, funders, partners and private sectors is not between spending and saving,” Soubeyran says. “It is between planned investment in animal health systems and protecting our health and minimizing losses.”

Veterinary services are prevention infrastructure, not simply regulatory oversight. That framing has increasing relevance for North American food-animal veterinarians, whose responsibilities now often extend well beyond traditional clinical work to include biosecurity planning, disease surveillance, movement documentation, antimicrobial stewardship, emergency preparedness and producer communication.

HPAI, African Swine Fever and Emerging Diseases Continue Expanding

The report paints a picture of disease systems becoming increasingly interconnected as climate change, globalization, wildlife movement and changing production systems alter how diseases emerge and spread.

The human and economic cost of this underinvestment is already visible:

Avian Influenza: Between 2025 and early 2026, over 2,100 outbreaks were recorded in 64 countries, resulting in the loss of 140 million poultry.
The Cattle Shift: HPAI is now recognized as an emerging disease in bovines, requiring international reporting as it jumps species barriers.
Parasitic Spread: New World screwworm is moving northward through Central America with tens of thousands of cases, while Lumpy Skin Disease has reached Western Europe for the first time.
Regional Crises: Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) has recently caused unprecedented outbreaks in Southern Africa.

Outbreaks no longer remain localized events. In an increasingly interconnected livestock and trade system, delayed detection in one region can rapidly create wider food system, trade and public health consequences.

Veterinary Preparedness and Biosecurity Deliver Economic Returns

A major theme running throughout the report is that governments and industries continue spending far more responding to disease crises than preventing them.

One highlighted example compares the United Kingdom’s response to FMD outbreaks:

In 2001, an underprepared response cost the UK an estimated £8 billion and resulted in the culling of more than 6 million animals.
In 2007, after improved preparedness investments, another outbreak was contained in just 58 days at a cost of approximately £47 million.

These examples demonstrate the measurable economic return of surveillance systems, preparedness planning, laboratory capacity, vaccination programs and coordinated veterinary services.

“Preparedness begins before the crisis,” says Paolo Tizzani, veterinarian and epidemiologist with WOAH.

WOAH Warns Veterinary Staffing Shortages Could Delay Outbreak Detection

The report also identifies veterinary workforce capacity as a growing vulnerability globally.

According to WOAH data:

18% of countries assessed showed declining veterinary capacity,
22% showed declining paraprofessional capacity.

During the panel discussion, WOAH officials specifically referenced declining rural veterinary presence as an emerging concern.

“When animal health systems are under-resourced, diseases can be detected late,” Tizzani says. “They have the possibility to spread more widely.”

Workforce shortages are no longer simply a labor issue, but increasingly a biosecurity and preparedness concern. Without sufficient veterinary staffing, laboratory support, surveillance infrastructure and field-level reporting capacity, outbreaks become harder to identify and contain early.

Prevention and Vaccination are Key

WOAH warns AMR could contribute to more than 39 million human deaths globally by 2050 while also creating major economic losses in animal production systems. The organization strongly positions prevention-oriented herd-health approaches — including vaccination, surveillance, biosecurity and improved disease management — as critical tools for reducing antimicrobial use.

This discussion aligns closely with ongoing stewardship initiatives across dairy, beef and pork sectors, including increased focus on veterinary oversight, preventive medicine and judicious antimicrobial use.

Only a small proportion of AMR-related research funding currently goes toward animal vaccines, despite their role in reducing antimicrobial demand. Still, the report points to examples where prevention-focused systems have dramatically reduced antibiotic use. Norway, for example, was able to reduce antibiotic use in its salmon industry by 99% through sustained investment in vaccination and preventive health programs.

Animal Health as Critical Infrastructure

WOAH consistently frames animal health systems as critical infrastructure tied directly to economic resilience, food security, public health and trade stability. They also push back against oversimplified narratives that place disease emergence solely on livestock production itself. Instead, WOAH officials emphasize the growing complexity of interactions between wildlife, livestock, humans, ecosystems, climate pressures and global trade systems.

“One Health will remain an aspiration until animal health systems are genuinely built into how we plan and invest,” Soubeyran says.

Animal health systems can no longer be treated as background infrastructure that only becomes visible during emergencies. For food-animal veterinarians in North America, that transition is already well underway.

Whether through HPAI surveillance in dairy cattle, African swine fever preparedness planning, antimicrobial stewardship, movement documentation or producer biosecurity support, food-animal veterinarians are increasingly functioning as frontline public-health and food-system infrastructure.

“Animal health must be financed as a global public good,” the report concludes. “The benefits generated cross every border, and the risks of underinvestment are shared by all.”

The Digital Farmhand: How AI is Solving the Agricultural Labor Crisis

Tue, 12 May 2026 20:01:45 GMT

Agriculture is facing a historic labor shortage at the same time artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how the world operates. Some fear AI adoption will result in job loss and businesses being left behind due to rapidly evolving technology. Others say AI is the digital farmhand agriculture needs right now to handle repetitive data tasks while humans focus on high-value animal husbandry or field work.

Either way, one thing is true – AI is not going anywhere.

“Whether AI replaces jobs or not depends on how the industry chooses to use it,” says Angel Andaya, manager of digital solutions for Silver Support, a managed development center supporting operations, finance, digital solutions, information technology and automation services.

If AI is seen purely as a replacement, she says that is likely the direction it will take. But it could also become a powerful tool to help farm operations thrive despite labor challenges.

The “Why Now” of AI: Accessibility and Adoption

While AI has existed for years (think Netflix recommendations and GPS), the launch of ChatGPT marked a paradigm shift that made the technology conversational and accessible to everyone, says Tracy Soper, senior director of data excellence at Keystone Cooperative.

“At 100 million [users] in two months, ChatGPT’s growth is unheard of – nothing has grown that fast,” Soper said at the National Pedigreed Livestock Council’s annual meeting. “Why? Because it was conversational and easy to access. It was something all of us could touch and could relate to, like, ‘Oh, this is a thing. It makes my life easier.’”

In the past, technology adoption took years. Now, it happens in months, creating a sense of “AI hysteria” and a need for clear strategy, he adds.

Problem First, People Always

Rather than viewing AI as a replacement for human expertise, it should be viewed as an amplification tool, he says. The strategy is to avoid expensive shelfware by starting with specific business problems.

“It can do a lot of things, but how are we going to use it?” Soper asks. “For us at Keystone, AI is not about replacing people; it’s making people better.”

Years ago, Soper says his job was to look over all things related to information technology (IT). Today that looks like AI and automation solutions as the cooperative’s scale has grown.

“For us, it’s starting very specifically with what problem we’re trying to solve today and then asking, ‘Why can’t we solve it with what we’ve got?’” he says.

Keystone takes a four-step approach:

1. Start with the problem, not the technology.

“AI only creates value when it’s solving a real business challenge. Companies that buy a tool, hand it to IT and expect magic end up with expensive shelfware,” Soper says.

2. Data readiness before algorithms.

“Any insight is only as good as the data feeding it,” he says. “We invested significant time building a modern data foundation before ever pursuing AI.”

3. Amplify expertise – don’t replace it.

“AI is not replacing agronomists, breed managers or the people closest to the animals. It’s amplifying their experience and sharpening their decision timing,” Soper explains.

4. Your data is the competitive edge.

“The competitive gap will be built on data readiness as much as algorithms,” he says.

In the future, Keystone is working actively in predictive machine learning and generative AI, using them to improve decision timing, streamline operations and better serve the producers who depend on the cooperative.

Shorten Time-Consuming Tasks

AI helps experts ask better questions sooner, Soper says. With data flowing more freely across the value chain, he believes there is great opportunity where AI and animal data converge.

For example, computer vision for body condition scoring, lameness detection and welfare monitoring is moving from research into practice in many barns. He’s also excited about how AI-assisted genomic prediction and health monitoring are advancing across species and can help make progress more quickly.

Andaya encourages farmers to think about the daily realities on the farm. What tasks are essential, but time consuming and repetitive?

“Even small improvements in how they are managed can free up valuable time and improve decision-making on the ground,” Andaya says.

If these processes are supported through AI, she believes it will enable farmers and their employees to focus more on animal welfare, planning and improving overall farm productivity.

“In this sense, AI is less about replacement and more about giving farmers and livestock teams the space to focus on what truly matters,” she says.

4 Tips for Successful AI Implementation

Agriculture and livestock operations are full of valuable data from daily logs to finances, Andaya explains.

“What’s changing is how effectively this information can be used,” she says.

Soper says Keystone has learned four important lessons in their journey to use AI more efficiently.

1. Data quality is everything.

Start with the data you own. Then budget time for discovery and cleanup.

2. Build for the people doing the work.

The tool needs to make someone’s job easier or it won’t get used. AI should amplify good discipline.

3. Scope tight, prove value first.

Prove it works before you scale. The business has to own the problem – IT enables, but stakeholders drive adoption and define success.

4. Governance can’t wait.

Policies around approved tools, data and data protection need to exist before people experiment. Once people start using AI on their own, it’s harder to rein in.

The Best Ordinary Tuesday: Finding Glimmers in the Grind

Tue, 12 May 2026 18:50:26 GMT

We are the people of the next. On a farm, the clock and the calendar are our masters, but they are also our greatest distractions. We wait all day for the end of the day so we can finally pull off our boots. We wait all year for the next year to come, hoping for better margins, better weather or a better balance of the markets. We spend entire lifetimes working for the prize 2-year-old, the record milk production or the bin-busting crop that finally justifies the sweat.

But if we are honest, when those records finally arrive, they often feel like a destination we reached while we were looking out the window at something else. Because the truth of the farm life — the goodness we praise God for — isn’t found in the record books; it’s found on an ordinary Tuesday.

The Success of the Seconds

Success on our 750-cow dairy is usually measured in pounds, percentages and bushels harvested. We track data points with precision, seeking logic in the chaos, but the real successes of a farming life don’t always happen in the margins. Sometimes they are the glimmering moments that we too often take for granted because they don’t come with a trophy or a line on a balance sheet.

Think about the last time you worked cattle together as a family. It’s a task that can easily descend into shouted directions and frayed nerves. But then, there’s that moment where it all just works. No one has to say a word; you move in a silent, practiced choreography passed down through generations. Your father knows exactly where you’re going to move the gate; your children anticipate the next cow in the chute. In that fleeting minute, the legacy isn’t a legal document or a transition plan — it’s a heartbeat.

It’s the five-minute window in between filling the planter when a football appears from the back of the truck. The dust is still settling, the sun is high and, for 60 seconds, you aren’t a manager or an operator; you’re a dad. You’re a kid again yourself. Those spirals thrown over the tongue of the planter are the things we actually long for, yet we often treat them as interruptions to the “real work.”

Community Covered in Plastic

We saw it last fall during the long stretch of chopping. The silage pile was growing, the weather was turning and the exhaustion was setting in. Then, the high school varsity football team showed up — a dozen young men with more energy than sense, ready to help pull the plastic and toss the tires.

In the grand scheme of the year’s production, that couple of hours of help was a small fraction of the labor. But in the grand scheme of life, it was everything. It was the community showing up when the always-on nature of the dairy felt like too much to carry alone. It was the realization that the farm doesn’t just produce milk; it produces the character of the town. If you didn’t stop to see the goodness in those dusty, laughing teenagers, you might have thought it was just another chore finished. But it was the best Tuesday of the month.

The Prize of the Return

Then there is the greatest glimmer of all: the conversation you didn’t dare to script. It happens in the cab of the truck or while walking back from the parlor. Your oldest son, the one you’ve watched grow up in the shadow of this barn, looks at the horizon and says he wants to do what Dad does for a living. After graduating from college this spring, he is planning to come back to the family farm.

In that moment, the low margin and crummy weather lose their power. The audacity and faith required to keep a 750-cow and 1,800-acre operation running are suddenly rewarded. Not with a record milk check, but with the knowledge that the soil you’ve tended and the cows you’ve bred have a future beyond your own hands.

Searching for the Glimmer

The thing about these moments is that they don’t happen for 24 consecutive hours. They don’t last for weeks or months. They are seconds. They are glimmers of hope that we have to actively search for.

If we aren’t careful, we can finish the day thinking it was just another grind — another ordinary Tuesday where the equipment broke or the labor was short. But if we adjust our sails and shift our gaze, we realize that the days we’ve been longing for are happening right in front of our eyes.

The prize isn’t the 2-year-old in the show ring; it’s the 2-year-old grandchild sitting on your lap in the tractor. The record crop isn’t just the bushels per acre; it’s the harvest of memories with family by your side being made while the work was being done.

Praise God for the goodness that being a farmer is — not because it is easy and not because it is always profitable, but because it gives us the eyes to see that an ordinary Tuesday can be the best day we have ever asked for. We just have to be brave enough to stop waiting for the “next” long enough to see the “now.”

Using Real-Time Data to Drive Optimized Feeding Programs

Wed, 13 May 2026 17:51:39 GMT

The transition from handwritten feed records to integrated digital production systems continues to reshape how pork producers manage nutrition programs. Operations that consistently capture, validate and analyze production and nutrition data are better equipped to identify inefficiencies, reduce variability and improve overall system performance.

Early tools such as spreadsheets improved recordkeeping and cost tracking. Today’s platforms go further by integrating feed delivery, inventory, health events and performance metrics into a single system. These technologies allow producers and nutritionists to align diet formulation with current barn conditions and make in-cycle adjustments that better match nutrient supply with pig requirements.

Real-time visibility into performance enables faster decision-making, tighter control of input costs and improved predictability of market outcomes.

Feed remains the primary cost driver

Feed represents approximately 60 percent of total wean-to-finish production cost, making it the most significant lever for improving profitability. Margin improvement is driven by increasing biological performance, reducing cost per pound of gain or achieving both simultaneously.

Standardized feeding programs across all pig flows often fail to account for variation in genetics, health status, barn environment, facility design and management practices. Precision nutrition requires diets to be formulated and adjusted based on both historical performance data and current production signals. Genetic potential for growth and disease resilience, current health status, barn environment, stocking density, feeding system accuracy and ingredient variability all influence how diets should be structured and managed.

While experience remains valuable, nutrition programs should be guided by measurable data and continuously evaluated against performance benchmarks.

Stage-specific metrics drive targeted adjustments

Effective data analysis depends on focusing on the right metrics at each phase of production.

Within the sow herd, the objective is to maximize throughput and lifetime productivity. Performance indicators such as pigs born alive, pigs weaned per litter, pre-wean mortality and lactation feed intake directly influence system efficiency. Lactation intake remains a critical control point, as inadequate consumption can reduce milk production, increase piglet mortality and negatively impact subsequent reproductive performance, including extended wean-to-estrus intervals. Variation within sow groups is substantial, with only a small percentage of animals representing the statistical average. Identifying and managing that variation creates opportunity for more precise nutritional and management decisions.

In the nursery phase, the focus shifts to feed intake, gut health and immune development. Early post-weaning feed intake, morbidity and mortality rates, treatment frequency and overall pig uniformity all play a role in determining downstream performance. Inconsistent intake or health challenges at this stage often result in reduced average daily gain and increased variability entering the grow-finish phase. Nutrition strategies must support palatability, gut integrity and consistent consumption to maintain performance trajectories.

During the grow-finish phase, feed investment is at its highest and directly tied to cost of gain. Average daily gain, feed conversion ratio, days to market and mortality rates are key performance indicators. Carcass data, including yield and composition, should also be incorporated into post-analysis to evaluate how feeding strategies influenced packer value. Modern data platforms allow these metrics to be benchmarked across groups and time periods, linking biological performance with feed cost and ingredient inputs to identify areas for improvement.

Real-time intake as a leading indicator

Feed intake remains one of the most sensitive real-time indicators of barn performance. Deviations in intake patterns are often the earliest signal that a system is off-track.

Reduced or inconsistent intake may indicate underlying health challenges, environmental stressors such as heat or cold, social competition within pens, mechanical issues with feeders or variability in feed quality and palatability. When intake data is captured continuously and evaluated alongside health and environmental inputs, it allows for faster identification of root causes and more timely corrective action.

Speed of analysis drives opportunity

One of the most common challenges when working with a production system for the first time is not just data availability, but how quickly that data is used. Even with strong recordkeeping, delayed analysis limits the ability to make meaningful adjustments within the same group.

Waiting until a group closes to evaluate performance restricts the opportunity to correct inefficiencies in real time. By contrast, continuous or near real-time analysis allows producers to adjust diets based on current intake and growth trends, identify issues before performance losses compound and improve feed efficiency within the active production cycle.

Data-driven nutrition improves ROI

In a margin-compressed environment, continuous evaluation of the feeding program is essential. Precision nutrition, supported by real-time data, enables producers to better align nutrient density with pig requirements, improve feed efficiency and reduce cost per pound of gain while maintaining consistent performance across groups.

As the largest input cost, feed must be managed with a high level of precision. Clear, complete and timely data provides the foundation for making informed nutritional decisions. When combined with sound management and disciplined execution, real-time data allows producers to respond faster, reduce inefficiencies and capture opportunities that directly impact profitability.

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