Hog Production
Profitability is always a moving target, Rabobank economist Christine McCracken shared on the latest episode of The PORK Podcast. But she says she is “quite optimistic” heading into 2025. Here’s why.
Jason Pooley won the 2024 Farm Journal’s PORK Best Beards Contest, praised for his well-groomed, bold beard and mustache.
A new year provides an opportunity to reflect upon the previous year. In business, it’s also a great time to strategize. Here are a few opportunities to consider.
In 2024, the pork industry learned many valuable lessons. For economist Brian Earnest, one of the biggest lessons learned was that patience and persistence pay off — sometimes. He joins Christine McCracken, Lee Schulz, Dave Weaber and Altin Kalo to share a 2025 pork outlook.
One of the greatest tools the pork industry can utilize in 2025 is perspective. This past year brought many important topics to the forefront of pork industry headlines.
Although profitability has returned, now is not the time to assume we are in for a good couple of years within our industry. It is time to focus on incremental improvement and positioning our industry for long-term success.
Which stories caught the most attention in 2024? Here’s a look back at the top 10 stories on PorkBusiness.com in 2024.
Will the challenges of 2025 outweigh the opportunities? Economists encourage pork producers to consider these four important questions.
How does the U.S. pork industry support the Global Sustainability Goals?
A showpig breeder. An Iowa State football player. A chief executive officer. A professor of animal science. A high school student. A mom. A retired researcher. A veterinarian. A cancer survivor. What does this list have in common?
We must have a paradigm shift that is focused on making pork loin relevant to young, domestic, multicultural consumers.
Although there were no earth-shattering surprises in the Dec. 1 USDA Hogs and Pigs Report, economist Lee Schulz says there are several important takeaways for pork producers as the year comes to a close.
Smithfield announces the formation of a new company called VisionAg Hog Production.
Now that the profitability potential has returned to the swine industry, a few critical management decisions in the coming months will play a vital role in rebuilding liquidity in your operation.
Speakers will address critical topics including profitability in swine production, pork demand, grain and soybean meal markets, and day-to-day decisions made inside the farm gate.
It’s time for 2025 predictions. The past two years have been challenging for most producers as the market has offered few times to lock in profits.
As federal policy decisions tend to heavily impact rural industries, the outcome of the 2024 election promises to significantly shape the rural economy in the year ahead. CoBank’s annual report outlines what to expect.
A bullish outlook on the U.S. pork market means it’s time to take advantage of opportunities that come your way, says Erin Borror with the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
A collection of five studies from 2024 publications can help improve farrowing and wean outcomes, ensuring the health and survivability of wean pigs for transport.
A recent study at Kansas State University took a look at a key factor influencing feed intake – type and design of the lactation feeder – to see if this could help increase intake.
Low expected corn prices will translate into relatively low feed costs during the first part of next year. Here’s a look at trends in feed costs.
Many people fear rodenticides will become even more difficult to access and more expensive to use after the EPA’s release of the final biological evaluation for 11 rodenticide active ingredients.
Scott Dee, a retired veterinarian with Pipestone, has thought about PRRS more than most people throughout his lifetime. Here’s what he’s learned and what he sees in the future.
“AI isn’t coming, it’s already here,” Ben Allen, chief executive officer of BinSentry, said at the Midwest Pork Conference.
Hot topics discussed at the Midwest Pork Conference range from PRRS to artificial intelligence. Here are a few takeaways.
Just as insects can enter homes, they can enter livestock barns. It is never too early to start planning how to manage insects.
A little back-of-the-napkin math illustrates the incredible value of the limited-time-offer McRib sandwich, says David Newman with the National Pork Board.
Growing up in a village in the northern part of Namibia, subsistence farming combining both animal and plant-based practices was essential for survival. However, hog farming was uncommon, and several myths surrounded it.
For the past two years, the swine industry has been battered by high costs and unprecedented accumulated losses. The billion-dollar question is: Have we turned the corner toward sustainable profitability?
From the weather to prices, production to demand, and everywhere in between, this is an industry where certainties are scarce and variation reigns supreme. In essence, pork production is the art and science of stacking the deck that nature and the market deals out.