Hog News

• Roll On, Big P
  
  05/17/2013
  That’s P as in Planter. We finally got a break in the weather for a few days, with a huge jump in average daily temperatures. That was accompanied by wind in some areas, amplifying the soil drying effect. Producers put their new GPS equipped planters to work 18 hours a day or more in some cases, and got a lot of seed in the ground. USDA will tell us on Monday what the overall progress was, but it was clearly substantial. The advance would have been larger if not for widespread shower activity.
• The Coming Global Surplus
  
  05/10/2013
  The main message from the USDA reports on Friday was abundance. Forecasts for feed grains & oilseeds foresee significant expansion of global ending stocks surpluses if current weather forecasts are accurate. That is a pretty big “if” as we learned in 2012, but it probably isn’t wise to bet the farm on yet another crop disaster. Cash basis levels are showing some tightness but there is debate in the industry whether it is farmer stubbornness, worry about new crop, or a mis-priced futures market.
• Groups Requests COOL Delay
  
  05/07/2013
  Eight associations seek to delay the implementation of the proposed country-of-origin labeling rule until the WTO determines compliance.
• Can Activist Groups Use Drones to Spy on Farmers?
  
  05/07/2013
  There is increasing concern within the agricultural community that activist groups will use drones to spy on farming operations.
• Mobile App Aids Prescribed Burn Management
  
  05/06/2013
• No Meat in School
  
  05/03/2013
  A NYC Elementary school adopted and all vegetarian menu. Read why this decisions could actually jeopardize the academic performance of its students.
• May Showers Bring May Showers?
  
  05/03/2013
  The usual pattern would be “April showers bring May flowers” and “May showers bring big yields”. This year it seems like May showers just bring more May showers, and in some cases snow drifts. It was snowing in the center of the Corn Belt this morning, while areas further west were melting off some white stuff received mid-week. The US weather pattern is expected to turn a little drier, particularly in the western Corn Belt. The east got a few nice days, with more in the forecast.
• Economist: Livestock Producers Should Expect Bright Future
  
  04/30/2013
  More efficient land use, stalled demand for corn ethanol and increased demand for meat globally should help boost the livestock industry.
• Focus on Quality Helps Pork Producer Find His Niche
  
  04/30/2013
  As the local food movement continues to grow, new farmers have the opportunity to do something unique.
• Economics, Timing Drive Pesticide Application Decisions
  
  04/29/2013

Hogs News Wire