Latest News From Jennifer Shike

The pork community is in the crosshairs right now for the animal rights extremist community. Here's what you need to know.

Now that the mystery illness impacting some dairy herds has been revealed as the same strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza that has been impacting the U.S. poultry flock, pork producers are asking questions.

A U.S. District Court judge for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division, dismissed a lawsuit filed four years ago against the USDA regarding its decision to increase line speeds at poultry plants.

The laying hen industry shares similar risks to the pork industry regarding disease prevention. Versova's Craig Rowles shares practical examples from the egg industry that could work on your farm.

Need a good one-liner to make your valentine swoon? Try one these tested and true oaths of love featuring the best animal on the farm this Valentine's Day.

Say "I love you" with this tasty treat.

Super Bowl fans in Illinois will be able to cheer on some familiar faces in a commercial during the big game on Sunday. Illinois pork producer Chad Leman says the commercial is all about communicating trust in farmers.

An average of 17 people in the U.S. die every day waiting for a transplant. More than 100,000 are on a waiting list. After decades of experimenting, many doctors now see potential in genetically modified pig organs.

Despite nearly 24 inches of snow, below-zero temperatures and raging winds that some people are affectionately calling “Death Storm #2,” Illinois livestock producers are finding ways to overcome the horrific conditions.

With all that’s been talked about regarding 2023’s trials and tribulations in the pork industry, there may be one final question to ask as we flip the calendar. “Is this a defining moment?” asks economist Lee Schulz.

One of the things I love most about Christmas trees is the power they evoke to simply remember. Here are some special livestock-themed Christmas trees filled with memories to last a lifetime. 

If there’s any “good” news for 2024, economist Joe Kerns says it’s that it can’t be worse than 2023. Although economists expect 2024 to be another challenging year, some believe it will be a turning point for U.S. pork.

It was a seasonally quiet week in grocery store meat departments and up the distribution chain for turkeys and hams, reports Steiner Consulting Group in the Daily Livestock Report. Here’s a look at pork, turkey and beef.

USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service announced on Tuesday that it will extend time-limited trials at USDA’s New Swine Slaughter Inspection System establishments. 

Whether you are serving a crowd or feeding your family during movie night, charcuterie is a trend that isn't going away anytime soon. This is good news for pork as everyone knows pork adds the flavor!

When I opened the door, my jaw dropped. Despite what every mother in her right mind would be tempted to do in that moment, I paused when I saw her black heels in the middle of the mess.

Turkey is o.k., but it's a far cry from a delicious holiday ham in my book. That's why I can't help but be intrigued by turporken.

More than 1 in 5 U.S. adults live with a mental illness. U.S. Representative Jim Costa (D-CA) says Congress cannot ignore the mental health crisis in America anymore. 

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced updates on how USDA plans to address the complex competition issues in agricultural markets in order to create a fairer playing field for small- and mid-size farmers.

Rep. Thompson, chairman of the House Ag Committee, continues to express optimism about passing a new farm bill in December in the House of Representatives. But he says an extension of the current farm bill is needed.

Maybe it’s because I’m a farm kid at heart, but I think the best Halloween costume ideas come straight from the farm. And I'm not the only one on our team here at Farm Journal who feels that way.

The Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards final rule is now available for preview. This new rule establishes clear, strong and consistent standards for organic livestock and poultry production, USDA says.

How is FFA growing the next generation of leaders who will change the world? For many, growth occurs during the National FFA Convention & Expo. Here are tips to help attendees (and family members) prepare.

Iowa farmers, get out your toenail clippers! Anna Proctor, a University of Iowa Ph.D. student, is collecting samples for a study she will conduct later this year using Iowa farmers’ toenails to assess chemical exposure.

It's no wonder farmers experience higher levels of anxiety and depression because of the many factors they deal with that are out of their control. But how does that affect their family? A new study sheds light.

Where is the pork industry on its path to a PRRS-resistant pig? Matt Culbertson, chief operating officer at PIC, provides an update.

“Is this a buffalo?” asked a young 20-ish fairgoer as he stood before the Grand Champion Market Steer in the Hall of Champions at the Illinois State Fair. He looked at me – dead serious – awaiting my response.

Tyson Foods is deploying autonomous refrigerated box trucks to bolster Tyson routes in Northwest Arkansas. Operating 18 hours a day, these driverless trucks will deliver products to distribution and storage facilities.

Explosive numbers, deadly destruction, devastating economic impact. Is it possible to control the spiraling feral hog population in Texas? A new study shows a warfarin-based toxicant could help.

We try to be good parents by setting boundaries for our kids. We want to raise decent humans who are kind, make good choices and respect others. But let’s be real. During fair week, that all goes out the window.

Falling chicken and pork prices as well as slowing demand for its beef products are reasons Tyson Foods cited on Monday for missing Wall Street expectations for third-quarter revenue and profit, Reuters reports.

Oklahoma State University announced Dr. Jayson Lusk as the new dean and vice president of its Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Lusk will succeed Dr. Tom Coon in early August. 

The tentative agreement that's been reached with the West Coast longshoremen is of paramount importance for U.S. red meat, says USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. Here's why.

A majority of Americans regularly eat meat and believe that it's a healthy choice, according to a recent poll that has some critics up in arms.

It’s one thing to tell students about livestock production; it’s another thing to show them. Here's why one Iowa school is turning heads and opening people's eyes to the opportunities in livestock production.

The other night PORK editor Jennifer Shike and her daughter had a conversation she hopes they never forget. Here's why it's one we can all relate to.

The Supreme Court’s ruling on Proposition 12 has added “a whole bunch more uncertainty to a very uncertain market,” said Lee Schulz, Iowa State University ag economist and Extension livestock specialist.

As I approached the site of my first animal activist rally, I kept my distance. I watched two people beside a small megaphone and a bag, checking their phones constantly. I leaned in anticipating what would happen next.

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is awarding $2.29 million through the National Animal Health Laboratory Network Farm Bill program to advance APHIS’ animal health preparedness.

Futures markets are a mystery, says Scott Irwin, author of the new book, Back to the Futures, is now available for pre-order and is scheduled to be released on April 19 on Amazon.

Editor Jennifer Shike won't deny that it’s hard to open up and share with others. But here's why saying yes to those opportunities to tell your story can have a bigger impact than you can imagine.

FFA is a nearly limitless opportunity for young people to figure out who they are and what they want to do in life. Here are 10 lessons Farm Journal employees learned through FFA that they use every day. 

EPA is proposing changes to rodenticides that would result in canceling products and uses, adding more requirements to labels, and reclassifying some products to restricted use pesticides. Here's what you need to know.

USDA's second-highest ranking executive, Jewel Bronaugh, announced her resignation on Thursday as Agriculture Deputy Secretary.

U.S. pork exports saw continued growth in November, posting the largest volume and value numbers of 2022. Despite a November slowdown, beef export value sets records in key markets. Here's a look at what's happening.

Most U.S. animal protein industry segments have posted phenomenal financial performance over the past three years. However, CoBank’s latest report says this broad-based profitability will likely come to an end in 2023.

Despite analysts’ pre-report expectations, for the first time in 2.5 years, the national swine breeding herd has seen a year-over-year increase, according to the Dec. 1 USDA Hogs & Pigs Report.

Of all the challenges coming at the U.S. pork industry in the year ahead, economists agree it likely won’t be the price of pigs. Here's what four industry experts have to say about the 2023 pork outlook.

Has the hype cooled for plant-based meat alternatives? Purdue economist Jayson Lusk thinks so. Here's why.

Although China imported more than $205 billion worth of agricultural products in 2021, including more than $37 billion from the U.S., trade barriers deterred China’s imports from reaching even higher levels.