Latest News From Hog Production

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.

Brazil is seeing a sudden shift in weather with heavy rains now forecasted over the next two weeks. While it will bring relief to drought areas, it could cause harvest delays and issues planting the safrinha corn crop. 

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.

Both dynamic and resilient, the animal protein sector is likely heading into another challenging year. However, it’s important to identify potential opportunities that could help your operation survive or even thrive.

Phillip Hord and Jessica Stevens are two examples of what happens when pig farmers think outside of the box to grow demand and build confidence in U.S. pork among consumers.

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.

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.

Dry conditions spurred by La Nina weighed on areas of the Corn Belt in 2022. As La Nina fades, and El Nino starts to make a return, meteorologists say the weather shift could also signal better crop production in 2023.

As farm shows and meetings portray a crowd that seems to be aging, is there a shortage of young farmers threatening the future of ag? John Phipps explains why an abundance of young farmers may not be on the farm today.

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.

“If California were to win this Supreme Court case, there’s nothing stopping the state from saying, for example, you can only sell corn in California if it’s harvested with an electric combine,” Dillard says.

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.

Certainly, you can attract new employees and hold on to your current staff by raising wages and improving benefit packages, but helping employees feel engaged and appreciated can also take other forms.

New research shows soybean meal has more energy content than originally thought. This is good news for pig farmers and soybean growers. Here's why.

With the industry becoming increasingly more digital, is your farm's electronic data protected and computer systems secure?

From sow barn managers to CEOs, they agree the threats facing the global pork industry have similar themes. Here’s a look at what nine leaders have to say about top issues as we move into the second half of 2022.

China's second-quarter pork output climbed to 13.78 million tonnes, according to calculations based on official data released on Friday, the highest level for the period since at least 2015.

Dynamic markets. Volatility. Russia-Ukraine war. High feed costs. Consumer demand strength. The issues affecting the pork outlook go on and on. Five economists share what’s ahead for the second half of 2022.

Here's a sneak peek of why you don't want to miss one minute of PORK Week. Starting on Monday, June 6, through Sunday, June 12, we'll be honoring pork producers and celebrating industry advancements.

Although the industry has come a long way when it comes to farm safety, about every three days, a child dies in an ag-related incident, and each day, 33 children are injured. Farm safety expert Barbara Lee weighs in.

A 1.9% year-over-year drop in the U.S. swine breeding herd, combined with ongoing productivity challenges, will limit 2022 U.S. hog slaughter and remain supportive to nearby markets, says Christine McCracken, Rabobank.

Global meat consumption will decline as inflation squeezes consumer spending because of the Ukraine-Russian War, says Rupert Claxton, livestock and met director at Gira.

Precedent-setting mandates are coming at ag from all angles, undermining freedom of farmers. These regulations aren't based on science. They aren't based on experience. Many argue they aren't based on a shred of truth.

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

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has extended through Feb. 28, 2022, an emergency declaration offering regularity relief for drivers who are hauling livestock and livestock feed, among other supplies.

Oetting Homestead Farms of Concordia, Missouri, located in Lafayette County, has been selected as the recipient of the 2021 Missouri Leopold Conservation Award®.

When Harry Martin escaped from slavery and enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War, little did he know the legacy he was about to establish for generations to come when he returned home to Wayne County, N.C.

The hog market looks very encouraging going forward, says AgriTalk host Chip Flory. But are producers feeling that incentive to go out and grow the total hog supply? 

In a letter to Ag Sec. Tom Vilsack, the North American Meat Institute asks the administration to stop ignoring "fundamental principles of supply and demand" and acknowledge industry structure is not causing inflation.

Dean Meyer depends on red meat exports in more ways than one. On his farm near Rock Rapids, Iowa, he grows corn, soybeans, cattle and hogs. A new study backs up why red meat exports help corn and soybean farmers.

Chinese farmer Cheng wades through knee-deep water, pulling dead pigs behind him one-by-one by a rope tied around their ankles as he lines up the bloated carcasses for disposal.

Pork export value exceeded $800 million for the first time in May, while beef exports recorded the third consecutive month of value record highs, driven in part by record-large exports to South Korea.

Smithfield's chief administrative officer says the company denied liability in agreeing to settle, and believes its conduct was always lawful.

World Pork Expo is making its grand return to Des Moines this week. This marks the first time since 2018 the event is being held. The National Pork Producers Council says this will mark the 33rd annual event.

Join us for the pork industry’s most exciting week of the year. We will honor pork producers, provide opportunities to learn new things, celebrate industry advancements and report news from the World Pork Expo.

You’ve taught your kids how to drive tractors, herd cattle and identify weeds. But have you passed on your money and management skills?

The pork industry is a buzz with carbon reduction goals and even carbon neutrality. Pipestone's Roger Cochrane shares strategies farmers can use to reduce carbon dioxide emission equivalents and improve sustainability.

“The old adage that ‘it is sometimes better to be lucky than good’ could apply to global hog markets in 2021,” Rabobank said in its latest report. Analysts summarized six key issues driving prices this year.

Bottom line: There’s a big opportunity for the U.S. pork industry in Asia. NPPC's Maria Zieba joined Chip Flory on AgriTalk to discuss the recent announcement from the Philippines.

Animal rights activist Matthew Johnson with the group Direct Action Everywhere has been charged with trespassing at a food operation for his Feb. 5 presence outside an Iowa Select Farms sow operation in Dows, Iowa. 

Senators John Hoeven and Michael Bennet reintroduced the Modernizing Agricultural Transportation Act, bipartisan legislation to reform the Hours of Service and Electronic Logging Device regulations at the U.S. DOT.

A shocker. A game-changer. A surprise. In USDA’s March 1 Quarterly Hogs & Pigs Report, analysts agree this very bullish report changes the outlook perspective.

For a fifth year, the White House is publicly recognizing March 23, 2021, as National Ag Day. As part of the proclamation, the White House salutes farmers and ranchers for the contributions they continue to make.

Soy in livestock diets is traditionally evaluated on one metric: crude protein. Recent research shows that may not be the best indicator for meeting nutritional needs of livestock. How can you discern those differences?

At this year’s Top Producer Online Summit, Rena Striegel shared her key tips to make this transition easier for all involved.

While the pandemic is still a reality, the arrival of the vaccine has allowed other conversations to reignite. One of the most prominent animal ag-related conversations we foresee for this year is sustainability.

The first in a series of webinars by the Global Farmer Network brought together a diverse panel of farmers to talk about the biggest issues in agriculture today.

The past decade has been weird and wacky to say the least. It makes you wonder what’s in store for the next 10 years. Here are some possible hints.

Jim Douglas and his son, James, are navigating the joys and hurdles of succession planning.