Hog Production

A $10.4 Trillion Engine: Agriculture Drives One-Fifth of the U.S. Economy

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:46:57 GMT

Did you know that close to one in every three jobs nationwide is tied to food and agriculture? The latest Feeding the Economy Report says food and agriculture support about 49 million jobs, which is about 30% of total U.S. employment. Although less than 2% are on the farm, when you add food manufacturing, wholesale and retail, that adds another 24 million jobs, or about 15% of the workforce.

Each year, the Feeding the Economy Report measures the downstream, off-the-farm economic impact of U.S. agriculture. Danny Munch, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, says the report tracks three layers of impact.

“When you combine those layers, ag supports about $10.4 trillion in economic output, or about one-fifth of the entire U.S. economy,” Munch said on the Newsline podcast .

2025: $900-Billion Growth in U.S. Agricultural Industry

The U.S. agricultural industry grew by nearly $900 billion over the past year, according to this study led each year by the Corn Refiners Association and sponsored by three dozen agriculture and food organizations, including the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC).

The first layer is direct activity, which includes the base level of food and ag production that is traditionally measured. It also measures supply industries like transportation, finance, equipment manufacturing and inputs in the second layer. The third includes the ripple effects of those two stages on how wages are earned and spent throughout the rest of the system.

“So, all the benefits we were talking about – jobs, wages, tax revenue – they’re tied to where that production happens,” Munch says. “If production shifts overseas due to cost pressures, regulatory burdens or competitive challenges, that economic activity moves with it. So, it’s not just about the food supply, it’s about all these other jobs, tax revenue and economic commerce that supports industries across every corner of every state.”

The report includes a state-by-state breakdown of agriculture’s economic impact, showing total jobs, wages, output, taxes and exports. Key findings include:

Food and agriculture generated more than $3 trillion in wages for U.S. workers, with wages rising 4% year-over-year and 13% over the past decade.
Food manufacturing remains the largest manufacturing sector in the U.S., employing almost 2.3 million workers.
U.S. food and agriculture exports were more than $177 billion, though exports declined by $5.4 billion year-over-year, underscoring the need for maintaining strong trade agreements and expanding market access for American products.
The food and agriculture sector produced $1.35 trillion in tax revenue for federal, state and local governments, a 7% increase year-over-year.

“The report confirms the incredible, positive impacts of agriculture on our country,” says NPPC CEO Bryan Humphreys. “America’s 60,000-plus pork producers are proud to help drive this force that provides our food and other agriculture products—and the opportunity to be part of something bigger than themselves by carrying on a tradition of taking care of their families, neighbors, animals and land, and at heart, a way of living that often has been passed down for generations.”

U.S. pork producers annually generate more than $37 billion in personal income, contribute more than $62 billion in GDP, and support more than 573,000 jobs in the U.S. economy, NPPC adds.

Finding Color Again: A Story of Love, Loss and Healing

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 19:38:27 GMT

It’s true that the pork industry is driven by data and science, but it’s ultimately built on the strength of the people who are in it. Sometimes that strength arises out of the darkest times of our lives. Dan Hamilton, senior director for product performance in the Americas for PIC, experienced a profound tragedy in 2005.

When Hamilton was a student at the University of Illinois, he met Rachel – a dynamic powerhouse who captured his heart quickly. Always the life of the conversation, she made people laugh and brought joy to everyone she was around, he says.

“We couldn’t wait to start our storybook life together,” Hamilton says. “We were young and of the mindset that you set a goal and achieve it. Then, you just keep doing that. We both had successful careers, bought our first house, and decided it was time to have a baby.”

He will never forget the morning when it was time to go to the hospital after nine months of waiting.

“We had the bag packed in the car like you’re supposed to, and the nursery was ready,” he recalls. “We went to the hospital and they took Rachel back. I went with her and they said, ‘You know, her blood pressure is a little bit variable. Why don’t you step out?’”

They told him they were going to get her blood pressure under control before moving on to the next step of the delivery process.

“It wasn’t a few minutes later that a lot of sirens started going off, and they were having some sort of a code event,” Hamilton says. “I wasn’t sure if it was her or what it was, because they had me in the waiting room with no direction. The next thing I know, the doctors were approaching me with a very grim face.”

They sat him down and explained that Rachel died in the delivery room that morning from either an amniotic or pulmonary embolism. A rare, one-in-a-million event, there was nothing the doctors could do to save his wife. In that very same moment, he found out he was the father of a baby girl, Kaitlyn.

Stunned, Hamilton didn’t know what to do next. The doctors were talking about the duress Kaitlyn endured while his heart smashed into pieces.

Black-and-White Memories

Because Kaitlyn experienced a lack of oxygen for a period of time, doctors whisked her off to the neonatal intensive care unit for the first four days of her life to stabilize her respiratory tract.

“I don’t think any dad goes into the hospital thinking he will leave a single father,” Hamilton says. “Not only was I grieving the loss of Rachel, but the stress of how I was going to care for Kaitlyn on my own put me to the limit.”

An outpouring of support from family and friends surrounded him at that moment.

“It’s unfortunate that it takes a traumatic event to realize how many people in the world care,” Hamilton says. “And that continued for years afterward. My parents were really close and they came and spent a lot of time with me. Rachel’s mother had just retired, so she was able to help me with Kaitlyn during the day. She was a godsend for sure. Friends would come on nights or weekends and give me a break when needed.”

When he looks back, he sees that time of his life in black and white.

“Memories are usually in color,” he says. “But that first year was definitely in black and white for me.”

Although watching each step of Kaitlyn’s development was the greatest gift, he says not having Rachel to share it with him was hard. He constantly questioned how he was going to be able to raise a young lady.

“Rachel would have been so good at this,” he says. “I asked a lot of questions. Why did this happen? Why was she taken away from me?”

He learned to stop asking those questions.

“You may never find reason with those,” he says. “Focus on the positive and the good things around you. Be grateful for the people that support you, because that is what God is sending you – the help, support and strength to move forward.”

Be in the Moment

When you’ve gone through a trauma like this, Hamilton says it’s important to take time to heal and reflect.

“My grief for Rachel will always be there,” he says. “I still tear up every time I think about it and it’s been 20-some years. I just want to encourage people walking through grief that someday you can reformulate your life and have positive experiences again. It may not feel like it at first, but there are good things ahead.”

And let people help you, Hamilton adds. People want to help, but don’t always know how to help. He believes letting people in allows both parties to process and that’s a good thing.

“One thing I’ve learned is to be in the moment,” he says.

Don’t let things get out of balance that shouldn’t get out of balance, he adds. For example, your job shouldn’t compromise your relationship with your family. That’s something he takes seriously.

Three years after Rachel’s death, he met his current wife, Carrie, and her daughter. Today they are raising three daughters. Kaitlyn is now a junior at the University of Illinois and doing amazing, he says.

“Looking back at what I went through, there’s always some guilt that I could have spent more time or done this or that,” Hamilton says. “Live your life so you don’t have those regrets as you go forward. You just never know when you’ll get that next chance.”

You can listen to more of Hamilton’s personal story of resilience on “The PORK Podcast” on YouTube or follow The PORK Podcast anywhere podcasts are found.

Why Did Chicago Public Schools Ban Pork?

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 23:43:52 GMT

UPDATE: Josh Maschhoff, current past president of the Illinois Pork Producers Association, is traveling to Chicago on Feb. 26 to address the Chicago Public Schools Board of Education. He will be calling for a formal review of the district’s pork prohibition impacting 630 schools that currently cannot serve pork at breakfast or lunch.

Of the 350,000 free meals served daily at Chicago Public Schools (CPS) through the Community Eligibility Provision, none include pork. Despite being a staple in Chicago households, an “illusive” vote during a virtual COVID-era board meeting quietly removed this nutrient-dense protein from the menu.

So why did CPS ban pork? That’s a mystery the Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA) is trying to solve.

“We found out in February 2025, really by accident, there is an all-pork ban at all the Chicago Public Schools in our state,” says Jennifer Tirey, IPPA executive director.

IPPA sent Illinois public school food service directors a new resource from the National Pork Board designed to help public schools prepare nutritious, tasty pork dishes for large audiences of people.

“We received a response back from the food service director at CPS,” Tirey says. “It said, ‘Well, thank you for this resource. However, we have a ban on pork and we can’t serve pork – not for breakfast, not for lunch. None of our meals can ever have pork in it.’”

According to the CPS School Wellness Policy , all menu items must be “pork-free.”

A Cultural Disconnect

That means 325,305 students across 634 schools are not allowed to have pork as an offering despite efforts to accommodate other religious, ethnic and personal beliefs of Chicago students.

A high demographic of CPS is Hispanic and African American – approximately 85% or 265,124 students. According to 2024-2025 data, 47.3% are Latino/Hispanic, 34.2% are Black/African American and 11.3% are White. Pork consumption is high among these groups in Chicago, according to data compiled by Numerator, with 79.6% of Hispanic households and 75.8% of African American households regularly consuming fresh pork.

“Those families probably don’t even realize that something they hold so culturally close to them is no longer accessible to their kids,” Tirey notes. “It’s not fair that their children cannot access this valuable protein.”

A Missed Opportunity

CPS participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and receives USDA Foods, which are provided to school districts at reduced or no cost to help meet federal nutrition requirements. Section 32 and Pork Eligibility Pork products are included in the USDA Section 32 purchasing program, which allows USDA to procure surplus and domestically produced agricultural commodities

“The district is unable to accept or serve USDA-provided pork, and CPS forgoes access to a nutrient-dense, high-quality protein available through federal procurement,” Tirey says. “On a weekly basis, CPS misses out on approximately $5.51 million in federal reimbursements because roughly 39% of students skip lunch and 56% skip breakfast.”

One of the major reasons kids skip meals is because they don’t like what is being served, Tirey points out. At a time when inflation is causing everyone to pull back on spending, can CPS afford not to take advantage of these opportunities to provide a high-quality protein to students?

“CPS’ long-term debt is over $9 billion as of June 30, 2025,” Tirey says. “CPS’s short-term debt is $450 million on top of that.”

Allowing pork within CPS meal planning could improve program flexibility and align with federal procurement systems already designed to help districts manage costs, she adds.

“For example, most people think of sausage as pork sausage,” Tirey says. “By swapping out a pork sausage patty for a beef sausage patty at breakfast alone, it would save CPS $1.2 million over 180 days.”

Nutrient-Dense Protein

CPS dietitians indicated to IPPA through emails they were unaware of the original reasoning behind the pork ban. Although religious accommodation was suggested as a possible basis, there is no evidence in the record this was ever a consideration. CPS routinely offers multiple entrée options.

“We met with CPS nutrition leadership to share that pork is a high-quality, nutrient-dense protein that is culturally relevant to CPS students while being affordable and operationally feasible,” Tirey says. “Despite initial openness to discussion, CPS later declined to pursue any consideration of pork menu offerings due to the existing CPS policy.”

The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, issued in January by USDA and Health and Human Services, emphasize the importance of adequate daily protein intake and encouraging consumption of nutrient-dense protein foods as part of healthy dietary patterns.

“Updated guidance reflects growing consensus that higher protein intake supports child growth, muscle development, satiety and overall health,” she says. “The guidelines recognize a range of animal and plant protein sources, including red meat — as appropriate components of a balanced diet when prepared and served in nutrient-dense forms.”

Pork qualifies as a nutrient-dense protein because it provides essential nutrients such as high-quality complete protein, iron, zinc and Vitamin B, including B12. It also provides choline, which is important for brain development in school-aged children.

According to a research article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America , high relative energy requirements for children and adolescents ages 2 to 19 years signify micronutrient density needs are below mean global nutrient density needs across all life stages for folate, zinc, and vitamins A and B12, though calcium density needs remain high to support skeletal growth. Entering puberty, adolescent girls ages 10 to 19 also show increased iron density needs (11% higher than the global mean).

Chicago Families Deserve a Choice

“Families should get to decide what works for their kids,” Tirey says. “We are asking for a policy review focused on choice and inclusion. Menus should reflect many cultures and preferences. Pork is a nutrient-dense protein option that is affordable and adds to a well-balanced meal that works within a school’s budget.”

IPPA is requesting the following action from the CPS Board:

Initiate a formal review of the Local School Wellness Policy provision prohibiting pork.
Direct staff to identify the original rationale and supporting documentation for the ban.
Consider input from nutrition experts, food service partners and community stakeholders.
Evaluate whether pilot programs or limited menu testing are appropriate.

What do parents want from school meals? According to Tirey, a mother of two, it starts with enough protein to keep kids full and focused and nutrients that support energy and learning. As a parent, she desires affordable options that don’t sacrifice quality. Most importantly, she wants meals kids will actually eat.

“Pork provides high-quality protein that helps kids stay full longer,” Tirey says. “Pork provides iron and B12 support brain development and energy, in addition to thiamin that is essential for growth and metabolism. In a time when school food budgets are stretched, pork provides an affordable option that doesn’t sacrifice nutrition.”

Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago), a former CPS student, is sponsoring SR 625 calling for CPS to review the ban along with Rep. Sonya Harper (D-Chicago), House Ag Chairwoman, who is sponsoring HR 625 . Both have districts that represent CPS.

The legislators say a policy review is warranted for five reasons: alignment with current nutrition science; cultural inclusion and equity; student choice and accommodation; fiscal responsibility and transparency; and governance.

(Photo by Taylor Flowe on Unsplash)

Inconclusive FOIA Requests

Since February 2025, IPPA has submitted Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to CPS to find out why this policy was implemented. CPS declined to comment to Farm Journal’s PORK’s request for a response.

“The vote was made during a virtual board meeting, and the update to the wellness policy was voted on consent calendar,” Tirey explains. “There was no verbal discussion during that board meeting about that particular change. To be quite honest, a lot of the comments were about COVID and how to get students back to school. But in the middle of all that, this ban was implemented.”

The facts don’t add up. Even CPS board members haven’t been able to explain why there is a ban on pork, she says. Both FOIA requests filed with CPS came back with inconclusive findings.

“The last thing we want to do is approach an issue without having all the facts,” Tirey says. “What we are really hoping to find out is how we got to this point. At this juncture, we are working with the Illinois Attorney General’s office to help narrow our focus even further, because the second FOIA response said that the responses were too many for them to share because of the number of keywords.”

On Feb. 4, Tirey sent an email to every CPS Board of Education member regarding CPS’s policy that prohibits all pork products in school meals. Although IPPA was not selected through the lottery system to speak at the January board meeting, Tirey wanted to make sure the board was “aware of our position and concerns.” IPPA’s position statement can be found here on the CPS website.

IPPA will register again for the Feb. 26 meeting, of which five are in the lottery.

“We haven’t solved the issue yet,” Tirey says. “But I’m a pretty driven individual and I’m going to keep working until we get pork back on the menu in Chicago Public Schools.”

One Farmer's Idea to Avoid Yellowstone Drama When Transferring the Family Farm

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 18:47:32 GMT

At 8 cents a pound, pigs weren’t worth much when Todd Wiley formed Interstate Swine LLC with his dad in 1998. Nobody wanted weaned pigs. Facilities quickly became available as people left the pork industry. With a sincere desire to make a living raising pigs on his family’s farm, Wiley stepped out in faith. Nearly 30 years later, this multi-generational farming endeavor in eastern Iowa has survived some of the toughest times and some of the best times.

Maybe that’s why Wiley has taken a unique approach to bringing the third generation back to the farm.

“There’s no doubt that family is important to Todd,” says Pat McGonegle, CEO of the Iowa Pork Producers Association. “He puts family first, and the farm is a part of that discussion. He manages his family members that are part of that farm in a real professional way, but also with an eye towards the legacy that he and Denise want to leave on their farm.”

Would This Be Good For My Kids?

Growing up, Wiley’s parents talked about succession planning often with their three sons. The concept of planning for the generational transfer of the family farm came naturally to Wiley.

“When we started Interstate Swine, we needed to hire employees,” he says. “One of the things I was conscientious about was making sure the employment opportunity within our business would be conducive to our children filling those roles.”

From the beginning, Wiley instituted health insurance plans, matching IRA funds, paid time off, paid vacation, and other benefits that employees would typically look for when securing a job.

“I constantly asked myself if this would this be good for my kids someday?” he says.

Wiley and his wife, Denise, have four kids: Drew, a Kansas State University animal science graduate and former K-State Football defensive tackle; Isaac, an Iowa State University agribusiness graduate now employed with Ever.Ag; Emma, owner of Auntie Em’s - Event Florist and attended Des Moines Area Community College; and Joshua, a junior at Iowa State University in animal science.

In 2017-2018, the Wileys doubled their sow farm to create more opportunities for the children to have a place on the family farm.

“It was a fairly tedious process – not only from a business standpoint, but about what the next generation was going to do,” he says. “They were all too young back then, and there was no way I could ask them for any sort of commitment to our business. But I did ask a lot of professionals. I remember asking our accountant specifically, ‘In your experience, what is the likelihood of a farm family having the next generation be involved, providing you have a viable business?’”

The accountant’s response was, “It’s pretty high.”

“Denise and I knew we needed to have some economies of scale,” Wiley explains. “There’s not much point in succession planning, if there’s nothing to succeed to or succeed with. We were mindful of that when we moved forward. Now, we have room for additional people, not only for labor, but also in management where we can utilize their skills.”

No Yellowstone Drama Here

As a family, it is easy to recognize each other’s strengths as well as quirks, he points out. But he wanted a better way to evaluate his children’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as interests, on the farm.

“I remember when a successful family in eastern Iowa, with a number of businesses, built a feed mill and elevator,” Wiley shares. “The father of this family passed away unexpectedly. Come to find out, nobody in the family had any interest in this feed mill and elevator, so they end up selling it.”

This hit Wiley hard. What would his kids say about where their farm was investing capital? That sparked the construction of a succession planning instrument for the Wiley family.

(Lori Hays)

“The first page of the instrument (an Excel document) started two years ago with a list of 35 jobs that need to be done on our farm,” Wiley says. “Most of them are pig related, but we do crop farm some. It was pretty much everything I was doing in a spreadsheet.”

Each of their children (and one daughter in-law at the time) was asked to rate those 35 jobs from one to five under this scenario: It’s 2033 and Todd and Denise are serving in an advisory role only. You choose to be an active employee of the family businesses. Please answer by circling the corresponding number that best describes your interest in the listed activity.

“It was interesting to see who had interest in what, but it also told us pretty clearly where we needed to go in the future if we wanted our children involved in our business,” Wiley says. “Initially, I think they saw it as a fun activity, just another of Dad’s crazy ideas. But I learned a lot.”

This past summer, the family completed the exercise again.

“I needed to see if the kids were drifting in their interest,” he says. “In one case, there was significant movement in what one of our kids wanted to do. It surprised me to be truthful about it. In the other three cases, they held true to what they thought two years previous. But bear in mind, our youngest was a freshman in college two years ago and a lot can change in college.”

Wiley emphasizes that nobody is required to come back and be involved in the operation. He says there are a million ways to make a living out there and he wants his kids to pursue their dreams. In the version his family filled out in the summer of 2025, he added a second page with 45 statements.

“If you’re going to work with people in a business and a family in any organization, even if you’re not related, you need to have some idea of where they’re coming from,” Wiley says. “On the second page of statements, they were asked to rank their level of agreement with the statement.”

For example, one of the statements was: No matter what I may think of a family member’s job performance, I’ll always have their back publicly.

“If you’ve ever watched Yellowstone, that show creeped me out,” Wiley says. “When I saw the family dynamic portrayed, it made me uncomfortable. We can have our disagreements. But, as a family, you better have each other’s backs out in the community, especially in the business we’re in.”

Getting Out and Getting In

This instrument has been helpful for the Wileys in many ways as they prepare to transfer more of the farm to their children.

“It sheds light on areas where their belief system parallels ours,” he says. “We have a definite place of emphasis now. Our children have a pig feeding business called Fourth Gen Hogs LLC, where they’re each 20% owners, Denise is a 10% owner, and I’m a 10% owner. It has been a great exercise in giving them the responsibility of ownership.”

He says the timing mirrors the situation he was in when Interstate Swine was formed.

“They got in about a year ago when it was pretty doom and gloom. We went to the bank with this idea, and they’re like, ‘You want to do what?’”

He believes this business venture will be the vehicle for he and his wife to exit pig ownership as their children get into ownership.

“Uncle Sam would have his way with us if we sold out all at once,” Wiley says. “But if we can gradually exit individual barns or individual parts of our production flow and have them enter into it, that’s a fairly nice segue for us to get out and them to get in.”

Wiley shares more about his mini adventure raising rabbits, opportunities for talented young people back on the farm and the message he hopes pork producers hear right now and more on The PORK Podcast. You can watch it here on YouTube or listen anywhere podcasts are found.

Watch more episodes here.

Oikonomia on the Farm: Succession Planning is About More Than Wealth

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 14:57:20 GMT

Succession planning is often treated as a legal or financial exercise — a “simple” matter of wills, taxes and transfer dates. Yet for family-owned farms and agribusinesses, it’s something deeper: the deliberate handoff of a way of life.

The ancient Greeks had a word for this kind of management, oikonomia, from which we get the term economy. Understanding what they meant by it can reorient how families think about preparing the next generation.

In classical thought, oikonomia referred to the management of the oikos, the household or estate, but it was never only about efficiency or profit. The oikonomos, or household steward, was responsible for using resources wisely so the entire household could live well and endure long into the future.

Ancient philosophers viewed resources as abundant, not scarce, so economic action was judged not by the accumulation of wealth but by whether it enabled and served a praiseworthy end. Specifically, the flourishing of the family, the land and the community.

Perspective for the Present

That older vision aligns closely with what succession planning should be for agriculture. The task is not just to pass on land and assets, but to ensure the continuity of stewardship, the ethical responsibility to care for what has been entrusted.

From an oikonomia perspective, the senior generation’s goal is to prepare successors capable of managing abundance with restraint, gratitude and wisdom. This calls attention to the education of character. The next generation must learn more than production and finance; they must learn judgment, the ability to distinguish needs from wants and to act for the common good. Mentorship, gradual transfer of responsibility, and open discussion of values all form part of this ethical training.

Perhaps most importantly, oikonomia reminds us that a farm is both a business and a household. Financial plans that ignore family dynamics or the moral vision of the enterprise risk undermining the very legacy they seek to protect.

Succession planning works best when it integrates three elements at once: the technical (who owns and manages what), the relational (how the family communicates and cooperates) and the moral (why the farm exists and whom it serves).

In that light, passing the farm to the next generation becomes not just a transaction but an act of stewardship — a modern form of oikonomia. The question is no longer only how do we divide the assets but how do we preserve the household, the land and the purpose they represent for future generations?

From Crisis to Calling: How Maddie Hokanson Found Strength in the Pork Industry

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 20:01:53 GMT

In June 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Maddie Hokanson headed out for a routine doctor’s appointment. At 34 weeks pregnant, she admittedly wasn’t feeling great, but as a first-time mom, what’s normal?

She was sent to labor and delivery as a precautionary measure. Not long after, she was in a helicopter being airlifted to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. She and her husband, Eric, welcomed their first child, Brent, by c-section later that day.

“Brent was born with hydrops,” Hokanson explains. “He was born at 10.5 lb. He had so much fluid around his organs and it was putting pressure on his brain, liver, kidneys and lungs. He almost didn’t make it.”

After a couple rough months in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the Hokansons learned a lot fast.

“I remember a friend sending me this reminder: If not, he is still good,” she says. “Sometimes things don’t go how we want, and even if that’s the case, I believe God works all things for his good.”

Because of the pandemic, nobody was able to meet Brent until he came home from the hospital. Hokanson remembers being surrounded by so many people who wanted to help and offer support. She says it was a surreal experience.

“I remember my naivety thinking that we made it home – we had made it through the hard part and now he was going to flourish,” she adds. “That definitely was not the case for the first couple of years.”

Diagnosis after diagnosis, the Hokansons struggled to take it all in: epilepsy, visual impairment, heart condition, liver failure, autism and cerebral palsy.

“The mantra, ‘this too shall pass,’ kept playing in my head, but when? When will it pass?” Hokanson says.

Perhaps it never will pass, she explains, but what they have been able to do is find joy in all that their family has instead of the comparison of what they don’t.

A Lifeline

For Hokanson, a seventh-generation farmer with Schafer Farms, the farm has served as a lifeline during these early years of adjusting to parenting a child with serious health challenges.

“The farm was my reminder that whether it’s a good day or bad day, I’m still Maddie Hokanson. I still have a purpose in the world beyond being a mother,” Hokanson says. “Coming into the farm office, talking to my parents, grandparents or employees really held me up. I needed work in order to be able to continue handling myself as a mother.”

Schafer Farms was established in 1886. Today they raise pigs, cattle, crops and operate a transportation and trucking business as well. They have two sow farms where they raise genetics for Topigs Norsvin. Getting to work with her husband, her parents, Brandon and Monica, her grandparents, Pat and Lowell, and her brother, Max, and his wife, Hollie, has been a lifelong dream for Hokanson.

“I loved being involved in the farm from a young age,” she says. “From about second grade on, it was expected that we spend our weekends with dad on the farm, breeding and farrowing sows. Although I wasn’t like some farm kids who learned how to drive a tractor when they were 8, I sure knew how to breed a sow and collected a boar by that age.”

Living Out Her ‘Why’

As she became more involved in 4-H and FFA, she started doing livestock judging and participating in communication contests. She began to see the agriculture industry was much bigger than her own farm.

“In ninth grade, we took a careers class in high school that was required as part of graduation,” Hokanson says. “I explored ag communications and learned about promoting our product. That’s when I realized I was fascinated by talking to consumers about what we do on our farms.”

She connected with a Minnesota Pork Board program, Oink Outings. Through that program, she learned how to connect with consumers and advocate for the pork industry. This eventually led her to pursue a degree in ag communications at South Dakota State University, where was she named the commencement speaker in 2019.

“I spoke about a book by Simon Sinek, ‘Start with Why,’” Hokanson says. “It’s all about finding your why in life. I tried to focus on the fact that when you think about your ‘why’ and your ‘why’ resonates with every part of your life, then it doesn’t matter so much what you are doing if you are pursuing your ‘why.’”

She says her “why” since college continues to be to ensure a successful, thriving future for the generations she will never meet.

Eric, Scott, Brent and Maddie Hokanson

(LAURA KNOPIK )

“Whether I’m home with our boys, instilling values of faith, family and farming; at the farm office working on finances as the CFO; helping in the barn; or lobbying on behalf of the pork industry in D.C., my ‘why’ is the same,” Hokanson says. “All of those things help me fulfill my ‘why.’”

Hokanson’s son Brent is now 5, and Scott is 2. She hopes they will have the opportunity to be the eighth generation of farmers in her family. That’s why she devotes so much of her life to focusing on her ‘why’.

“Sometimes, what is best for the industry doesn’t have a short-term financial or other gain for your own individual farm,” she explains. “But it does benefit the industry in the long run – whether it’s with health, markets, traceability – being willing to do things that seem mundane or complex even when you don’t see any short-term gain individually is important. At the end of the day, a rising tide lifts all boats, and it is our responsibility to ensure that the rising tide comes in.”

Hokanson shares more about farm transition, parenthood and connecting with consumers on The PORK Podcast. You can watch it here on YouTube or listen anywhere podcasts are found.

Watch more episodes here.

Plan for Now, Adjust Later: Create Your Estate Plan Before It's Too Late

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 17:05:37 GMT

Nobody wants to think about death, but it’s something Polly Dobbs, an estate planning and wealth transfer attorney with Dobbs Legal Group LLC, thinks about every day.

“When I was a new lawyer, I was so nervous to say dead or death,” Dobbs recalls. “I was in a meeting with a partner and his client once when I stumbled over something and said, ‘in the unfortunate event you should pass away.’ After that meeting, the partner yanked me out in the hallway and said, ‘Stop stuttering. Just say when you die. It’s not if, it’s when.’”

She’s been dealing in death ever since, but she says that perspective allows her to serve her clients better.

“What if you got hit by a bus tomorrow?” Dobbs asks. “You should have a plan in place that fits today’s circumstances. If your grandson is playing with John Deere toys in the sandbox, let’s not create a succession plan that hinges on that grandson coming back to farm. Let’s have a plan in place that fits right now, in case you die tomorrow. If you don’t die and you get to see how those grandkids turn out and which direction their lives take, you can adjust that plan.”

People often think they can figure out their estate plan later – when they are older, richer, sicker, free from debt and the list goes on.

“Too often, people don’t have a plan, and they end up dying before they’ve got it just how they want it,” Dobbs says. “Have something that fits for today and dust it off as needed.”

What Should Drive Decisions?

When it comes to estate planning, Dobbs says there is no cookie-cutter-approach.

“You can’t copy what your neighbor did,” she says. “It has to be customized for your family, your facts, your assets, your goals, your family members and your farm.”

She often challenges farmers with tough questions like should your off-farm kids get bought out?

“Should they get bought out of equipment, improvements, grain bins, shops, shed and all of the silver things that we build on top of gravel lots to use in production agriculture?” she asks. “Do you feel like your off-farm heirs are entitled to a share of these operating assets? If so, fine. If not, that’s OK, too.”

Part of what Dobbs does is give permission to people to treat their children differently and to define their children’s inheritance.

“It’s not necessarily one quick check after an auction after your funeral,” she points out. “It is absolutely fine to treat your children differently. I preach over and over again that fair does not mean equal. There is no law that says the columns for your children must tally to the penny and be exactly equal with the assets they receive at your death. You’re aiming for a fair balance, and you define what is fair.”

Ultimately, she says, it comes down to peace of mind when you lay your head on the pillow. Do you have a fair plan in place?

Talk Now, Don’t Wait

Communicating the estate plan during your lifetime is very important, but it’s often the step that farmers fail to complete. She says transparency helps avoid entitlement.

“When someone thinks they’re going to get a certain amount of the value of your assets, they’re already calculating it and counting on it,” she says. “After your death, if the plan is different, that’s when the entitlement rears its head.”

She emphasizes the details must be defined by the farmer.

“A lot of my clients would rather put their head down and have the plan unveiled after death,” Dobbs says. “I understand that’s challenging. But it’s far better to have transparency and throw everything out on the conference room table so you can shine a light on it and talk about it.”

In addition to getting all the family in the room, Dobbs believes there should be more than one adviser at the table at a time.

“This is how you get the best plan, and you will always have a better plan if your advisers speak to each other,” she adds. “There is this falsehood out there that you need to stop your lawyer from talking to your accountant because that means they’re both charging you at the same time. I promise it will always be cheaper in the end, and a better plan, if your advisers talk to each other.”

Touchy Subjects

One of the sensitive subjects many farmers are dealing with today is the issue of sweat equity and treating it like deferred compensation, she says.

“When we have a successor coming in, depending on how long that successor has been working side by side with the senior generation, they’ve earned something,” Dobbs says. “We’re not talking about giving them a handout. If we give them a discounted price, or we give them assets off the top as a part of the succession plan or part of the estate plan, that’s not a handout.”

Deferred compensation says that if a young person had gone to work in a factory right out of school, they would be earning and investing in a 401K or perhaps stock compensation. They probably would have health insurance and HSA accounts that most family farms just don’t have, she explains.

“When the senior generation is putting together their succession and estate plan, consider the benefits the successor gave up by not working off farm,” she says. “Having some sort of benefit, discounts, family-friendly terms in the succession plan and in the estate plan should be considered deferred compensation.”

Read More:
Tax Acts and Estate Plans: What You Need to Know About the Changes for 2026

Tax Acts and Estate Plans: What You Need to Know About the Changes for 2026

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 14:00:40 GMT

Taxes don’t destroy family farms – people do, says Polly Dobbs, an estate planning and wealth transfer specialist.

“It’s not Uncle Sam – it’s your third wife and your kids from your first two wives, it’s your kids in the city versus your kids on the farm, and it’s ultimately your failure to plan for all that because you don’t want to hurt somebody’s feelings,” she explains. “It’s very lazy to say that taxes ruin the farm. That’s rarely the case.”

All the details matter, says Dobbs with Dobbs Legal Group LLC. She doesn’t believe in sugarcoating the hard truth. That’s why she’s devoted her career to helping farm families navigate estate planning and wealth transfer.

A “Permanent” Estate Tax

On July 4, President Donald Trump signed into effect the One Big Beautiful Bill, which has a significant effect on federal taxes, credits and deductions.

When it comes to gift and estate taxes, Dobbs points out a big change under the Internal Revenue Services (IRS) section.

“The new exemption as of Jan. 1, 2026, will be $15 million per person, or $30 million for a married couple,” she said at the Keystone Cooperatives Co-op Classic in Valparaiso, Ind. “It is one exemption. You either use it during your lifetime to make gifts, or you have it available at death to shield inheritances. You don’t get two.”

This is an increase from $13,990,000 per person in 2025, and a welcome relief from the anticipated “drop off the cliff to around $7 million per person that was looming,” Dobbs adds.

Unlike the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act from 2017, she says the exemption is considered permanent in that it doesn’t have a “self-destruct, sunset date.” However, she warns farmers not to get too excited about the “permanent tax act” because any future Congress and President can change any law on the books.

The new exemption will be indexed to inflation, she adds, and with adjustments made Jan. 1 every year beginning in 2027. IRS recently announced the tax year 2026 annual inflation adjustments for more than 60 tax provisions, including the income tax rate schedules and other tax changes. The annual gift tax exclusion will remain $19,000 in 2026, unchanged from 2025, which is the amount each donor can give to each recipient, without tapping into his or her big exemption.

“During the fourth quarter of every year, we’ll get inflation numbers, and we will know what the new exemption is going to be the following January,” Dobbs says. “It is nice to know there’s no ticking clock on this tax act. We can stop worrying about this dreaded sunset that was to happen at the end of 2025. The fact they got ahead of this and did it in July of 2025 is a gift.”

Dobbs has been working in gift and estate tax laws for 25 years and says there has never once been a permanent tax act.

“This is important information,” she says. “But that’s the caboose. It is not the engine that should be driving the decision making about the farm’s succession and estate planning. Family goals come first.”

Wisconsin Ag Regulators Propose Massive Livestock Fee Increases

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 19:24:36 GMT

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is proposing changes to rules, ATCP 10 and 12 , regulating animal disease and movement and animal markets, dealers and truckers.

According to the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation (WFBF) , these changes include massive fee increases that will be a substantial financial burden to markets, dealers and truckers that will unavoidably be passed down to farmers.

The license fee for what the DATCP calls “Animal Market Class A” would change from $420 to $7,430. A late fee for those markets would also increase by nearly 1,700% by shifting from the current price of $84 to $1,486. The registration fee paid by about 1,000 truckers transporting livestock in the state would increase 517%, from the current price of $60 to $370.

(Wisconsin Farm Bureau)

WFBF Government Relations Director Jason Mugnaini says it is important to clarify that Wisconsin’s program had historically received state funding support through DATCP, but this proposal shifts that onto industry fees.

The WFBF also reports the inspections and public health activity costs of these programs have previously been partially funded by state funding in Wisconsin, as they are in neighboring states. DATCP’s proposal shifts the full cost of these programs onto industry fees.

DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski explains the fees have not been adjusted since 2009 and the increases are needed to maintain critical animal health and transportation services.

“This program is currently in deficit because these have not been adjusted for so long,” Romanski explains. “Costs have increased during that time.”

He is transparent about the financial realities driving these increases. While the percentage increase might seem large, it reflects 17 years of accumulated cost pressures. He summarizes the goal is not to burden the industry, but to ensure the continued provision of critical animal health and movement services.

According to Sam GO, DATCP communications director, the DATCP Division of Animal Health receives federal funding through cooperative agreements for specific goals and objectives, such as animal disease surveillance and animal traceability. The cooperative agreements are separate from the programs in the proposed fee rules and do not fund the programs in the proposed fee rules.

She explains as federal funding for the cooperative agreements has decreased, those activities that are partially federally funded (such as animal disease surveillance and animal traceability) need to have a larger portion of their costs covered by the state animal health general program revenue. That means there is less state GPR remaining to cover the deficit in program revenue for the ATCP 10 and ATCP 12 programs.

The ATCP 10 fees support the following animal health programs: Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) Forms, Intermediate Handling Facilities, Disease Certifications (Brucellosis, Tuberculosis, Pseudorabies), Equine Infectious Anemia Retests, Equine Quarantine Stations, Feed Lots, Medical Separation, National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP), Farm-Raised Deer, and Fish Farms.

The Process

Romanski explains the administrative rule process is collaborative and takes about two and a half years. He says the process is designed to be collaborative with multiple opportunities for public input and engagement. He encourages stakeholders to not just critique the increases, but to offer constructive feedback and potential alternative solutions.

The current stage is specifically about public comment and engagement. He says the department wants to hear from industry members, producers and other stakeholders. They are actively seeking input that can help shape the final rule package.

The public can participate and provide feedback that can be considered by the department’s staff through several channels:

Attending public hearings
Submitting written comments by Oct. 15

The remaining hearings will be hosted virtually and at the Prairie Oaks State Office Building, Room 106, 2811 Agriculture Dr., Madison, WI 53708. For more information, dial-in instructions and to register for online access click on the ATCP 10 or 12.

ATCP 10:
• Monday, Sept. 15 – 1 p.m.
• Wednesday, Sept. 17 – 9 a.m.

ATCP 12 :
• Tuesday, Sept. 16 – 1 p.m.
• Wednesday, Sept. 17 – 1 p.m.

Individuals can submit written comments by Oct. 15 to: Angela.fisher1@wisconsin.gov or Angela Fisher, DATCP, P.O. Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708

Romanski explains after the public comment period, DATCP staff will review all submissions, consider suggested changes, and then present any revisions to their policy-making board. This ensures multiple layers of review and public involvement.

Neighboring State Comparisons

According to the proposal document , programs in adjacent states (Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois) are similar to Wisconsin, as all are based on federal standards. Neighboring states primarily fund these types of programs through general program revenue; therefore, they have lower fees than Wisconsin’s current fees. While Wisconsin’s program fees are collected from a small number of licensees, these critical programs have impacts and benefits across animal health, animal industries and public health.

In Iowa, a livestock market permit is $50 per year. The livestock dealer and livestock market agent permits are $10 per year. A bull breeder license is $20 every two years. A livestock dealer or order buyer permit is $50 per year. A feeder pig dealer agent permit is $6 every two years. A pig dealer’s agent permit is $3 per year.

In Michigan, an action Class I is $400 per year. A buying station (Class II) is $250 per year. The remaining fees are waived for veterans: A dealer (Class III) is $50 per year. An agent broker (Class III) is $50 per year. A collection point (Class III) is $50 per year. A trucker (Class IV) is $25 per year.

In Minnesota, a livestock market agency and public stockyard is $300 per year. A livestock dealer is $100 per year. A livestock dealer agent is $50 per year.

In Illinois, a livestock auction market license is $200 per year. The livestock dealer license is $25 for a new license, $10 for the annual renewal, as well as $10 for each location in addition to the first location, and $5 for each employee. A feeder swine dealer license is $25, the renewal is $10, and there is a fee of $5 for each employee. There is no fee for a slaughter livestock buyer’s license, just a requirement to submit an annual report.

Industry Feedback

Both the Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association (WCA) and WFBF have come out opposed to the fee increases.

Tressa Lacy, WCA president from Rio, Wis., voiced her concern at the first hearing on Sept. 11.

“The Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association is in opposition to the proposed fee increases inspections and registrations related to a variety of activities by Wisconsin animal dealers, truckers and markets in ATCP 10 and 12,” she says. “I raise beef cattle with my husband and our 8-month-old in Columbia County. We both work off the farm in agriculture to financially afford our beef and hay farm operation, and I know the cost of these fees will be passed directly on to producers like us.

“The result of such significant increases will be fewer livestock marketing options, the potential for reduced disease traceability and fewer opportunities to sell livestock in the state of Wisconsin. Fewer options inevitably mean lower prices and thinner margins in an industry that is already being pushed on thin profit lines.”

She explains the inspections and animal health protections funded by these programs serve a broad public purpose — protecting animal health and consumer confidence in the meat raised in Wisconsin.

“It is fundamentally unfair to shift the entire cost onto the users as this is certainly a public food safety conversation,” Lacy adds. “I share the industry concern that these initial proposals are just the start of all programs in Wisconsin shifting to being user funded. Other states fund these programs with state support as the benefits are shared by everyone. DATCP should restore and continue the approach for these outlined programs.”

She concluded her comments saying: “WCA respectfully ask that DATCP reconsider these unreasonable fee increases and maintain a funding structure with state support that is fair, practical and supportive of both public health and Wisconsin agriculture.”

Mitch Giebel a WFBF member from Lyndon Station, Wis., also shared his thoughts on the proposed fee increases.

“I’m very concerned about the massive increases of fees being proposed,” he says. “As a young farmer, every dollar really does matter on our operation. We work hard to raise our livestock, and we already face high input costs, tight margins and unpredictability when it comes to marketing. Adding thousands of dollars in new fees, especially increases as massive as what is proposed doesn’t seem realistic. It’ll undoubtedly make it harder and tighter for the sale barns and livestock markets to survive, and unavoidably, it is probably going to be passed to us as the producers and farmers.”

He also explains programs such as animal health, disease control and traceability benefit everybody in the state, not just farmers.

“Healthy animals and safe food are the best interest for our state; other states recognize that and utilize state funding to maintain these programs and cover these costs,” he says. “Wisconsin needs to restore and maintain its state funding that has historically existed for these programs, rather than shifting a substantial burden on a small number of farmers and marketers. I am asking you to please reject these fee increases as they are written. They are too steep, too fast and out of line with our neighboring states.”

WFBF is calling on producers to share their concerns: “These unprecedented fee increases cannot move forward without your voice being heard. Share how these proposals would impact your farm, your business and Wisconsin agriculture.”

From Tobacco to Pork Production: Move Allows Farmers to Bring Home the Bacon

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 13:44:53 GMT

Transitioning from tobacco production to pork production requires a big leap of faith for farmers. Some North Carolina farmers say if the move is done right, changing a farm’s main commodity offers both financial and experiential rewards.

“From Bright Leaf to Berkshires” is a North Carolina A&T (N.C. A&T) Cooperative Extension program helping some farmers make that leap.

N.C. A&T Extension swine specialist and program director Derrick Coble says the program’s goal is to provide tobacco farmers who have been financially impacted by tobacco policy and social changes with options to improve their farms’ profitability.

The program trains farmers to produce Berkshire pigs using hoop structure barns.

“Hoop house structures originated in Canada at the turn of the century,” Coble says in a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) release . “Inside the hoop house, the deep-bedded system filled with hay, sawdust or anything fibrous will absorb waste. These structures also have walls that can be pulled down so it can be managed as a cold barn during winter.”

Training Is Not Optional
Raising hogs today is much different than it used to be, says Caswell County farmer Santonio Bolton.

“It’s all about quality,” Bolton says in the release. “It’s all about biosecurity. It’s about learning so many different things that you don’t think of when you grow up doing it on a farm.”

Funding from the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission has helped 18 farmers graduate from the Extension program. NIFA says they will receive assistance for the next two years to make sure all participants’ entry into pork production allows them to ‘bring home the bacon.’

According to Coble, the program has accounted for 25 jobs, $552,500 worth of pork products sold, and more than $22,000 in tax revenue for the state of North Carolina.

Growth Opportunities
NIFA program leader Solomon Haile says the N.C. A&T program illustrates how Extension programs can foster farmers’ willingness to expand their operations into new and profitable areas.

“Profitability is an ongoing challenge for farmers and even more so for ones with smaller operations,” Haile says in a release. “Extension programs, like the From Bright Leaf to Berkshires effort, open producers’ eyes to new opportunities and more importantly, they provide the hands-on training and support needed to turn those opportunities into real success stories.”

Aspiring hog farmers learn about production basics, such as nutrition and reproduction. They also dig into more advanced topics in waste management, welfare and behavior, diseases and niche marketing opportunities.

Sampson County farmer and returning N.C. A&T student, Kevin Chestnutt, says the program allows him to connect with other producers across the state.

“We were versed in artificial insemination, the science behind the diets that you feed pigs in order to maximize the production of pork that you’d get from an animal,” Chestnutt says in a release. “I was originally raised on a hog farm in Sampson County, and with this, I want to preserve the past and embrace the future at the same time.”

Keep Reading:
Find out how Aaron Blackmon, a North Carolina extension agent and first-generation farmer, discovered his passion through mentorship and now carries on a farm’s legacy with dedication.

Beyond Bloodlines: How One Farmer Earned His Legacy

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 13:57:47 GMT

Becoming a farmer wasn’t something Aaron Blackmon always aspired to do, but he is thankful for the opportunities agriculture has given him. The North Carolina hog farmer and Extension agent pairs a career of helping others with managing nine feeder-to-finish pork barns, a small cow-calf herd and hay ground.

“My great grandparents had a small farm with some pigs, chickens and a few cows,” Blackmon says. “That was just their way of life. They didn’t look at it as a business, but were able to provide for themselves and their community. It was just how they lived. I knew I enjoyed the farming lifestyle, but I didn’t really see a career in it until high school.”

Joining FFA where he competed on teams, made friends in agriculture and developed leadership skills, provided Blackmon more hands-on experience with possible agriculture careers. At 16 years old he also began working for local hog farmers Isaac and Nina Singletary, disinfecting the finishing barns after the hogs went to market.

“That’s where I was able to make a full connection about how an ag business was run,” Blackmon says.

The idea of being a farmer began to take root.

“Isaac ran a successful business that supported his employees and his family,” Blackmon adds. “Having him take a chance on me, mentoring me, bringing me into his family and teaching me a lot of what I know today has really shaped my career.”

The Singletarys could tell right away Blackmon had good character and work ethic.

“I was impressed with Aaron,” Singletary says. “He didn’t know anything about commercial hog production at the time, but he had his heart and his mind in the right place. He was dependable, dedicated and willing to learn.”

Blackmon hadn’t planned to attend college after high school, as he preferred hands-on learning to being in the classroom; however, he was introduced to the two-year program at North Carolina State University’s Agricultural Institute and earned an associate degree in applied science in livestock and poultry management.

(Sway)

Time of Transition

After graduation, Blackmon worked in the poultry industry and continued part time for the Singletarys. He began receiving job offers but didn’t have a four-year degree to pursue those.

“One day he came to me and said, ‘I want to go back to school,’” Singletary says. “I told him it’s kind of expensive to go, and his remark to me was, ‘I’ve been saving my money.’”

Blackmon went back to NC State and earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural business management in 2022. He accepted a position with North Carolina Cooperative Extension and began serving as the livestock and forage crop agent for Columbus County. He says working in Extension is rewarding.

Isaac and Nina Singletary, longtime North Carolina hog farmers, opened the door for a new generation by mentoring and eventually selling their farm to Aaron Blackmon.

(Sway)

“I really enjoy helping people, whether it’s a small-scale farmer, a large commercial operation, the homesteader or hobbyist, and the kids with 4-H projects,” Blackmon explains. “I believe in the concept of lifelong learning because there’s always something that somebody knows that I don’t, and I enjoy working with people who want to learn. They want to see their business grow, and aren’t afraid to try new things.”

During that same time, Blackmon’s interest in farming continued to grow, which he discussed with the Singletarys, who were considering their succession planning options. Their two children had other careers off the farm and would not be coming back. The relationship Blackmon had built with the Singletarys eventually led him to buy the family’s farm in Bladenboro, N.C., and continue the farming legacy.

“We were all committed to make sure that everybody was satisfied and everything was fair to them, to their children and to me,” Blackmon says. “They wanted to make sure they got an appropriate amount for their farm. They also wanted to make sure that I was coming in not trying drain a lake with a straw. They knew what it would take for that farm to be successful.”

The mentoring and experience Aaron received while working on the Singletary’s hog farm gave way to not only a friendship, but also a business opportunity.

(Sway)

Eye on the Future

These days, Blackmon balances running his farm and Extension work with the help of his village that includes his grandpa, one full-time employee and Singletary.

“It takes a team effort, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” Blackmon says. “There’s always something to do, and it can consume you if you let it. I consider myself a first-generation farmer. There are a lot of things that I want to do and improvements I want to make. I keep reminding myself these things aren’t going to happen overnight. It’s important to set 12-month goals, five-year and 10-year goals and try to hit them.”

Blackmon says farming is like a bug: Once you get bit, you can’t let it go.

“We’re helping feed people, and we’re stewards of the land,” he says. “We’re making the land productive and taking care of animals.”

He reminds himself that what he’s doing now will hopefully help his family in the future and leave a legacy.

“You don’t see someone like me very often,” Blackmon says. “I hope that will change, and by the time I’m Isaac’s age, it won’t be uncommon to see Black and brown people doing some of this stuff I’m doing. I don’t take that lightly that people look at me. I was always taught you’re not just representing yourself; you represent your family. I feel my family is more than my blood family. I represent agriculture when I go into the community. I try to keep that in mind and do the best I can.”

Aaron has been a life-long learner and loves teaching others through his job as an extension agent. He is combining his passions for sharing knowledge and farming into a fulfilling career.

(Michelle Shooter, Sway)

Your next read: Josh Maschhoff Opens Up About Building on the Family Legacy in Pork Production

New Food Security and Farm Protection Act Protects Farmers and Consumers From Government Overreach

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 16:24:09 GMT

After the U.S. Supreme Court left an open invitation for Congress to strike down California’s Proposition 12, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) says it’s time to end this “unjustified and burdensome regulatory overreach” in order to protect family farms and bring down prices for U.S. consumers.

On April 8, Ernst and fellow Senate Agriculture Committee members Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) introduced The Food Security and Farm Protection Act that prohibits any state or local government from interfering with commerce and agricultural practices in another state outside their jurisdiction.

“Proposition 12 is dangerous and arbitrary overregulation that stands in direct opposition to the livelihoods of Iowa pork producers, increases costs for both farmers and consumers, and jeopardizes our nation’s food security,” Ernst says. “I’m proud to be leading the charge to strike down this harmful measure and will keep fighting to make sure the voices of the farmers and experts who know best – not liberal California activists – are heard.”

Pig Farmers Speak Out
This policy averts a disastrous patchwork of contradictory state-by-state farm regulations that would hit hardest small and medium-sized pork producers, says National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) President Duane Stateler, a pork producer from McComb, Ohio.

“U.S. pork producers have just suffered the worst 18 months of financial losses in history, and many farm families are contemplating whether they can pass along their farm to the next generation,” Stateler says. “We urge the Senate to take up this legislation immediately to provide us much-needed relief.” Learn more about Stateler’s story here.

Without certainty from the Food Security and Farm Protection Act , NPPC says there will be many consequences, including:

Widespread, damaging consequences for farmers and consumers alike.
Significant fees forced on producers to pay for outside regulators to audit their farms due to the whims of consumers outside their state’s borders.
Risk of putting farm families out of business by significantly increasing the cost of raising pigs.
Increased prices at the grocery store , as much as 41% for certain pork products.

A Dangerous Patchwork of Regulations
For reasons like these and more, bipartisan support for providing relief from a patchwork of state laws continues to grow with support from President Donald Trump, former President Joe Biden, and their respective Agriculture Secretaries Brooke Rollins and Tom Vilsack, NPPC said in a release.

“The United States is constantly faced with non-tariff trade barriers from protectionist countries, which hurts American agriculture’s access to new markets. The last thing we need is for states like California imposing its will on ag-heavy states like Kansas with regulations that will also restrict our ability to trade among the states,” Marshall says. “Midwest farmers and ranchers who produce our nation’s food supply should not be hamstrung by coastal activist agendas that dictate production standards from hundreds of miles away.”

And it’s not just the pork industry rallying around this legislation.

“Iowa soybean farmers are grateful for Senator Ernst’s leadership to address challenges Prop 12 creates for Iowa farmers,” says Iowa Soybean Association President and farmer, Brent Swart. “Not only do the increased costs of compliance threaten to put pork farmers out of business, Prop 12 increases the price of pork at the grocery store by as much as 40%. Higher prices for pork dampen demand for this high-quality protein which negatively impacts market demand for soybeans used for pig feed. This legislation gives us a chance to protect our farms, our livelihoods, and ultimately, families that need affordable food.”

Iowa Cattlemen’s Association President, Rob Medberry, points out that the Iowa Cattle industry has made it clear that government overreach and overregulation is incredibly burdensome to industries that provide safe, quality and sustainable products for the world.

“Proposition 12 has the potential to further dismantle the livestock industry with the lack of science-based measures. Proposition 12 has already proven to be an unfunded mandate with consumers unwilling to pay premiums for the products that must be compliant with the proposition,” Medberry says. “The inherent cost to become compliant is overbearing and the simple fact of dollars and cents does not add up.”

Opponents Strike Back
Opposition such as the Humane World Action Fund, formerly called Humane Society Legislative Fund, argue against this legislation.

“This bill would hand over sweeping power to a narrow segment of the agriculture industry, overriding the will of voters, dismantling state laws and eliminating hard-won voter-supported protections for the humane treatment of farm animals, food safety and farm workers,” says Sara Amundson, president of Humane World Action Fund. “Let’s be clear: this is a federal overreach that serves Big Pork, not the American people.”

Amundson claims this legislation has been driven by a small group of pork industry lobbyists.

It’s Not Just About Pigs
But Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) President Stu Swanson disagrees.

“With barriers like Proposition 12 cutting off our ability to supply fellow Americans with Iowa grown pork, it’s not only those families who are being affected, but also our farm families here in Iowa,” Swanson points out.

Iowa Turkey Federation Executive Director Gretta Irwin adds that these inconsistencies create unnecessary burdens for farmers operating across state lines, hinder efficient production, and undermine well-established, science-based practices developed in coordination with industry experts.

Swanson says this is an issue for all of agriculture and one his organization plans to continue to work on with their livestock partners until it gets resolved.

“Consistent with its authorities under the Commerce Clause, it’s time for Congress to solve this problem by passing legislation,” Grassley says. “Our bill will end California’s war on breakfast and make sure delicious Iowa pork can be sold everywhere.”

Stay up to date on Prop 12 here.

Has Prop 12 Created a Crisis in California?

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 14:37:17 GMT

Proposition 12 is exacerbating food insecurity in California – especially in the Asian and Latino communities who rely on pork as their primary protein, say representatives of the Latino Restaurant Association and the Latin Business Association.

“The impacts of Proposition 12 are devastating our Latino businesses and families across California,” says Ruben Guerra, chairman of the Latin Business Association. “With pork prices soaring up to 41% higher than the rest of the country and more than one in three Latino adults already living in food-insecure households, this misguided law is creating unintended food insecurity in our communities.”

Pork is a staple protein in Latino cuisine and culture, yet Guerra says they are seeing California’s pork consumption plummet as families struggle to afford these drastically higher prices.

“This isn’t just about numbers, this is about real families having to choose between putting food on the table and paying their bills,” he says. “Our small businesses, particularly Latino-owned restaurants and markets, are caught in the middle as they try to maintain affordable prices while absorbing these massive cost increases.”

Prop 12 hasn’t made life better for anyone, says Lilly Rocha, executive director of the Latino Restaurant Association.

“It would be one thing if the regulations imposed on pork producers were based on data and scientific research,” Rocha says. “But it’s not. We’ve had a great pork industry forever. Why do we need to change a good thing all of a sudden? It makes no sense. It seems to be regulation stemming from a social agenda, not a scientific one.”

Out-of-Control Prices
The Latino Restaurant Association is based in Houston, Texas, Los Angeles, California and New York and serves about 1,400 members across the nation. As a representative of Latino restaurant owners, Rocha says they are concerned about how Prop 12 has affected their industry in a negative way.

“Latinos are the No. 1 consumers of pork in the United States – that means our menus have a lot of pork products,” Rocha explains. “Pork has generally been the affordable protein. Now, beef and pork are the same, so the profit margin is going down on both of the proteins. It’s going to be more of a struggle to even make a profit within the menu since prices are up, resulting in an increase in overall pricing.”

She points out that the Latino community is not the most affluent of the minority groups, so the higher prices are impacting them in a big way.

“Here in California, it’s not the easiest place to run a business, especially a restaurant. We are seeing out-of-control pricing already,” Rocha says.

Pork is a staple protein in the Latino population.

(Latino Restaurant Association)

Although she doesn’t know if there is a direct correlation between higher pork prices and restaurant closures, she says there’s no question about it that closures are continuing to happen.

“I think Prop 12 is just one more regulation on top of other regulations, and all together, that’s what’s making our folks shut their doors,” she says. “Prop 12 absolutely adds to that in a very negative way.”

Rocha and Guerra are leading voices in the Food Equity Alliance, a coalition working to address rising food costs and their impact on California families, especially within the Latino community. Of course, they don’t want prices to go back down, but realize that probably won’t happen. She says they’d like to see prices not go up. Most importantly, they don’t want Prop 12 to propagate in other places.

“Latinos love pork, and we will try to find ways to be able to afford pork,” Rocha says. “We’re always going to be supportive of the pork industry and want them to know we are an ally. We are willing to do anything we can do to help or team up to educate others on what’s really going on in the industry.”

Your Next Read: Converting to Prop 12: What Have We Learned a Year Later?

December Hogs and Pigs Report Shows Relative Restraint in Pork Industry

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 02:38:00 GMT

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.

“I think it shows relative restraint,” says Schulz, chief economist at Ever.Ag. “We’re not seeing any indication of expansion as you look at where the breeding herd is at, where sow farrowing numbers are at and where farrowing intentions are at.”

A big takeaway from this report is the continuation of productivity increases, he pointed out during a webinar hosted by the National Pork Board.

“As you think about the breeding herd, you could argue we have one of the youngest and most productive sow herds we’ve ever had,” Schulz says. “I think that is certainly contributing to large litter rates year over year.”

Of course there are still a lot of challenges out there, he adds, from disease pressure to labor availability. Still, the industry is seeing overall large productivity numbers compared to prior year levels.

“Productivity increases show the efficiency of the pork industry. We see roughly the same number of sows farrowed as a year ago, but the pig crop is up 2% because of larger litter rates,” Schulz says.

A Look at the Numbers
For the most part, the report numbers came in close to analysts’ expectations. The total inventory for all hogs and pigs on Dec. 1 was 75.8 million head, up 1% from a year ago, but down slightly from Sept. 1.

The market hog inventory on Dec. 1 was 69.8 million, up 1% from 2023 but down slightly from the previous quarter. The total number of hogs under contract owned by operations with over 5,000 head, but raised by contractees, accounted for 50% of the total U.S. hog inventory on Dec. 1, down 1% from 2023.

The breeding inventory came in at 6 million head, up slightly from a year ago, but down 1% from Sept. 1. The September through November 2024 pig crop, at 35.2 million head, was up 2% from 2023. The number of sows that farrowed during this three-month period was down slightly from 2023 at 2.96 million head, which represents 49% of the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was 11.92 for the September through November period, compared to 11.66 last year.

U.S. hog producers intend to farrow 2.93 million sows during the December 2024 through February 2025 quarter, up slightly from the actual sows farrowing during the same period in 2023, and down 1% from the same period in 2022. Intended sows farrowing for March through May 2025, at 2.95 million sows, are up 1% from the same period in 2023, and up slightly from the same period in 2022.

All inventory and pig crop estimates for December 2022 through September 2024 were reviewed using final pig crop, official slaughter, death loss, and updated import and export data.

Program changes were made following the 2022 Census of Agriculture. As a result of these changes, the following states are no longer published in December 2024: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, LA, ME, MD, MA, MS, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, ND, OR, RI, SC, TN, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI and WY.

The revision made to the September 2024 all hogs and pigs inventory was 0.5%. A revision of 1.2% was made to the June through August 2024 pig crop. The net revision made to the June 2024 all hogs and pigs inventory was 0.4%. A net revision of 1.1% was made to the March through May 2024 pig crop. The net revision made to the September 2023 all hogs and pigs inventory was 2.2%. A net revision of 2.6% was made to the June through August 2023 pig crop.

A Tale of Two Different Periods
“It’s really been a tale of two different periods in 2024,” Schulz says. “For the first half of the year, we’ve seen sow slaughter up roughly 5%. But then as the latter part of the year came into focus, we’ve seen sow slaughter down notably, especially as we looked at the June-August period, down almost 9%.”

He reminds producers that the industry is comparing this year to very high sow slaughter levels in the second half of 2023. This is contributing to larger year-over-year changes when studying the sow slaughter numbers.

“We also have to take into consideration, there were fewer sow and boar imports, from Canada that were to be slaughtered in the U.S., down roughly 19% for the year,” Schulz says. “That equates to about 75,000 head fewer. Once you adjust for the decline in live hog imports from Canada, the sow slaughter decline in 2024 wasn’t quite as large and is consistent where USDA has estimated the breeding herd.”

A Little Surprise
If there were any surprises in this report, Schulz says the September through November 2024 pigs saved per litter number would have been the biggest surprise.

“If you go back to March through May 2023, we started to see large year-over-year increases, and that lasted into December 2023 through February 2024 and even March through May 2024,” he explains. “As we got into June through August 2024 and started comparing to large litter rates of the prior year, we did see a bit of a slowing increase to productivity. But that wasn’t any indication of lower productivity numbers to come. It’s a result of comparing large levels a year ago. Its hard to break records year in and year out, in anything, especially by a wide margin.”

In September through November 2024, however, the report showed a large 2.2% increase compared to year-ago levels. He says this was much larger than pre-report expectations which had the increase at 0.6%.

“As you think about implications for slaughter into 2025, this report is generally neutral especially in the short-term. It came in line with pre-report expectations for the heaviest two market hog inventories. Medium-term, the report has a bit of a bearish tone given the lightest two market hog inventories came in higher that analysts’ expectations,” Schulz says. “The larger pig crop for September through November 2024, because of larger litter rates, suggests a higher April through June 2025 slaughter. March through May 2025 farrowing intentions, though the first estimate by producers, were much higher than pre-report expectations and would hike up October through December 2025 slaughter.”

Longer-term, the breeding herd remains stable with year-ago levels and suggests no meaningful expansion on the horizon, he adds.

Where Does Profitability Stand for Producers?
Using costs of production figures and futures prices, Schulz says he is looking at profitability in 2024 at roughly break even. In 2025, he estimates a $12 to $13 per-head profit.

“That is coming off of the worst year ever for pork producers in 2023,” he says. “There’s still a lot of financial healing to be done in the industry as indicated by cumulative profits since 2020.”

Read the full report here.

Your Next Read: Why 2025 Will Be Different for U.S. Pork

CoBank: Policy Will Shape Rural Economy In The Year Ahead

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 23:31:07 GMT

CoBank has released its 2025 outlook report , which outlines the key themes the organization expects to shape agriculture and the rural economy in the coming year. While there are several factors to watch, they mainly stem from one place: federal policy.

“The environment we enter in 2025 hasn’t fully defined itself yet, but many of the policies proposed by the incoming administration would likely have a negative impact on U.S. agriculture,” said Rob Fox, director of CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange. “Open access to export markets and labor availability are critically important for agricultural producers and processors. Depending on how policy plays out, those two areas could be big challenges in 2025 and beyond.”

As a new economic era begins, here are the six main forces at play:

Threat of A Trade War
A large focus of President-elect Trump’s campaign was on significant import tariffs. While we don’t know exactly what this policy would look like, it is unlikely to produce a positive outcome for crop or livestock producers.

Fox writes, “These policies could achieve some limited objectives, but it is very hard to paint them as anything but negative for the U.S. farm economy.”

If a trade war was to ensue, it could also be very costly for agriculture. A recent joint study by the national corn and soybean associations estimates the 2018-19 trade war with China cost the U.S. a total of $27 billion in agricultural sales to China over those two years.

Export Competition
Alongside the potential for a trade war, export competition from Russia and South America poses another treat.

According to the report, Russia’s currency is weakening - which is expected to anchor global wheat prices and allow Russia’s wheat to be more competitive.

At the same time, Brazil’s currency is also weakening and exports from the country will be cheaper than those from the U.S. This is coupled with the forecast of record South American corn and soybean crops.

With an abundance of soybeans globally, CoBank is anticipating many U.S. acres to shift from soybeans to corn this year as well.

Labor Challenges
Another likely outcome of the upcoming Trump administration is a decreased labor supply.

The president-elect has proposed deportation and reduced immigration, which could negatively impact the dairy, meatpacking and produce industries by causing labor shortages and driving up costs.

Livestock Sector Investment and Growth
It’s not all bad news for the dairy industry, though. According to the report, the U.S. will see an unprecedented $8 billion in new dairy processing investment through 2026 - and some of those plants will come online in 2025.

The livestock sector as a whole is benefiting from low feed costs, and specifically in the beef industry, a reduced herd size is supporting higher feeder and fed cattle values.

The USDA Economic Research Service projects per capita consumption of chicken, beef, pork and turkey to remain stable or grow up to 2% from 2024 to 2025.

It’s important to note, however, there could be retaliation from potential tariffs placed on major dairy export customers such as Mexico and China.

Tight Margins
Reduced income and tighter margins for the crop industry are expected to continue in 2025.

CoBank anticipates input decisions being driven largely by what provides the greatest return on investment, and farmers may look to switch chemicals to generics.

During this time, it will be critical for ag retailers to provide tailored agronomic advice and technical assistance.

Biofuel Uncertainty
On the biofuel front, headwinds are expected to continue into 2025 - with the Trump administration adding more regulatory uncertainty.

Projections of note include:

A modest increase in biofuel production next year, although ethanol supplies will maintain 2024 production levels of 1.05 million barrels per day, according to the Energy Information Administration.
Renewable diesel production capacity will grow just 100 million gallons from 2024 to 2025 to a total of 5.2 billion and remain steady through 2026, according to an updated analysis from University of Illinois.
Federal and state tax incentives and low carbon fuel policies will drive the future viability of sustainable aviation fuel.

To read the full report from CoBank, click here .

Influenza Expert Gets Real About the H5N1 Risk to Your Swine Herd

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 22:11:28 GMT

Is influenza a greater concern to pigs and people in light of the Oct. 30 USDA announcement that H5N1 was detected for the first time ever in a pig from a backyard Oregon farm? If so, how?

Andrew Bowman, DVM, one of the country’s top swine influenza experts, joined The PORK Podcast to answer that question and more during a special report on H5N1. A professor in the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine at The Ohio State University, he is well known for his expertise in swine production medicine, veterinary public health and epidemiology.

“Across the swine industry, we routinely deal with influenza, so we’re pretty well versed in flu,” Bowman says. “But this adds a whole other character to the scene that we really don’t want and reassorting with the flu viruses we already have.”

This isn’t just something that will go away, he adds. This is a topic that’s becoming a bigger issue across the ‘entire proverbial barnyard.”

“Poultry has been dealing with this problem for a while. Dairy, this year, has joined the influenza game. Pigs have had our own endemic strain. The idea that high-path might be affecting pigs as well, and even if not, is a good warning sign the threat is there,” he says.

It’s an important topic for the pork industry to think about, Bowman points out. Oregon might be miles from your farm, but the threat isn’t going away. So, how are you trying to keep diseases such as influenza out of your herd with biosecurity protocols?

“We need to work together. I don’t think there’s much finger pointing left in the flu world. We’re all on the same bus, and we need to figure out how we manage this,” Bowman says. “Granted, it will be different in different species, but this is a problem everyone’s having to deal with.”

Listen to the podcast here as Bowman tackles some of host Jennifer Shike’s questions after hearing USDA’s announcement.

Your Next Read: USDA Reports First H5N1 Detection in Swine

Why Students Should Apply for the 2025 Summer Veterinary Internship Program Now

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 22:13:43 GMT

The Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine (ISU CVM) is seeking veterinary student applicants for summer 2025 swine, bovine and poultry internship positions.

Will Fombelle, DVM, is a veteran of several internships spread across his undergraduate studies in animal sciences and also into his veterinary school education. During the summer of 2012, he completed the Swine Veterinary Internship Program (SVIP).

“While in school, I took on the attitude of completing as many internships as I possibly could in order to not only narrow down my career choice but also my future employer. By participating in these programs, I was able to mold my interests into the fields of swine medicine and production which greatly accelerated my vision of where I chose to start my career in veterinary medicine at Carthage Veterinary Service,” he said in a previous PorkBusiness.com article .

Participants in the SVIP collaborate with a mentoring veterinarian or team of veterinarians at a production system or practice. Students are immersed in modern swine production and health daily and take the lead on designing and executing a field trial with guidance from mentors, ISU CVM said on its website . Students also take part in diagnostic test sampling and implement the principles and methods of swine diagnostic collection, testing and interpretation.

“Even if your university has classes well into the summer, you have a study abroad trip planned, a wedding or another reason you might not be able to commit to the entire 12 weeks, go ahead and apply,” ISU CVM encouraged. “Just note your availability in the section where it asks about conflicts. We can’t guarantee we can accommodate all schedules but if a student is selected we will try our hardest to be flexible and make it work.”

Applications are due Dec. 1, 2024 (late applications are accepted but higher priority will be given to those received by Dec. 1).

Apply here.

“These summer internships are the first exposure for students to the real world, and we should do our best to make each student’s experience a positive one,” Fombelle wrote.

Learn more here.

Your Next Read: Find and Develop Your Replacement in the Pork Industry

Next Gen Spotlight: Indiana Farmer Helps Grow Family Businesses

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 22:06:41 GMT

In 2019, Bri Osborne took her father, Steve Stagge, up on his offer to come back and help with the family farm and his manure business.

Together, the father and daughter manage 1,000 acres of corn and soybeans alongside 7,000 head of hogs with help from their hired hand, Alfonso, and Bri’s husband, Dustin.

They also have an impressive collection of businesses that keep their plates full year round, including a dragline manure business and a spray drone service called Osborne Ag Services. Besides their two spray drones, the business is also diving into offering Grain Weevil robots inside grain bins as a service. Bri says farmer demand for their spray drone service has exploded the past two years, doubling the acres they cover.

Q: How do you manage your time running multiple businesses?

A: In the fall and spring, it’s all hands on deck between farming and drag lining. The spray drones were a perfect fit for our schedule, with that busy season spanning from July to the end of August. In the wintertime, we build custom drone trailers, haul grain and perform equipment maintenance. It’s more of a manage by season type of time management, but it keeps us busy throughout the year.

Q: What are some of the things on the farm you’re passionate about?

A: Like the average farmer, I love harvest time. My main role during harvest is in the grain cart and helping move trucks around. Spraying in the spring time and tending to the crops is also another passion I’ve pursued. My dad handles his own crop spraying and taught me the ropes. My husband was a commercial applicator for over 15 years, so that all plays into why we started our own spraying business. I also manage the marketing and bookwork for the farm. There’s always something new to learn when it comes to grain marketing, and it’s different every year.

Q: Who have been your main mentors so far?

A: My dad has been a huge mentor. I am a fourth-generation farmer. My great-grandpa started this farm growing corn and soybeans and raising hogs on dirt. My grandpa was very knowledgeable with the crops, and he taught my dad, and my dad taught me. My dad took the farm to the next level with the commercial hog operation and the drag line business, and my husband and I hope to continue to expand. Our crop consultant and input salesman, Pete, has been a huge help in teaching me the agronomy side.

Q: How important is technology to your farm?

A: I think technology is where ag is headed, which is another reason why we were excited to be getting into the drones and be a part of the Bin Assist Network with the grain weevils. There’s a lot of knowledge and components that go into farming, and technology has played a huge part in helping farmers see what product or farming practices can help their bottom dollar. We are technology-based with all we do on the farm and related businesses.

Q: What advice would you have for others who are just getting into farming?

A: I guess my first piece of advice would be to diversify to help bring value back to the farm. The grain market is ever changing, and it’s comforting to have another stream of income when the markets jump up and down. With our ag-related businesses, it has always been important to us to treat other fields as if they were our own. If you are timely and do the job right, the business will continue to grow and be successful. Also, be a sponge for knowledge. There’s something you can learn from everybody, everybody’s had different experiences.

Your Next Read — Next Gen Spotlight: Missouri Farmer Diversifies to ‘Roll With the Punches and Grow’

Why Pork is in the Crosshairs of Animal Rights Extremists

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 20:16:36 GMT

The pork community is in the crosshairs right now for the animal rights extremist community, says Hannah Thompson-Weeman, president and CEO of the Animal Agriculture Alliance.

“They’re feeling buoyed by Proposition 12 being upheld last year,” Thompson-Weeman says. “And that’s led to a wave of similar legislation in other states and even things coming up all the way down to the city level. In addition to that, we’re seeing a lot of continued farm and plant activism.”

Some extremists are using false pretenses to get hired and capture footage that they can use in campaigns to damage the reputation of the industry. Some are even going in and taking animals, stealing piglets in some instances, that they claim is a rescue, she adds.

Several cases have gone to trial for those incidents recently. The results have been a mixed bag, Thompson-Weeman says. In some cases, they’ve been able to make a very emotional argument to a jury and be found not guilty even though they admit they went into a farm without permission and took animals without permission.

In one of those trials toward the end of last year, the co-founder of an extreme animal rights organization was found guilty. In the wake of that conviction, they released a 149-page investigation manual, encouraging other extremists to use drones, cameras, and any other way to try to get unauthorized access to farms, she says.

“It’s an incredible challenge, not only reputationally, but also when it comes to animal diseases and biosecurity, thinking about people without permission going from premise to premise,” Thompson-Weeman says. “Unfortunately, it really is a major challenge for the pork community right now.”

She says animal rights extremist organizations that didn’t previously play much in the legislative space are latching on to that as a tactic, all the way down to city-level resolutions.

“They see it as a way to get the ball rolling and set a precedent for taking those ideas all the way up to the state and ultimately, federal level,” Thompson-Weeman says.

For example, citizen-led initiatives in the city of Berkeley are trying to ban farms and processing plants in the city.

“Now is that going to have a big impact? Probably not,” she says. “There’s not a lot of production agriculture in a city like Berkeley, but they’re also taking a similar initiative to the county level in Sonoma County, Calif., which is a major agricultural county.”

At an activist conference a few years ago, someone said, “You can change the world starting with a local ordinance.”

“They see it as a way to set a precedent and get the ball rolling, especially going to places that don’t have a lot of agriculture and uninformed electorate and local officials,” Thompson-Weeman explains. “If they can get a growing list of cities and municipalities to pass these type of regulations, even if not a lot of production is actually impacted, they can then take that to the state level and push for something that would have a big impact on animal agriculture.”

What Can We Do?

Everyone in the animal agriculture community, whether you are a farmer or rancher or a part of allied industry, or part of an association, or just someone who cares about food choice and having meat, poultry, dairy, seafood and eggs available to you, has a role to play in addressing these issues. She says it starts on the farm with being proactive and making sure that practices are beyond reproach when it comes to things like animal welfare and sustainability.

In the pork industry, following programs like PQA, We Care, and making sure to live those things out each day demonstrate commitment to animal welfare and being responsible stewards of the land and good neighbors in our communities.

“It’s doing the right thing, day in day out, no matter who’s watching,” Thompson-Weeman says.

Of course, producers can do all those things and still find themselves the target of an organization that simply doesn’t believe there’s any way to ethically and responsibly raise animals for food, no matter how well it’s done.

“Take security measures to make yourselves a harder target. Things like lighting, cameras, gates, locks, fencing, no trespassing signage, biosecurity signage procedures for checking in and out of the property, are just a few ways to make yourself and your livelihood a little bit more protected from these organizations,” she adds.

Don’t forget you have a role to play in the consumer conversation, Thompson-Weeman points out.

“Making sure we’re being loud, proud voices to set the record straight and correct the narrative about animal welfare, sustainability and responsible antibiotic use,” she says. “If we’re not there putting a face on animal agriculture and sharing our story, those negative voices are going to be what people hear. We all have a role to play both in our livelihoods and facilities, and then having conversations about these important topics.”

5 Practical Ideas Pork Producers Can Borrow from the Egg Industry

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 17:54:41 GMT

The laying hen industry shares many similar risks to the pork industry regarding the need to prevent the introduction of disease agents onto farm operations. When highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) struck the commercial poultry industry in both 2015 and 2022, the result was millions of birds that required depopulation and disposal.

Versova general manager for cage-free production Craig Rowles, DVM, said the primary method of preventing this risk is to invest time, money and effort into biosecurity measures. As a former pork producer himself, Rowles shared at what egg producers are doing now that swine producers could benefit from trying (if they aren’t already doing) in their own operations.

Layered approach
“It’s everyone’s responsibility to keep flocks and herds from becoming infected by focusing on biosecurity they can control on their premises,” Rowles explained during his presentation at the American Association of Swine Veterinarians annual meeting in Nashville, Tenn.

That’s why he believes it’s critical to incentivize good behaviors on the farm. It’s also why Versova has invested millions in creating a lasting, comfortable and appealing environment within their operations to keep people inside.

“The most basic principles for biosecurity remain the same in layers as pigs. The most important aspect of those principles is to maintain the line of separation,” he shared. “The lowest hanging fruit of biosecurity is to prevent disease from being ‘walked’ into a farm.”

Perhaps one of the biggest differences between swine and layer operations is the size and scope of the operations.

“It is not unusual for a layer farm to have 150 to 200 employees,” Rowles says. “We are heavily investing in infrastructure to make the process easy for employees to operate.”

He says it’s important to think of ways to keep people inside. Rowles encourages systems to think about the reasons why employees leave the building and work to find solutions to keep them inside. Here are five practical examples he shared from the egg industry to help make biosecurity easier to implement on farms.

1. Invest in quality shower facilities.
“Make sure you have good shower systems so the last person in gets a hot shower,” Rowles says. Versova has invested in in-floor heat, so floors dry out in the winter. They use hotel industrial-grade fan systems to exhaust the humid air out. Humidistats in the shower run the fan until the humidity is brought down.

2. Prioritize the break room.
Provide employees with a quality break room. At Versova, their break rooms have outside windows, nice floors, good chairs and TVs to deliver coaching/teaching or to be able to watch the news during breaks.

3. Incorporate central kitchens.
Although a nice kitchen may not be needed for a biosecure facility, it does incentivize people to work for us, Rowles explains. “We want to keep them inside the facility as opposed to going out to get their lunch,” he adds.

4. Keep outside work outside, and inside work inside.
Versova farms have vibrators on every bin that can be controlled by workers inside when feed bridge events occur. He says this works about 80% of the time and when it doesn’t, there are designated people who work outside who can go check problems on the outside.

5. Set up a perimeter buffer.
Put fencing around the entire operation to keep wild animals out, he adds. Rolling automatic gates are also helpful to help control traffic in and out of the farm.

Worst-Case Scenario: Why Eric Snodgrass Thinks The Heavy Rainfall In Brazil Could Do More Harm Than Good

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 15:58:14 GMT

Sinking soybean prices have been the theme to start the new year. One reason behind the price pressure is bearish news of rain returning to key growing areas in South America that had been impacted by severe drought. However, one leading ag meteorologist thinks this rain could do more harm than good at this point in the season, even impacting the planting of the safrinha corn crop.

Eric Snodgrass, science fellow and principal atmospheric scientist with Nutrien Ag Solutions , says the wet weather is a sudden switch from the drought that plagued a vital soybean and production growing region at the end of 2023.

“For the last three months, we’ve seen incredibly dry conditions throughout the center-West region,” says Snodgrass. “We had episodes of heat pushed the late planting off quite a bit. And now we’re seeing the models really make a pretty substantial flip over to much wetter conditions.”

Join us Feb. 5 to 7 in Kansas City for Top Producer Summit . This is the leading networking and education event! Eric Snodgrass will present a general session: High Impact Weather And Production Agriculture”

Snodgrass says forecasts point to as much as 8 inches to 10 inches of rain in a span of two weeks. While the rain is needed, it could actually do more harm than good.

“To be honest with you, I think this is a worst-case scenario, compared to if it had just stayed drier,” Snodgrass says. “What I mean by that is you bring in all that rain, it’s going to impact some early harvests. But what happens if all of that moisture begins to get recycled? In other words, it sticks around and that makes things wetter for a while. Now, all of a sudden, you start pushing back the harvest time period. And that’s going to just keep pushing that crop calendar such that the safrinha corn crop goes in late.

The next 5 days across S America. Wednesday morning global output. pic.twitter.com/a8rmJ1tTrW
— Allen Motew (@QTweather) January 3, 2024

Snodgrass says El Niño reached its peak at the end of December. Now, what’s called the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) is riding on top of El Niño, which is pumping tropical moisture into Brazil and increasing farmers’ chances there for heavy rainfall and continued rain events.

“Basically, we opened it up finally to getting moisture into place from the tropics and, therefore, it’s going to start raining and raining pretty heavily,” says Snodgrass.

Purposeful Transition Guides Indiana Father-Son Team

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 21:11:08 GMT

Take a look around Douglas Farms and you know this operation is focused on the future. A cutting-edge grain storage system shadows a picturesque and functional shop and office. Several specialty row crops grow in surrounding fields. Nearby, 3-week-old pigs are being fed to market weight through an innovative partnership.

Aesthetics aside, the reason this farm will grow forward is the focus of its leaders, Jim, 66, and James, 33. For years, the father-and-son team never dreamed they would be partners in the farm. But through proactive planning, strong communication and an eye on finances, the two have a solid framework in place.

Hog-and-Crop Model

A fourth-generation operation based in Flat Rock, Ind., Douglas Farms included 120 acres when Jim returned home after college. Jim bought his dad’s equipment and the homestead. He grew his acreage base and started a farrow-to-finish hog operation to diversify.

That hog-and-crop model supported the family for decades, which included his wife, Kay, and their five children: Julie, Lora, Katie, James and Leann. The Douglas children grew up and left the farm.

James headed to Purdue University and graduated in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in building construction management. After working for five years in that field, the flat, rich soil of central Indiana started pulling him home.

“If I was going to try farming, it was the time,” James says. “If I didn’t like it, I’d just go back to construction. But once I moved back, I haven’t looked back.”

After James’ return, the family knew they should start the succession planning process. Jim’s father had set a good example of how to welcome the next generation home and set them up for success. Five years into the process, Jim and James know they still have a long road and lots of issues to work out in the years ahead. Yet, they have learned many valuable lessons during the journey.

Start with goals and a timeline.

To start the process, Jim and James met with their family attorney. They talked through the pros and cons of forming an official partnership or building their operations collaboratively.

Jim’s original goal was to retire by age 70. Originally, they decided against jointly owning assets. But this year they formed a limited liability company (LLC), which is jointly owned by the two. Owned land and equipment will be rented by the LLC. This new arrangement simplifies inventory and billing and will help Jim phase out of ownership.

Allow heirs to build equity.

When James returned, he knew his father didn’t plan to just hand over acres or assets. The two decided they would share labor and have James slowly buy assets to let Jim phase out of ownership and risk.

“One of the first things I did was build a hog barn, which has provided a good income stream and equity,” James says. “The big advantages I’ve had are having a good base of operations and my dad shouldered the bulk of the equipment costs as I started out. However, as planned, I’m beginning to shoulder more of that burden at a pace that meets both of our goals and timelines.”

Don’t make heirs pay twice.

Jim had a clear goal with his succession plan: Don’t make the younger generation pay for assets twice.

“They work here and through their labor they are helping you run the operation and pay for it,” he says. “If you don’t plan, when you phase out you appraise everything and the child working here has to pay his siblings for it, and really they already helped pay for it with labor.”

When Jim started farming, his dad sold him the family homestead. “On the rest of the physical facilities, we froze the value,” he explains. “Then when he died, we paid that money into his estate. Along the way, we were free to add on to any of our buildings without the thought we’d have to split assets after he died. Plus, I knew the price I was going to pay.”

Transfer responsibility and knowledge.

As the swine industry evolved, Jim decided to transition from farrow-to-finish and partner with the Legan family to form a separate enterprise: D&L Pork. The Legan family delivers weaner pigs, which are finished out on the Douglas farm. This collaboration happened around the same time of James’ return home. It was a natural place for him to step in and take on responsibility.

“If I see mistakes amongst my farming peers, it’s the dad not willing to give up the combine or planter seat,” Jim says. “You have to give younger people some responsibility and let them run with it.”

When farming with adult children, it is important to be open to ideas, delegate meaningful responsibility and share decisions, explains Val Farmer, a clinical psychologist and author who specialized in family relationships during his 30-year career.

“Too many farmers have a top-down style of management that robs their operations of motivation, commitment and ideas that would make for better farming and happier people,” Farmer says.

Through this transition of leadership, decision-making authority and growth, Farmer has a simple reminder: “One doesn’t manage creativity; one manages for creativity.”

Plan for future obstacles.

Jim carefully analyzed how to treat his on-farm and off-farm children fairly. They put their farm ground in a limited liability company to easily transfer ownership.

“Our children all have professional careers,” he says. “You don’t foresee them needing money prematurely before our deaths. But you never know, as medical conditions or divorce throw curveballs. Even after we’re gone, those issues could prevent them from maintaining ownership of land. So, you really need a vehicle for them to cash out.”

Stay focused and revisit the plan.

Jim and James know their succession plan is farm from concrete. They know parts will need revisited and reworked.

“Your life changes and so does your kids’ lives,” Jim says. “When you revisit it five or 10 years later and talk through some of these same questions, their answers may change.”

Take Steps to Release the Farm Reins

Parents should take these steps to create a profitable and supportive transfer of control of a farm, explains Val Farmer, a clinical psychologist and business advisor. He provides this advice.

Support their desire to be independent. Now is the time to minimize your own role as the lone ranger who did it all.
Be an appreciative audience for their ideas. How you ask questions is key. Be supportive, not critical or demoralizing.
Encourage diverse experiences, exposure to new strategies and collaboration with other professionals. Suggest travel and conferences that expand horizons.
Create a healthy relationship with failure. Your reactions to failure will be the greatest cue as to your children’s willingness to be creative.
Give appropriate recognition. Join with others in publicizing and sharing the success of your children’s innovations. Take a back seat, or others will assume you are the driving force.

Taxes aren’t the problem when it comes to succession planning. Kids’ future divorces and lack of communication cause even bigger problems says attorney Polly Dobbs. Learn how to protect your assets.

Investment that Pays: Teach Farm Kids How to Manage Money

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 14:45:39 GMT

You’ve taught your kids how to drive tractors, herd cattle and identify weeds. But have you passed on your money and management skills? Do they know how to purchase inputs, calculate payments or market grain?

“Many rural children will be operating a family enterprise someday,” says Val Farmer , a clinical psychologist and author who specialized in family relationships during his 30-year career. “Farms and ranches are big businesses that operate in a high-risk economic environment. An essential management tool for farmers is financial management.”

This topic is touchy. Likely your parents or grandparents didn’t open the books to you as an adolescent (maybe not even as an adult). Don’t leave your children in the dark, Farmer says.

“Children and young adults won’t automatically know how to do this without handling money and decision-making long before they reach management levels,” he says. “If adult children understand money management, they make better partners. Management philosophy is shared instead of being a point of conflict.”

When should you start teaching farm financial lessons? The earlier the better, Farmer says. His advice:

Let them handle and spend their own money.
Let them deal with limited budgets where they have to make choices. They learn the first rule of finances — don’t outspend your income.
Let them earn money for extra work beside their regular family duties. Make sure the pay is in line with community standards for certain jobs, so they get a connection between the world of labor and the cost of things.

Also, encourage regular savings. Farmer suggests letting them have their own checking and savings accounts and encouraging them to save toward future goals.

“Be a role model by living within your means,” he says. “Plan for purchases, save and make the purchases with cash on hand. Talk about what is smart and what is dumb — the hard times and the good times. Part of money management is learning to be generous, give gifts and use money to do good.”

When appropriate, find ways to give your children a stake in the farm. Once they become teenagers, Farmer says, allow them to participate in family business discussions.

“Even if they don’t have much to say, they will absorb information and learn about real risks and how decisions are made,” he says. “They will learn to reason with you about business and money matters.”

Projects in FFA and 4-H are great tools for teaching money and enterprise management. The cost of input and labor are calculated and learned, Farmer points out. They will see the payoff and learn the downside too — good training for a future partner someday.

“Caring and managing for their own livestock and other farm enterprises teaches entrepreneurial attitudes and skills,” he says. “They see how farming works and how income is generated through buying and selling, breeding, good health practices, and about absorbing mini-enterprise risks. The proceeds will help them pay for their college education.”

Of course, you may enter into an uncomfortable discussion or two once money is an acceptable topic to discuss. Work through these, Farmer suggests, and stay focused on your goal.

“Many farming operations fall apart in succeeding generations because parents have been too controlling and haven’t shared decision-making of dollars and cents financial management,” he says.

Profit Tracker: Beef Packer Margins Decline 33%

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:15:50 GMT

Last week saw a significant decline in beef packer margins – 33%. It’s all relative, of course, since beef packers continued to find profits of $332 per head, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker . Still, it was $158 less than the stunning $490 per head margins from the previous week.

On a percentage basis, cattle feeding margins dropped about 90%, from $108 per head two weeks ago to just $10 per head last week. Flirting with breakeven is not where cattle feeders believe this market should be given the fundamentals, but here we are.

Cash cattle prices declined about $3.50 per cwt. last week to an average of $106. Coupled with feed costs that are $15 per head higher and feeder steer prices averaging $30 per head higher, profit margins quickly eroded. Packers saw their margins shrink due to a $20 per cwt. decline in the beef cutout, which averaged $217.90. The cost of finishing a steer last week was calculated at $1,431 which is $49 higher than the previous week, but $121 lower than a year ago. The Beef and Pork Profit Trackers are calculated by Sterling Marketing Inc., Vale, Ore.

Cash cattle prices were about $13 per cwt. lower than the same week a year ago. The beef cutout price was about $1 higher than the same week a year ago.

A year ago cattle feeders were earning $68 per head. Feeder cattle represent 69% of the cost of finishing a steer compared with 73% a year ago.

Farrow-to-finish pork producers saw their margins fall $2.50 per head to $3. Lean carcass prices traded at $55.79 per cwt., a decline of $2.77 per cwt. from the previous week, and $6.07 lower than a month ago. A year ago pork producers lost an average of $26 per head. Pork packer margins averaged a profit of $43 per head last week, a $6 per head increase from the previous week.

Sterling Marketing president John Nalivka projects cash profit margins for cow-calf producers in 2020 will average $51 per cow. For feedyards, Nalivka projects an average profit of $0 per head in 2020, and packer margins are projected to average $300 per head.

For farrow-to-finish pork producers, Nalivka projects 2020 will produces losses of $18 per head. Pork packers are projected to earn $48 per head in 2020.

As El Niño Makes Its Grand Return, Here's What It Tells Us About Summer Weather and Corn Yields

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 18:35:26 GMT

Drought was a major storyline for U.S. crop conditions last summer. Dry conditions spurred by La Nina weighed on corn yields across areas of the Corn Belt. As La Nina fades, and El Niño starts to make a return, meteorologists say the weather shift could also signal better crop production in 2023.

El Niño is the warm phase of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, and it’s associated with a band of warm ocean water that develops in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific. While it can bring warm temperatures around the globe, agricultural meteorologist Eric Snodgrass says it also tends to bring favorable growing conditions for crops in the Midwest.

“We do have a great suite of models that we’d like to just combine and compare, and what’s interesting about this particular year is they’re all telling the same story. And that story is that we expect most of the Corn Belt to have decent summer thunderstorm activity, decent precipitation and a lack of long duration episodes of heat,” says Snodgrass, the Principal Atmospheric Scientist with Nutrien Ag Solutions . “We always get short heat waves, but I’m talking about the long duration ones that can really go in there and destroy yields.”

Change in Pattern Hints Change in Summer Growing Conditions

He points out with most models signaling the return of El Nino, it is also a hint of what type of growing conditions crops like corn could see this summer.

“El Niño and the likelihood of it becoming a full-fledged El Niño by the time we get into summer, is pegged at about a 75% chance of occurring now,” says Snodgrass. “Should it manifest itself and be the most dominant, what we call teleconnection in the pattern, we would likely be seeing a better year overall.”

Snodgrass says his forecast for favorable growing conditions this summer is based off previous El Niño years, and particularly, El Niño summers.

“Since 1970, we’ve had 17 El Niño summers and 14 of them had trendline yields slightly above that. This means we generally think of El Niño summers of having a more juicy atmosphere, or more stuff for thunderstorms, so we’ll keep a close eye on it,” he says.

Read More: Punishing Drought Now Expected to Persist Through July Across Texas, Plains

Drought in the Plains Still a Concern

The area Snodgrass is most concerned about is the southern Plains. Growers in the area are finally seeing chances of rain, but he says considering how deep the drought is in areas of Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, it will take above normal precipitation to eat away at the punishing drought.

“The places I’m most concerned about right now have to be the places that are already in drought because it takes so much effort to overcome the lack of soil moisture in those places,” he says.

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey is also watching El Niño, and the more short-term need for moisture across the Plains. He says timing of those rains will be key.

“If you talked to me a month ago, I would have been talking about how we expect to see El Niño by the end of the calendar year. But all of a sudden, as we look at the how the Pacific Ocean is evolving, it seems like El Niño is more and more imminent each passing day,” says Rippey. “From a drought standpoint, that ultimately should be good news for these drought-affected areas of the Great Plains, because that should help this transition out of drought. But the big question is, will it come in time to salvage summer crop planting?”

John Phipps: Is There a Shortage of Young Farmers?

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 21:16:16 GMT

Today, a question that seems to be an abiding worry about young farmers .

“Many of the segments we see on your show that interview people or pan across the audience do not seem to be as ‘youthful looking’ as you would see when looking at cross sections of workers in other industries. I’m afraid that there will come a time when there will be too much land and not enough people to work it? Am I worrying about nothing?”

That’s from David Sick, in Smithville, Mo. The short answer is there is very little to worry about. I have answered this question many times in many forms over the years, but I understand how it can be a recurring concern. I hope these brief facts can help.

Farmers are selected by access to land , period. That means the right parents or very good luck. The next generation of farmers is often unseen since they are not on the farm yet, they are working another job until there is room for them to join.

Farm organizations are traditionally seniority biased, so pictures of farm leaders are like leaders of any other industry – people in at least mid-career. Which adds an additional dimension – the older generation may not be ready or able to step aside, and with self-employed businesses, there is no mandatory company retirement age.

Farmers are like investment managers. If you won the lottery, would you be most likely to trust your wealth to an advisor you went to school with or someone just out of college? Success in renting ground likewise begins with trust, which is a product of shared history. Since farmland is overwhelmingly owned by older, local people, it is natural for them to trust it to people they have known. Any family connection obviously overrides talent as well.

It is mathematically improbable to borrow enough to buy land and rolling capital as well as generate living income. Even with off-farm income it is unlikely. As medical science and better lifestyle choices extend active working lives, opportunities are fewer and competition intense. All this underlines farming is far less about hard physical work than hard assets, so the young muscle and energy advantage has faded.

The bottom line is farming is a great job that many people want to enjoy, but many people also want to be successful lawyers, salespeople, and artists. Desire is not sufficient to ensure such a career. But like farmland, of which I have spoken maybe too often, the supply of aspiring farmers is more than ample for the foreseeable future.

How To Handle the Labor Shortage for Your Farm

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 12:32:24 GMT

From Maine to California, from Florida to Washington State, the U.S. ag industry is grappling with labor shortages.

Over and over, I hear farmers, ranchers, dairy producers and other ag-connected businesses talk about the difficulty of finding and keeping workers — even as wages rise. Employees call in sick a little too often or don’t show up at all. They work a few days and then never return, or they quit to work at a higher-paying factory or other non-farm job. Further, as more immigrant workers achieve greater education and literacy, it’s become harder for agriculture to compete with other industries.

How is your operation handling this farm labor crisis? As you plan your business growth or survival strategies, are you giving serious thought to your workforce?

Sure, increased mechanization, robotics and smart technologies deliver labor solutions, but they can’t completely replace humans. Employees are still essential to your business and your success. In this tight labor market, finding and retaining your workforce is more important than ever.

THE FIRST STEP

The best labor solutions start with listening to your employees. What do they value? What will keep them working for you, even when you can’t pay them more?

In Michigan, one greenhouse operation arranged for the local school bus to pick up employees’ children at the greenhouse each morning and return them there each afternoon. That eased childcare concerns for the women who work there. With women an increasing share of the hired farm workforce, childcare is an issue worth considering for your employees.

BEYOND THE DOLLARS

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. Many operations provide their staff with uniforms, fuel and mobile phones. You can offer other, more creative gestures, too.

Take a few minutes each day or week to ask each employee about themselves, their work and what you can do to help. Here are some easy ways to show interest in their families and activities:

Include employees and their families in lunches or dinners with your own family.
Give gift cards to a favorite restaurant or venue or allow time off to attend family, school or sporting events.
Offer special recognition – such as a trip or a bonus – when an employee achieves a key performance goal or five-year work milestone.
If an employee shows interest, send him or her to a workshop or conference.

Adopting these simple ideas can build loyalty and cultivate a workplace where people want to work. Along with respectful and clear communication, your efforts can bond existing employees to your business or boost the appeal for potential ones. Brainstorm ways to make that happen.