Nearly 20,000 pork producers and industry experts from about 38 countries are at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines this week, including National Pork Producers Council president R.C. Hunt of North Carolina. I had a chance to chat with R.C. this morning after he gave an update to the media about trade issues. R.C. is excited about expo this …
Survey on Sow Housing Released at WPX
Results of a survey issued opening day at the World Pork Expo show that the overwhelming majority of the U.S. sow herd spends some time in individual housing, known as gestation stalls. The findings confirm concerns by the National Pork Producers Council about food retailers who have bowed to demands of animal activists and announced they will use only pork …
World Pork Expo Introduces Mobile App
For the first time, people attending World Pork Expo, June 6-8 in Des Moines, Iowa, will be able to get the latest Expo information with a customized smartphone app. With half of today’s mobile subscribers owning smartphones and National Hog Farmer reporting that about 30 percent of its readers access the Internet using their phones, this new app is designed …
Multiple Pathogens Multiply Costs for Pork Producers
When it comes to pathogens in swine, one plus one amounts to more than just two, according to Dr. Tom Painter, Director of Veterinary Health Services for Cargill Pork. He told other swine vets at the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica (BIVI) Swine Health Seminar in Denver last week about a study they did on the economic costs of different combinations of …
The Expanding World of Hog Feed Choices
Once upon a time, commercial hog diets consisted mainly of corn and soybeans, but the menu has greatly expanded out of necessity since commodity prices increased a few years ago. That expansion has brought with it both opportunities and challenges for producers, according to Iowa State University Professor of Animal Science Dr. John Patience, who spoke to swine veterinarians last …
How #1 Pork Producer Deals With High Feed Costs
When you’re the number one pork producer in the world, higher feed costs take a big bite out of the bottom line. At the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica (BIVI) Swine Health Seminar in Denver, Dr. Steve Pollmann, President of Western Operations for Murphy-Brown, LLC shared some of his thoughts on dealing with high feed costs in commercial pig production. “We’re the …
Hog Producers Adjusting to Higher Feed Costs
Hog producers are now able to compete with ethanol producers for corn, according to Purdue agricultural economist Dr. Chris Hurt. Dr. Hurt spoke to swine veterinarians on the topic of “Global Feed Economics in a Biofuel World” during the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica (BIVI) Swine Health Seminar in Denver on Friday. “This is an amazing difference from just five years ago,” …
BIVI Mile High Swine Health Seminar Takes Off
As swine vets are gathering in the Mile High City for the start of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) annual meeting, many are attending the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica (BIVI) annual pre-conference swine health seminar. The first part of the seminar is focused on higher feed costs and right now attendees are hearing about “Global Feed Economics in a …
Pork Board Celebrates 20 Years of Cindy
The National Pork Board is celebrating Cindy today. Not me, that would be Cindy Cunningham, or “communications professional extraordinaire,” as NPB VP of Communications Michael Wegner calls her. Our good friend is being celebrated today for 20 years of service to America’s pork industry. As Mike notes, Cindy “helped guide the pork industry through the price collapse in 1998 and …
House Hearing on How GIPSA Hurts Small Business
The last post we did with a lawmaker’s opinion on GIPSA, we got hammered with comments. That was fun – let’s do it again! Last time, it was Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) who had negative comments about USDA’s controversial Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard’s Administration (GIPSA) proposal. This time, it’s Rep. Scott Tipton (R-CO), chairman of the House Small Business …