As many readers of this blog know, I’ve been talking about retirement or at least slowing down for several years now. With this posting I’m writing my last blog about my experiences and thoughts regarding the swine industry worldwide as … Continue reading
Weather in our region of the US continues to be cool and wet. I just reviewed the on-line data from the University of Minnesota Southern Outreach and Research Center at Waseca and rainfall since May 1 is above normal. Thanks … Continue reading
The manure pumping season is almost at hand for the majority of Midwest production sites. Yesterday while driving to a client’s site I met a semi-tanker manure transport vehicle. Last week I had a conversation with a client who was … Continue reading
As many readers of this blog know, I retired as a Professor of Animal Science and Extension Swine Specialist from the University of Nebraska 11 years ago. We relocated to North Mankato, Mn in order to access the social services … Continue reading
I keep 2 data sets on weekly US slaughter weights. One is the Iowa/S Minn/SDak data series of producer sold barrow and gilt live weight (NW_LS720) and the other is a weighted weekly average of all barrow and gilt carcass … Continue reading
Much has been written about the new slaughter plants in Iowa and Michigan that are expected to begin slaughtering pigs within 1-2 months. Of concern to producers is the large increase in the kept for market inventory in the June … Continue reading
There is renewed interest regarding the impact of space per pig on both pig performance and the financials associated with this performance. More than 25 years ago Dr Tim Powell and I published a paper examining the economics of space … Continue reading
The 4th of July holiday is tomorrow. Many readers of this blog in the United States are taking today as a vacation day so market activities will be diminished somewhat. At the same time, life in production units continues as … Continue reading
Last week I was fitted with the latest in hearing aids. My hear loss is both age related and due to the many early years as a researcher not wearing appropriate hearing protection as I bled pigs and did other … Continue reading
This past week I was on the program of the 2017 Midwest Farm Energy Conference in Morris, MN. My topic – why swine producers should be concerned about energy systems. Energy use in North American swine production systems consists mainly … Continue reading