This past week I’ve had several conversations regarding summer pig performance. In every instance, the comment was made regarding faster gains this summer than typical. This raises the question – is the increase in slaughter weights this summer due … Continue reading
Let’s start this weeks discussion with soybean meal pricing. In Chicago, September bean meal topped out at $368 per ton on June 11. Yesterday (July 16), it closed at $287.50, an $80/ton price decline in one month. This large drop … Continue reading
Saturday afternoon and early evening, I volunteered to assist other Minnesota Pork Producers in handing out free pork loin samples. The National Pork Board’s We Care trailer and crew were parked in Kirby Puckett Plaza at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. … Continue reading
As we approach the July 4 weekend and holiday, many are glad to have a forecast of seasonably warm with limited moisture. For southern Minnesota, seasonably warm means temperatures in the low 80’s during the day and upper 60’s at … Continue reading
This past week I gave 2 presentations that included a discussion of management for summer heat relief to different groups in Iowa and Illinois. At both locations, comments following the presentation reaffirmed what I’ve known for some time – producers … Continue reading
State governments around the US are in the process of finalizing their budgets for the coming year(s). In all but 1 or 2 states, all recipients of state government funding are being told to do make do with less. This … Continue reading
I had an interesting inquiry this morning asking how producers are reacting to the lack of profit and higher feed ingredient costs. Specifically, are they lowering diet quality to conserve cash? This is interesting because many of you have … Continue reading
The most common question asked by every vendor and producer at the World Pork Expo was – ‘when will the pain end?’. It’s not fun being in the pork business right now, and the prospects don’t look promising for some … Continue reading
On Sunday, May 17 I flew from Minneapolis to Kansas City wearing a PQA+ and Pork Checkoff polo shirt. At both airports I had an individual come up to me and comment that they ate pork and considered it to … Continue reading
I started the week thinking this weeks writing would be about management of finishing facilities for summer heat. One item often overlooked in management for summer heat is modification of grow-finish diets to reduce the heat increment of the diet. … Continue reading