Lots of random thoughts this week. My next blog will include my thoughts on the Hogs and Pigs report that was released last Friday.  Read More...

While we don’t like to think about it, last night’s bad weather in Minnesota with tornados, loss of power and general destruction of building sites should be a good reminder that every production unit needs to have an updated emergency action plan in place. Read More...

At the World Pork Expo last week, I had the opportunity to visit with many of the readers of this blog. The most common questions asked of me were:
1) when will expansion begin
2) what new item caught my eye at the trade show. Read More...

I have been tracking the Iowa-Southern Minnesota live weight at slaughter (http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/NW_LS270.txt) for several years. This report gives me some insight on producer’s thoughts and possible production plans. Read More...

I spent part of today reviewing a paper submitted for publication to a refereed journal that looked at drinkers for pigs. As I reviewed the paper, I was once again reminded how little we really know about the pigs drinking behavior or even its preferences for type and location of drinkers. Read More...