While the number of pigs in barns and marketed this summer will be reduced because of PEDv, this hasn’t stopped the construction industry. There are still going to be quite a few new wean-finish and grow-finish facilities constructed in the … Continue reading
In Kansas, Seaboard Farms has received state regulatory approval to expand the number of pigs at the grow-finish sites. Included in the approval was notification that Seaboard had purchased irrigation water rights to furnish the water needs of the pigs … Continue reading
I missed last weeks blog due to a family emergency. Since writing 2 weeks ago the whole dynamics of the US industry has changed. June hogs closed above $1.20 today on the Chicago Mercantile. The average price paid yesterday (including … Continue reading
I’m writing this weeks blog from the McDonald’s in Worthington. I was a speaker at the Nebraska Pork Producer annual meeting yesterday and the latest snow storm is preventing me from completing my journey home. Highways in southern Minnesota are … Continue reading
It appears that this summer we are heading towards tight soybean meal supplies, similar to the situation last summer. Every time USDA estimates year end carry-out, the number seems to get lower. Of course this potential tightening of supply is … Continue reading
By now users of propane in the upper Midwest have experienced sticker shock. So far I haven’t heard of any production site that failed to receive propane when needed but I have heard of very high prices, prepay deliveries only, … Continue reading
I’m writing this blog on Tuesday morning just prior to heading out for the Illinois Pork Congress in Peoria where I am on the program tomorrow. Once again a winter storm is passing south of Minnesota and covering the central … Continue reading
There has been lots of press in the past 2 days about the looming propane shortage in the upper midwest. One broker was quoted this morning as saying there is only a 2-3 week supply in the upper Midwest. In … Continue reading
This past week I did 2 radio interviews about the impact of the PED virus on the swine industry. While much has been written about the tremendous numbers of pig deaths when it strikes a farrowing site, little has been … Continue reading
On Thursday I worked with the contract growers for a smaller production flow in the upper Midwest. A big concern of the growers was the upward trend in sale weights and the impact on their facilities and work-load. Much has … Continue reading