My many thanks to all in the industry who have reached out in many ways to touch my family and I with words and deeds of comfort and condolence. Thank you. As I slowly emerge from the personal loss of … Continue reading
In my many years of writing this blog I’ve only written about my personal life a few times. Today I write with a heavy heart about the loss of my wife Janet of 34 years. Jan passed away early Sunday … Continue reading
After reading my post from last week on pit foaming safety, Dr Jay Harmon, extension ag engineer at Iowa State University asked me about spark ignition furnaces. Thanks Jay for catching what I missed. According to LBWhite, their spark ignition … Continue reading
Many of you have read the press reports of the tragic loss of life in a Minnesota nursery when 2 persons died from a fire when they began to power wash the empty room. While the investigation isn’t complete, I’ve … Continue reading
I’m going to veer away from my usual musing of the swine industry this week. On Wednesday morning my wife had a seizure and we learned that her cancer has spread to her brain. The goal of the radiation regimen … Continue reading
The announcement this past week of a new joint-venture slaughter plant to be built in Sioux City, Iowa is great news for producers in the western corn belt. Producers in this region of the US have continued to add production … Continue reading
Driving to a meeting this morning I started thinking about the impact of the on-going avian influenza outbreak in the Midwest. Unlike the PEDv introduction into the US swine industry, avian influenza results in euthanasia of all of the birds … Continue reading
Typical ventilation controllers turn devices (heaters or fans) on and off in response to temperature changes as detected by one or more temperature probes suspended in the animal facility. Current ventilation control strategies as implemented by almost all ventilation controllers … Continue reading
Many of the readers of this blog have tunnel ventilated wean-finish or grow-finish facilities. Others have seen these type of facilities and have questions about how they function in terms of meeting the heat removal needs of growing pigs. A … Continue reading
I track the carcass weight and weighted average net price as reported daily in the National Daily Direct Prior Day Slaughtered Swine report (LM_HG201) from USDA. This report gives a detailed look at the prior day slaughter numbers, carcass measurements … Continue reading