Brumm Speaks Out

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Monthly Archives: May 2015

A personal note

Posted on May 29, 2015 by Mike Brumm
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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 →

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Animal Agriculture and Feed Grain Production Match-ups

Posted on May 22, 2015 by Mike Brumm
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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 →

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Avian Influenza Thoughts

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Mike Brumm
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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 →

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Article By Category

Article By Date

  • [+] 2017
    • [+] Aug
      • My last blog
      • Slaughter capacity and exports
      • Manure pumping time is almost here
      • Miracle League
    • [+] Jul
      • Summer slaughter weights
      • Slaughter weight thoughts
      • What about space per pig?
      • Labor needs in production units
    • [+] Jun
      • Do pigs like classical music?
      • Our Performance Advantage
      • Questions commonly asked at Pork Expo
    • [+] May
      • Take time off
      • Monthly checklists
      • Are there too many pig barns?
      • Canadian vs US sow herd productivity
    • [+] Apr
      • 4 months of VFD experience
      • Hours of labor per pig
      • 2016 pig performance summary
      • I can do it my self!
    • [+] Mar
      • It may only be spring but turn your thoughts to summer
      • What's next in facility management?
      • US relative cost of production
      • Fire and Life Safety Standards for Swine Housing
    • [+] Feb
      • Pig health care systems
      • Where do you get training?
    • [+] Jan
      • Ventilation problems with ESF gestation housing
      • VFD experiences after 3 weeks of implementation
      • Influenza season is here
      • Are SEW prices peaking?
  • [+] 2016
    • [+] Dec
      • While not a record, there are a lot of pigs on US farms
      • It's winter and our pigs are toasty warm
      • Winter has arrived
    • [+] Nov
      • Has producer market behavior changed?
      • Soffits and winter ventilation
      • What about new facilities in the Prairie Provinces of Canada?
      • Slaughter weights for producer sold barrows and gilts
    • [+] Oct
      • Water medicators in production facilities
      • Minimum ventilation challenges
      • Value of swine manure - 2016 update
      • Feed grain basis impact on production costs
    • [+] Sep
      • Are weights rising slower than normal?
      • Concentration point of market access options (revised)
      • Where will we put all the grain
    • [+] Aug
      • Testing propane lines for leaks
      • Thought on slaughter capacity in coming years
      • Impact of heat, less ractopamine use and falling prices on slaughter weights
      • slaughter weight thoughts
    • [+] Jul
      • Summer Heat Has Slowed Growth
      • The economics of pig manure
      • Sizing of manure storage structures
      • Summer and fall sales strategies
    • [+] Jun
      • Feed cost per unit of gain
      • 2015 Pig Performance Summary
      • All research isn't equal
    • [+] May
      • Pork Expo Thoughts
      • Are we killing the golden goose with expansion?
      • Creating a fire department water source on-farm
      • Animal Agriculture and Greenhouse Gases - Good News
      • pounds per square foot per crate per year?
    • [+] Apr
      • We've still got a lot to learn about how pigs eat
      • Cost of leaking drinkers
      • Canadian Weaned Pig Numbers Growing
    • [+] Mar
      • Slaughter weight thoughts
      • Thoughts on Fall Markets and Pig Supplies
      • Unseasonably warm weather impacts
      • A remarkable story to tell
    • [+] Feb
      • Are we pulling pigs ahead for slaughter?
      • It's winter - are you thinking about summer heat?
    • [+] Jan
      • A story worth telling
      • Canadian Feeder Pigs
      • Slaughter Weight Thoughts
      • Manitoba facility cost estimates versus US costs
  • [+] 2015
    • [+] Dec
      • Are we expanding production?
      • Rural Roads
      • Environmental challenges of raising pigs in the upper midwest
    • [+] Nov
      • winter ventilation mistakes
      • Some random thoughts this week
      • US Market Price Decline is Painful
    • [+] Oct
      • More thoughts about Argentinian pork production industry
      • Argentina is expanding pork production
      • cull sow market prices
      • Manure pumping and land application thoughts
      • Canadian production limits and this years feed grain crop
    • [+] Sep
      • Final Thoughts on China
      • Some thoughts after 1 week in China
      • Thoughts as I head for China
      • Corn quality
    • [+] Aug
      • Why are US facilities sized as they are?
      • Pit Pumping Questions
      • Do you have a ventilation system or just ventilation equipment operating in a barn?
    • [+] Jul
      • Ventilation mistakes I saw this week
      • Feed grain prices - always changing
      • Musing about the events over the past 2 weeks in the industry
    • [+] Jun
      • A huge hole in my heart
      • Spark ignition furnaces and pit foaming safety
      • Safety when power washing above foaming pits
    • [+] May
      • A personal note
      • Animal Agriculture and Feed Grain Production Match-ups
      • Avian Influenza Thoughts
    • [+] Apr
      • Does the pig do better with constant vs varying temperatures?
      • How tunnel ventilated barns really work in hot weather
      • Variation in slaughter weight within the week
      • Making Emergency Response More Effective
      • London Swine Conference
    • [+] Mar
      • Lots of thoughts
      • Spring in Minnesota
      • Producer Meetings and Summer Cooling Strategies
      • Combined US and Canada Inventory estimates
    • [+] Feb
      • Continuing Education
      • Will expansion continue with the drop in prices?
      • US Pork Industry Slaughter Capacity
    • [+] Jan
      • 2015 Banff Swine Seminar
      • What about slaughter weights in 2015?
      • Construction Costs This Year
      • Facilty repair decisions
  • [+] 2014
    • [+] Dec
      • More thoughts on exports
      • Exports are more than loins, bacon and hams
      • Thoughts on fan selection in new/remodeled facilities
      • Expansion is ramping up rapidly
    • [+] Nov
      • Are you prepared for a fire at your production facility?
      • Winter surprised us this week
      • KISS
    • [+] Oct
      • More thoughts on China
      • Greetings from somewhere in China
      • European Prices Tumbling
      • DDGs and L-lysine pricing
    • [+] Sep
      • Soybean meal and amino acid pricing
      • Swine Nutrition is Exciting
      • 3rd Party Audit Checklists
      • Food Processing Rankings include Familiar names
    • [+] Aug
      • Soybean Meal Availability
      • Fall sale weights
      • Thinking bubble wrap in August
      • Facility Upkeep Thoughts
    • [+] Jul
      • Current pig prices around the world
      • Begin thinking about next winter's propane needs today
      • A new economic climate versus last year
      • USDA Hogs and Pigs Inventories and Densities
    • [+] Jun
      • Chicago Futures in Lay Terms
      • Summer grain quality issues
      • Feeder Pig Prices
      • How many pig spaces does the US have?
    • [+] May
      • Our Facilities are Aging
      • Transport Weight Loss
      • Thoughts of PEDv led to thoughts of Foreign Animal Disease
      • Today's market prices mean bigger contract grower risks
      • The cool wet spring has a good side to it
      • I'm now a 'Tweeter'
    • [+] Apr
      • A remarkable record of improvement
      • August versus October Futures Pricing
      • ARe you putting a new roof on your finisher this summer?
      • Why the first hot day isn't so bad
      • Grow-finish pigs and summer heat
    • [+] Mar
      • Sow Herd Expansion Thoughts
      • Why not livestock revenue insurance?
      • So you're building a new barn
      • Water Use in Grow-Fin Facilities
      • WOW is the only word to describe it
    • [+] Feb
      • Winter and the latest HSUS video
      • Summer Soybean Meal Pricing
      • Feed vs Fuel
      • How much insulation do I need to save propane expense?
    • [+] Jan
      • Managing propane expenses
      • The PED virus is hard on people who care about pigs
      • Impact of Heavier Sale Wts on Facilities
      • In cold weather, it's all about inlet adjustment
  • [+] 2013
    • [+] Dec
      • Biosecurity Inconveniences
      • Snow Sleds
      • Corn piles, PED virus and random thoughts
      • What drives change in the industry
    • [+] Nov
      • Thanksgiving Thoughts
      • Why are there fewer piles of corn this year?
      • Sale Weights are Rising Fast
      • The smell of money
    • [+] Oct
      • Canadian Live Pig Imports to US
      • Should we trust 'automatic' ventilation controls in changing conditions?
      • Labor estimates for production facilities
      • I'm learning every day
    • [+] Sep
      • Industry Cost of Production Benchmarking
      • More PED virus thoughts
      • Does your production facility have COPD?
      • Don't put your pigs at risk during pit pumping
    • [+] Aug
      • How did your cooling system perform this week?
      • Impact of summer heat on sale weights
      • Productivity of the US Breeding Herd
      • How do I know if I have enough fans for summer heat relief?
    • [+] Jul
      • Lighting expenses in swine facilities
      • Another impact of US Ethanol policy?
      • Feeder pig prices
      • Summer Heat has Arrived
      • Who are the big retailers in the US?
    • [+] Jun
      • Canadian Feeder Pigs to US Producers
      • Is there an advantage to wean-finish facilities?
      • PED virus and biosecurity
      • Crop progress and pig barns
    • [+] May
      • Rethinking Feed 'Shrink' as we go to 2:1 feed conversion
      • I'm not cut out for the urban life
      • Local grain basis
      • The changing face of rural communities
    • [+] Apr
      • The Farm Bill and Ag Research
      • 1 pig at a time
      • The 4 ton sow
    • [+] Mar
      • Severe weather season is approaching
      • Should you pellet your diets today?
      • Manure from confinement livestock units
      • Cow herd use of DDGS is impacting pricing
      • Thoughts from San Diego
    • [+] Feb
      • It may be winter but what is your summer management strategy?
      • Feed Milling Charges
      • More on carcass weight feed conversion
      • How did your ventilation and heating system perform yesterday?
    • [+] Jan
      • Packer Animal Welfare Programs
      • Carcass weight basis versus Live weight basis
      • Tandem bins - we're mis-using their potential
  • [+] 2012
    • [+] Dec
      • Not everyone appreciates snow storms
      • An unfortunate situation that could have been prevented
      • Our understanding of the pigs nutritional needs
      • Beef versus Pork production opportunities
    • [+] Nov
      • Slaughter weights
      • Thoughts from EuroTier
      • Eurotier Exposition in Germany
      • Optimism and weights
    • [+] Oct
      • A common minimum ventilation controller mistake
      • How do we produce the pig of the future?
      • Grains stocks and slaughter capacity
      • Slaughter plants as food processing companies
    • [+] Sep
      • Pit Pumping Ventilation
      • Tough times in Canada
      • Alternative ingredients versus extending the supply of ingredients
      • Right Sized Facilities in a Changing Industry
    • [+] Aug
      • Soybean meal alternatives
      • The Pork Industry in Argentina
      • Drought Based Liquidation
      • Diet ingredient options
    • [+] Jul
      • Options in short crop years
      • Leaking Propane Supply Lines
      • Will aflatoxin be an issue in this years grain?
      • Why so many pig barns?
      • Should you wet nursery pigs?
    • [+] Jun
      • Summer heat is here
      • An interesting question at Expo
      • Looking towards World Pork Expo next week
    • [+] May
      • Another recent experience with buildings aging
      • Our facilities are showing their age
      • China's impact on US agriculture is growing
      • New Barn Ventilation Details
    • [+] Apr
      • Canadian and US pig inventories
      • Local corn basis
      • US versus Germany slaughter industry
      • SEW prices and new nursery designs
    • [+] Mar
      • When will corn planting begin?
      • Feed Value of the New Lower Fat DDGS products
      • Pig performance standards
      • Topics of interest at meetings this winter
      • Illegal drug residues and Chinese Athletes
    • [+] Feb
      • Should you consider air filtration for PRRS?
      • Convenience Stores and PRRS
    • [+] Jan
      • Weaned pig prices
      • What are the future challenges to pork production
      • Wild 2 days in Chicago futures
      • USDA funding
  • [+] 2011
    • [+] Dec
      • Will 2013 be a good year?
      • More swine buildings coming
      • Some random thoughts and thanks
      • Is expansion coming?
    • [+] Nov
      • Winter Ventilation Mistakes
      • Corn basis patterns
      • North American Pig Inventory and Value
    • [+] Oct
      • Optimism in weaned pig prices
      • Corn crop and pig weights
      • Feeding the new lower fat ddgs products
      • Corn or DDGS?
    • [+] Sep
      • Why do we raise pigs?
      • Are your furnaces ready for fall conditions?
      • Crop prospects and the breeding herd
      • Packers as Food Processors
    • [+] Aug
      • ProFarmer Crop Tour impact on the Pig Industry
      • Contracts to sell manure to neighbors
      • Iowa/S Minnesota slaughter weights
      • Improving the effectivenss of cooling systems for growing pigs
    • [+] Jul
      • Corn basis and heat
      • It's hot in the Midwest
      • Corn basis bids for feed mills
      • It's hot in pig barns
    • [+] Jun
      • New Food Safety Regulations Will Impact Us on the Farm
      • Are new feeders too expensive?
      • 20% cut to USDA Ag Research budget
    • [+] May
      • Does your insurance fit your need?
      • Do you have an oil change schedule for you swine facilities?
      • Hot temps and cold feeder pig prices
      • Time to think of fan repairs
    • [+] Apr
      • SEW prices and pig supply
      • The smell of money
      • Pork production costs
      • Regional Prices
    • [+] Mar
      • Are you planning on selling more weight this summer?
      • Sick pens
      • Improving efficiencies with high feed ingredient prices
      • A personal note this week
    • [+] Feb
      • Gas prices and the grocery store
      • Another pit explosion
      • Our impossible dream
    • [+] Jan
      • Consumers and the meat case
      • Cold weather and a range of thoughts
      • Anthrozoology
      • Currency risk
  • [+] 2010
    • [+] Dec
      • Water fights are coming
      • Thoughts from my first winter trade show
      • Thinking during a blizzard
      • Bubblewrap versus 6 mil plastic
    • [+] Nov
      • Final thoughts after 4 weeks in Australia and New Zealand
      • What's the future for the Australian Pork Industry?
      • Ecoshelters versus tunnel ventilation in Australia
    • [+] Oct
      • Australian Production Challenges
      • Australian pork industry
      • High feed prices once again
      • Production research funding and Australia
      • Testing propane lines
    • [+] Sep
      • Pork's Green House Gas Footprint
      • Blame the 2009 corn crop
      • Pig weights and corn crop
    • [+] Aug
      • Are hog farms the leading cause of nitrate-nitrogen in water supplies?
      • More thoughts from Argentina
      • Argentina pork production
      • Full pit options in the summer
    • [+] Jul
      • Summer heat and sale weight
      • Feeders as a control point in production
      • Preventing hot pigs
      • This years pig and corn crop
    • [+] Jun
      • Weather thoughts
      • Emergency Action Plans
      • Pork Expo Comments
      • Liveweight is going up
      • Pigs and Drinkers
    • [+] May
      • The weaning age controversy
      • Weaned pig prices
      • Christmas in May?
      • It's hard work to do it right
    • [+] Apr
      • Should we use a Hog:DDGS ratio as a proxy for estimating industry profitability?
      • Is there an optimal production unit size?
      • Optimism in Agriculture
      • Comments on last weeks hogs and pigs report
    • [+] Mar
      • It's summer in many production facilities already
      • Is US agriculture too big?
      • Producer optimism
      • Is it time for a PRRS eradication effort?
      • Ice storms and the Dufus Factor
    • [+] Feb
      • Ontario's future in pork production
      • Was the "old" way better?
      • Update on our daughter
    • [+] Jan
      • Sioux City John Morrell Closing
      • More roof failures
      • Exports and the US Producer
      • A long winter already for some producers
  • [+] 2009
    • [+] Dec
      • The European production challenge
      • Power failures and snow storms
      • Subtle messages to our youth
      • A simple way to increase propane expense
    • [+] Nov
      • European Union Pig Numbers
      • Getting furnace settings right in the controller
      • Indian summer has finally arrived
    • [+] Oct
      • Hats off
      • A personal story this week
      • Haste and Waste
      • Is this the year we have moldy corn problems in the Midwest?
      • Commentary on USDA Hogs and Pigs report
    • [+] Sep
      • It's time to think about pit pumping safety issues
      • Thoughts from Midwest Pork Conference
      • Feed grain pricing this fall
      • Producer funded research
    • [+] Aug
      • Are we too productive?
      • How bad will H1N1 hysteria impact the swine industry this fall?
      • Social License
      • What does your Front-Door look like?
    • [+] Jul
      • Is increase in summer weight due to pigs backing up or better performance?
      • Soybean meal pricing and world pork production
      • Summer promotion activities
      • More on summer heat
    • [+] Jun
      • Summer heat is here
      • The future of the Land Grant University in the face of de-allotment
      • High soybean meal prices and DDGS availability
      • Can we sell sows fast enough to reduce supply?
    • [+] May
      • Positive experiences eating pork
      • Tight soybean meal supplies this summer?
      • The situation in Europe
      • Type A-H1N1 flu and weaned pigs
    • [+] Apr
      • Canadian Inventories and Swine Flu
      • What about summer heat relief for pigs
      • Ventilation controllers
      • Who's at risk?
    • [+] Mar
      • Random thoughts
      • New products and vaccines
      • Is the pain bad enough?
      • Who is quitting?
    • [+] Feb
      • Heat bills for farrowing facilities
      • Have we sold enough sows?
      • 2007 Census of Ag
    • [+] Jan
      • Demand for DDGS in livestock diets
      • Improvements in transport conditions for slaughter pigs
      • It's cold out there
      • Where are the pigs?
  • [+] 2008
    • [+] Dec
      • Productivity impact on profits
      • Opportunites for Youth to Return to Agriculture
      • European pig prices
    • [+] Nov
      • I'm Thankful for Animal Agriculture
      • Risks and Advisors
      • Pit Foaming Problems
      • North American Swine Inventory changes
    • [+] Oct
      • Lessons from Canada
      • Feed grain prices
      • Winterizing curtain sided barns
      • Where are the pigs?
    • [+] Sep
      • A hidden propane expense
      • Rural Community Challenges
      • Managing this winters propane expense
      • COOL is less than 4 weeks away
    • [+] Aug
      • World Trade of Pork
      • Pit Pumping
      • Have we sold enough sows?
      • Emergency systems
      • Small drips become big dollars
    • [+] Jul
      • Yield per bushel of corn
      • VIN's for Hog Barns
      • How big will your energy bill be this winter?
      • Who is our Market?
    • [+] Jun
      • Floods, Feed and Finances
      • The Canadian Situation
      • Who will be the first to quit?
      • My First Blog
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