With profits returning to the hog industry, producers with older facilities are making plans for repairs this coming summer season. I’ve talked with a number of producers this past week who have older curtain sided finishing barns who are planning … Continue reading →

With high temperatures predicted to be in the mid-70’s tomorrow in Southern Minnesota, many pork producers will be unprepared for change from winter to summer conditions. Fortunately, while the ventilation systems may not be fully prepped for their summer cycles, … Continue reading →

It has been a quiet week in my swine consulting business. As a result, I’ve had time to catch up on some of my reading of recently published scientific papers and conference proceedings. One paper that caught my eye was … Continue reading →

By now you’ve most likely read several commentaries on the accuracy of the USDA Hogs and Pigs report released last Friday afternoon. As most have suggested, while USDA numbers showed an impact of the PEDv on inventory numbers, did they … Continue reading →

Many readers of this blog are not involved in the daily sales and pricing activities of the US pork industry. While they are aware of reports of very high prices, I thought I would put the recent market in perspective. … Continue reading →

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 →