As I write this week’s comments, blizzard warnings are in effect for this region. While it may be cold and miserable outside, the feeder pig market in the US is looking up. The highest reported price paid for weaned pigs … Continue reading →

At a producer meeting in northwest Iowa yesterday, Steve Pohl and I got into a discussion with the audience about bubble wrap versus 6 mil poly to tighten up curtain sided finishers in cold weather. A common problem with curtain … Continue reading →

I’m writing this week’s blog sitting in a motel room in Christchurch, New Zealand just prior to flying back to the US. After 4+ weeks of working with Australian and New Zealand pork producers, I’ve gained a new appreciation for … Continue reading →

The Australian pork industry is at a crossroads. In the next few weeks, delegates to Australian Pork Limited (their checkoff organization) will vote on whether the industry in general should move to no gestation stalls after 28d. This move is … Continue reading →

Much of the Australian pork industry the past 10-15 years has moved to Ecoshelters for nursery and grow-finish pig accommodations. Ecoshelters are hoop structures that use large amounts of bedding, similar in many respects to the hoops used by some … Continue reading →

I’m writing this week from a hotel room in Melbourne, Australia. My first week in Australia has been interesting and as in the US, I really enjoyed my conversations with pork producers. My trip to Australia is sponsored by Australia … Continue reading →

I depart tomorrow afternoon for Australia and New Zealand where I will be visiting producer farms and doing presentations on feeders and drinkers. It is spring down under and on the south island of New Zealand I expect to see … Continue reading →

With corn and soybean meal prices rising (and falling) as much as the CBT limit on any given day, producers are once again becoming worried about the impact of feed ingredient costs on their bottom line. It’s no fun trying … Continue reading →

In 2 weeks I will be depart for a 30 day working vacation in Australia and New Zealand. I say working vacation in that I will be giving producer talks and visiting farms in both countries. At the same time, … Continue reading →

A relatively quiet week in the pork industry. Good harvest weather across the Midwest has everyone out in the combines working on bean harvest, even in the very flooded areas of southern Minnesota. We will have some yield loss due … Continue reading →