It’s the middle of February and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve shoveled my driveway. Winters grip has been harsh this year, and it looks to remain for a few more weeks.   It’s one thing for me … Continue reading →

Last fall I departed from my weekly blog about pigs to share with readers the decision my wife and I were making regarding placement of Elizabeth in a group home. This week I want to depart once again to share … Continue reading →

Last week Smithfield announced the permanent closure of the John Morrell slaughter plant in Sioux City, Iowa. At both the Minnesota Pork Congress and the Iowa Pork Congress, the Manitoba Pork Producers had a booth where they were interacting with … Continue reading →

Another winter storm is predicted for this weekend in the upper Midwest. By now, many producers are getting tired of winter. Between the very cold temperatures for the first few weeks of this year and the continued snow and ice … Continue reading →

This afternoon I had the opportunity to participate in a webinar sponsored by AgStar on the topic of world trade and the pork industry. The presenter was Brett Stuart from globalagritrends.com.   A couple of items in the presentation and … Continue reading →

I’m writing today’s blog from a motel room at one of the casino’s in Council Bluffs, Iowa where I’m waiting for roads in southwest Minnesota to open.   Another winter storm is raging in the Midwest, meaning another week of … Continue reading →

The USDA Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report will be released at 2 pm this afternoon. Everyone is looking for a continued decrease in the US breeding herd and smaller numbers in all weight categories in the kept for market inventory. … Continue reading →

Two weeks ago I spent 2 days in northeast Nebraska making site visits and doing producer meetings. My visit began the day after the ‘big storm’ and snow drifts were up to the eaves of the buildings on the 2 … Continue reading →

On Monday of this week I received an email from an 11 year old niece. In it she asked for my support of her efforts to help the less fortunate in the world. Included in the email was a link … Continue reading →

Winter has arrived in southern Minnesota, and with the coming of winter the realization that propane expenses will be increasing. While every production facility tries to keep the facility set point as low as possible (approaching the lower critical temperature), … Continue reading →