Later this week, Canadian government bean counters will release their July 1 inventory numbers. Everyone expectation is a continuation of the decline in sow numbers and on-farm grow-finish inventory.   That leads to the over riding question that I have … Continue reading →

This past week I spent several days working with a production system doing grower meetings. One of the topics of discussion was emergency plans for wean-finish facilities and insurance coverage of these facilities.   My presentation included a section on … Continue reading →

In another 6-8 weeks, many of the readers of this blog will be thinking about issues associated with the pumping of manure pits. In southern Minnesota, many custom applicators will begin applying manure for some clients in the next few … Continue reading →

In the past 2 weeks, I’ve had a chance to ‘windshield’ tour much of the northern Iowa and southern Minnesota corn crop. An impressive crop in the making, if we can continue to get timely rains and heat units for … Continue reading →

Hog barns don’t come with owner’s manuals! Many of the readers of this blog have seen me present on this topic at various producer meetings this past year. In the past 2 weeks I’ve worked with several clients on a … Continue reading →

Just returned from the local barbershop. While there, visited with a local heating contractor about energy costs. He had just booked his propane for this winter at $2.30/gal, up considerably from last summer’s booking.   I’ve also heard of grain … Continue reading →

One of the items that has always peaked my interest is the discussion of ‘who is our market’. I think everyone agrees that the ultimate market for the pork we produce is the consumer. However, how this consumer’s desires and … Continue reading →

As I write this week’s comments, I’m sitting in a feedmill just outside of Iowa City, Iowa. Dr Steve Pohl, extension ag engineer at South Dakota State University and I have been conducting a series of ventilation workshops in eastern … Continue reading →

I’m sitting in the London, Ontario airport following my participation in the 35th Annual Ontario Pork Congress. While many have heard about the Canadian situation, a visit with producers and allied industry really is a good wake-up call to the … Continue reading →

With daily federally inspected slaughter continually running above 400,000 pigs, there is limited evidence of a reduction in pork production in the US. On April 1, the Canadian breeding herd was down 12%, and there are lots of individual stories … Continue reading →