Last year was a record-breaker for the U.S. pork industry. Exports of U.S. pork eclipsed previous highs in volume and value in 2024, according to year-end data released by the USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
Pork production is a low- margin business. Outside forces — interest rates, inflation, employment rate and consumer incomes, health of the general economy, fiscal policy and monetary policy — all influence pork producer profits.
- Phyllis Coulter
The Illinois Pork Expo will include all its usual highlights of meetings, speakers exhibits and chats with legislators at the BOS Center in Springfield, but this year all be sandwiched into a one-day event on Feb. 7.
MANHATTAN, Kan. — A Kansas State University swine nutrition student is conducting research that focuses on potential alternatives to zinc oxide, a common ingredient in the diets of weaned pigs, in a project he says may contribute to the swine industry’s goal of improving the efficiency of po…
- Jeff DeYoung
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments Oct. 11 regarding California’s controversial Proposition 12 law.
- Phyllis Coulter
SHANNON, Ill. — Darrell Stitzel’s grandparents moved to a farm in Carroll County in northwestern Illinois 65 years ago. His wife Laurie’s father started his career as a tenant farmer in South Dakota. Together, the couple has grown a thriving pork business while also being active in their community.
- Benjamin Herrold
Farming is a way of life for Connor Keithley, and showing pigs helped him get into another sector of agriculture.
- Jeff DeYoung
MANILLA, Iowa — Jerry and Nancy Croghan grew up around pigs, so it should come as no surprise that the couple remains a part of the pork industry.
- Jeff DeYoung
The push toward renewable diesel could spur changes in hog rations.
- By Mai Ngoc Chau Bloomberg News
Vietnam has collaborated with U.S. experts to produce the world’s first commercially viable vaccine against African swine fever, a disease that has killed millions of hogs across Asia and pushed up global pork prices.
- Jeff DeYoung
Doug Fricke is expecting a tremendous show for the World Pork Expo, scheduled for June 8-10 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.
- Phyllis Coulter
WALTONVILLE, Ill. — Levi Laird simply likes pigs.
- Benjamin Herrold
For David Newman, raising pigs and selling pork is a way of life but also a business and a science, using knowledge to pursue quality. Newman and his family run a farrow-to-finish Berkshire pig operation at Myrtle, Missouri, in the Ozarks near the Arkansas line.
- Jeff DeYoung
MOUNT AYR, Iowa — Kevin Triggs isn’t exactly sure when his grandfather started raising pigs.
- Nat Williams
ST. FRANCISVILLE, Ill. — Hogs paved the way for a two-generation farm to become a four-generation farm.
- Jeff DeYoung
When grain prices are high, all hog producers are looking for more bang for their buck. Management could hold the key to keep more dollars in wallets.
- Jeff DeYoung
Bryan Humphreys began his duties in December as CEO of the National Pork Producers Council, succeeding longtime CEO Neil Dierks.
- Benjamin Herrold
The National Pork Board hosted a webinar recently about the Ukraine- Russia war and its impact on livestock markets and the global supply chain.
AMES, Iowa — Research trials have documented that viruses relevant to the swine industry can survive in feed ingredients and complete feed for transcontinental (23 day) and transoceanic (30 and 37 day) shipping.
- Kristen Sindelar
A new class, “A Year in the Life of a Pork Producer,” is educating military veterans not only about how to start a farm but also raise pigs.
- Kristen Sindelar
The phrase “throw caution to the wind” has a new meaning for pork producers.
- j.deyoung
Now that African swine fever has been found in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, Paul Sundberg says there is a heightened sense of urgency as the U.S. pork industry works to keep the virus out and develop the ability to contain it should it be found here.
- j.deyoung
It wasn’t long ago when reaching double digits in pigs per litter was unusual.
It’s no surprise that exports are an important market outlet for U.S. pork production. But did you know that exports are even more important to the pork industry than they are to either the beef or poultry industries?
- j.deyoung
The combines are ready to roll, but before hog producers climb into their machines, they should make time to check the condition of hog buildings.
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