Quick Hits
10 Tips to Prepare for CAFO Inspections
(8/30/2010)
Having the Environmental Protection Agency show up at your facility for an inspection can be a daunting experience, as inspections typically cover all the aspects of an operation.
Are Your Hog Facilities Bird-proof?
(8/30/2010)
For years, it’s been widely recognized that waterfowl such as ducks and geese are carriers of avian influenza virus and pose a transmission risk to humans as well as livestock.
Free-trade Agreements Mean Jobs
(8/30/2010)
The pressure to approve the Korean free-trade agreement pending in the U.S. Congress keeps ratcheting higher. Implementation could eventually result in Korea becoming a major export market for U.S. pork.
A New Look for Pork.org
(8/30/2010)
The National Pork Board’s Web site has a new look to make it easier for you to get the information you need quickly and efficiently.
Farmland Bacon Kicks it up a Notch
(8/27/2010)
Bacon is hugely popular with U.S. consumers, and Farmland is spicing up the category, with Farmland Spicy BBQ Bacon.
Stall Design, Behavior and Well-being
(8/27/2010)
“Sows have changed,” says Janeen Salak-Johnson, University of Illinois associate professor of animal sciences. “We need to change with them. Our research shows that modifications of stall design may have a positive effect on sow behavior and well-being.”
U.S. Pork Impresses Koreans
(7/1/2010)
An independent blind taste test in South Korea, involving pork from around the world, delivered some surprising results — at least for the Korean participants and the competition sponsors.
Youth Reflect Bright Future for Pork Production
(6/30/2010)
When the teacher of Garrett James Keenan’s gifted-and-talented class asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up, Keenan didn’t care if his answer seemed surprising.
NPPC Launches ‘Hogs on the Hill’ Blog
(6/30/2010)
Issues that concern U.S. pork producers will be the topic of “conversation” on a new National Pork Producers Council blog.
CME Trades DDG Futures
(6/24/2010)
The CME Group has added a new futures contract that’s of interest to pork and other livestock producers.
Time to Re-check DDGS Inclusion Levels
(6/20/2010)
With meat prices higher and corn and soybean prices more stable, you may be able to increase profits by replacing corn and soybean meal with DDGS.
AMI Video Explains Pork Cuts to Consumers
(6/10/2010)
The American Meat Institute has a new educational video outlining the many different pork cuts available to consumers today.
New Withdrawal Times Help Maintain Pork Exports
(6/7/2010)
International markets around the world continue to provide a valuable outlet for U.S. pork and pork products.
WPX Tour Looks at Midwestern Ag
(5/5/2010)
World Pork Expo offers producers from around the globe the opportunity to experience Midwestern agriculture – and hospitality – at its finest.
High-protein DDG Expands Options
(5/1/2010)
High-protein distillers’ dried grains can replace 100 percent of the soybean meal in a diet fed to finishing pigs without any effect on growth performance or carcass characteristics as long as the diets are fortified with crystalline lysine, threonine and tryptophan.
Be Safe When Unloading Grain
(4/29/2010)
In a year met with unique corn harvest and storage issues, paying extra attention to grain bin safety is a priority, says Matt Roberts, Purdue University Extension grain storage specialist.
Sign Up for WPX Junior National Swine Show
(4/29/2010)
Each year the World Pork Expo offers young swine showmen the opportunity to showcase their talents, knowledge and the industry’s best animals at the Junior National Swine Show.
WPX MusicFest: Come Listen to the Music
(4/22/2010)
Business discussions give way to leisurely conversations and laughter fills the air during World Pork Expo’s MusicFest.
Food-related Illnesses Leave a Bad Taste
(4/22/2010)
Forty-two percent of Americans said they’ve become sick over the past two years from what they attribute (at least in part) to something they ate.
Corn Quality Issues are Worth Attention
(4/15/2010)
Livestock and ethanol production both require high-quality corn, but that’s a lingering challenge with the 2009 corn crop.
Soybean Group Compiles Environmental Regulations
(4/15/2010)
Environmental regulations can be confusing and challenging.
Indoor Production Benefits Consumers and Pigs
(4/5/2010)
One major fact revealed by a University of Missouri study looking at indoor pork production is that it has improved the pigs’ health and the product for consumers.
USDA to Expand Loan Guidance
(4/5/2010)
USDA will expand guidance to contract pork operations similar to what’s currently in place for loans to contract poultry systems, designed to protect them from questionable business practices.
HSUS Pressures Sonic and Others
(2/24/2010)
The drive-in restaurant chain Sonic will soon require all of its suppliers to conduct independent audits of their livestock- and poultry-handling practices.
Animal-rights Groups Seek Religion
(2/24/2010)
The Humane Society of the United States and other animal-rights groups are now using religious arguments to advance anti-meat campaigns.
Pork Gets Clean Bill from H1N1 Concerns
(2/12/2010)
A USDA study further confirms that meat and tissue from pigs that were exposed to Novel H1N1 2009 influenza virus did not contain the virus
Protect Your Farm Against Vandalism
(2/12/2010)
A recent farm vandalism case, resulting in the loss of nearly 4,000 hogs on a northwest Iowa farm, highlights the need for all pork producers to remain vigilant in protecting their personal safety, livestock and livelihood.
Podcast: Gain Efficiencies with Piglet Vitality
(2/10/2010)
Pork industry profits in the future will be tied directly to production and management efficiencies. Strong and robust piglets give producers a solid start toward achieving those efficiencies and more.
Hy-Vee Targets 1 Million Pork Tenderloins
(2/1/2010)
Supermarket chain Hy-Vee, based in West Des Moines, Iowa, set the goal to sell 1 million pork tenderloins last month.
Iowa Bacon Wins Rachel Ray Taste Test
(1/18/2010)
Everyday with Rachel Ray, a nationally distributed cooking magazine, has recognized an Iowa niche-pork producer from Le Mars and his all-natural bacon product.
Top out the Two Heaviest Pigs
(1/18/2010)
Removing the two heaviest pigs from a finishing pen before sending pigs to market, also known as “topping,” improves the growth performance of the remaining pigs.
AMI Foundation Publishes Food Safety Report
(1/17/2010)
The American Meat Institute Foundation has published its 10-year Food Safety Initiative report.
Podcast: Healthy Hogs = Healthy Pork
(1/15/2010)
Responsible pork producers are committed to providing consumers with safe and healthy products, and healthy pork products come from healthy animals.
Investing Course Helps Farm Families Plan for the Future
(1/12/2010)
“You can learn to secure your farm´s future and protect your family´s legacy by enrolling now in an online course just for farm families,” says Barbara O´Neill, financial resource management specialist at Rutgers Cooperative Extension.
Mycotoxin Channel Provides Answers
(1/12/2010)
Mycotoxins are proving to be a challenge for livestock feeders this year.
Water: Will there be Enough for Ag?
(1/5/2010)
With a projected 25 percent increase in U.S. population by 2050, it’s inevitable that fresh water used for food, fiber and fuel production, as well as municipal and residential needs, will increase substantially.
Scientists Produce ‘Petri Dish’ Pork
(1/5/2010)
Even the scientists haven’t tasted it yet, but Dutch researchers have grown pork in the laboratory for the first time.
Sharpen Your H1N1 Response
(11/30/2009)
With last month’s USDA confirmation that pigs in Minnesota tested positive for the Novel H1N1 2009 influenza virus, it’s worth remembering that pigs, like people, sometimes contract influenza viruses and recover.
Antibiotic Resistance: A Complete Picture
(11/30/2009)
According to a report by the American Academy of Microbiology, the causes of antibiotic resistance are varied and complex.
TheOtherWhiteMeat.com Unveils New Design
(11/30/2009)
TheOtherWhiteMeat.com Web site has been revamped from the ground up.
10 Commandments of Tractor Safety
(11/23/2009)
As this year’s busy harvest season progresses all tractor and equipment users are reminded to heed safety precautions.
Hormel Takes Proactive Animal-welfare Stance
(11/23/2009)
Hormel’s animal-welfare mission includes the premise that quality products start with the highest animal-welfare standards and practices.
Program Prepares Young Ag Advocates
(11/23/2009)
The Animal Agriculture Alliance has launched “College Aggies Online,” a new program aimed at helping today’s college students become confident advocates for agriculture.
Baltimore Schools Adopt Meatless Mondays
(11/23/2009)
The Baltimore City Public Schools system has become the first in the United States to pledge to offer no meat on school menus on Mondays.
Podcast: Building the Public’s Trust
(11/16/2009)
Through the SHARE program, CFI helps pork producers build trust with consumers by connecting with others through shared values.
Ethnic Food Sets the Trend
(11/16/2009)
U.S. ethnic food sales are riding a wave, having set a record $2.2 billion so far in 2009, according to Mintel.
Get Help with Nutrient Management Planning
(11/16/2009)
The goal of CLEANmp is to provide confidential, no-cost technical assistance to pork producers that will identify and address nitrogen and phosphorus issues.
Golden Corral Tests New Pork Dishes
(10/5/2009)
Nothing says barbecue like a plate of smoky ribs or pulled pork.
Consumers Most Concerned about Rising Costs
(10/5/2009)
Americans remain focused on economic issues, which top their list of concerns, according to the Center for Food Integrity’s most recent survey.
Recession's Impact on Americans
(10/3/2009)
According to a Zogby poll, one-third of U.S. adults describe being seriously impacted by the current recession, including 14 percent who say their households have been “devastated” by it.
