The National Pork Producers Council, together with other agricultural groups, has unveiled an interactive website that shows land likely to be regulated under the Waters of the United States rule proposed be EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers. The maps were developed for 17 states – as diverse as Alaska and Florida and including major hog producing states such … Read More
FAPRI: Livestock Prices High This Year, Could Taper in 2015
Livestock producers are seeing record high prices this year, but those could taper off a bit in 2015. The latest report from the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri says those producers are also getting a break as the price of the grains they feed their livestock has dropped. · Reduced cattle numbers, animal disease … Read More
Gesdate App Puts Herd in Your Hand
A new iPhone app called GESDATE for swine producers to digitally track breeding, gestation, farrowing dates, litters, vaccinations, and more. From conception to sale or harvest day, GESDATE moves swine operations to a new tier of herd organization and management, giving producers unprecedented real-time access to farm data, and introduces a remarkable farm staff collaboration tool. All of these features … Read More
Spending Bill Includes Provisions for Producers
The House Interior appropriations bill passed through committee this week includes language that would “help provide relief from the regulatory burdens that continue to hamper the productivity and profitability of farmers and ranchers across the country,” according to the Public Lands Council (PLC) and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). From language that blocks the listing of the Sage Grouse, … Read More
American Junior Shorthorn Association Elects New Board
The 2014 National Junior Shorthorn Show and Conference was held in Louisville, Kentucky, June 23 through June 28. Junior voting delegates took part in electing three members to the American Junior Shorthorn Association (AJSA) Board of Directors, with new and retiring board members electing new AJSA officers. 2014-15 AJSA Board of Directors are as follows: President Dustin Smith, Decorah, Iowa, … Read More
EPA Chief to Explain Water Rule in Missouri
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy will travel to Missouri this week to defend and explain the Administration’s proposed rules defining Waters of the United States (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act (CWA). “I’m hoping that this trip helps us ‘ditch the myths’ and misinformation,” said McCarthy during a media call this morning in an obvious reference to the American … Read More
Quarterly Hogs and Pigs Numbers
USDA’s quarterly hogs and pigs report out Friday revealed the lowest inventory of U.S. swine since 2007, at 62.1 million head – about five percent below last year. Also down five percent from a year ago were the market hog inventory at 56.3 million head, the March-May 2014 pig crop, at 27.4 million head, and the number of pigs per … Read More
New President for Livestock Marketing Association
Dan Harris, owner of Holton Livestock Exchange in Holton, Kan., has been elected president of the Livestock Marketing Association (LMA). In this role, he will spend two years leading the nation’s largest membership organization representing more than 800 local livestock auction markets and allied businesses. Harris is no stranger to having a microphone in his hand; but, as he told … Read More
Lotz Wins World Livestock Auctioneer Championship
Blaine Lotz of Edna, Kan. proved his world-class talent as a livestock auctioneer at the 51st anniversary of the Livestock Marketing Association’s (LMA) World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) in Knoxville, Iowa, on Saturday, June 21. As a third-generation auctioneer, the world champion was quite familiar with the livestock marketing industry. When he was 15, Lotz attended auctioneering school at Western … Read More
Iowa Congressman is Animal Ag Advocate
Rep. Steve King (R-IA) paid a visit to World Pork Expo last week to talk with producers and learn more about the issues they are facing right now. The congressman represents the 4th district of the state in the northwest corner, bordering Minnesota, South Dakota and Nebraska, and he is a strong advocate for livestock producers. During the farm bill … Read More