Cargill to Invest $111 million to Convert Beef Plant

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Beef, Company Announcement, Food, Meat, Production

The ground beef plant in Columbus, Nebraska will soon be converted to a cooked meats facility.  Cargill plans to invest $111 million to provide the capabilities of making cooked meat products for its customers.  The process of converting the plant will begin in December of this year with the goal of producing cooked meats by the middle of 2016.  The … Read More

#Feedthe9 with More Pork, Fewer Resources

Cindy ZimmermanAnimal Health, Audio, Elanco, Pork, Production, World Pork Expo

What if the world could produce 50% more pork using 434 million tons less feed, on 262 million less acres, and with 260 billion gallons less water? Think that’s possible? Well, Elanco Animal Health does. “Currently we’re able to produce enough pork for everyone across the globe to have access to 10.7 ounces of pork per week,” says Rob Aukerman, … Read More

Opposition to Government Limits on Milk Production

Melissa SandfortAgribusiness, idfa, Milk, Production, Research

A new nationwide survey released found that 81 percent of Americans agree that individual farmers should have the freedom to decide how much milk they produce and not have a limit set by government policy. The survey, which was conducted online last month among 2,094 adults by Harris Interactive on behalf of the International Dairy Foods Association, also found that … Read More

Milk Output Increased in Latest Outlook

Cindy ZimmermanPrice, Production, usda

In the latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report out last week, USDA increased the 2012 U.S. milk production estimate based on increased milk cow numbers and gains in milk per cow. USDA now projects U.S. milk output at 201.1 billion pounds this year, up from 199.7 billion pounds in last month’s forecast. “That reflects more cows and … Read More

Milk Production Leaps Ahead in February

Cindy ZimmermanProduction, usda

The latest USDA estimate released earlier this week shows milk production in the United States expanding, with February 2012 production up 8% compared to a year ago – partly due to an extra day for Leap Year. According to USDA, Milk production in the 23 major States during February totaled 15.2 billion pounds, up 8.3 percent from February 2011. However, … Read More

Outllook is Challenging for Dairy

Cindy ZimmermanGeneral, Price, Production, usda

At USDA’s 2012 Agricultural Outlook Forum last week, one of the agency’s dairy analysts had a sobering outlook for the dairy industry. “2011 was a great year for most dairy operators, but unfortunately I have to talk about 2012,” said USDA economist Milton Madison. First, producers are building their herds, which will expand production for the second year in a … Read More

Fuel Up to Play 60 for the Super Bowl

Cindy ZimmermanDairy Checkoff, Production

Whether you like the Patriots or the Giants – or neither one – Super Bowl time is a great opportunity to highlight the powerful partnership that dairy farmers, through their checkoff program, have forged with the National Football League. The “Fuel Up to Play 60” program encourages young people to get 60 minutes of activity daily, and to make balanced … Read More

January Dairy Outlook

Cindy ZimmermanPrice, Production, usda

USDA World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Gerry Bange expects milk production to increase in 2012. Talking about the latest USDA Dairy Outlook in terms of production and price estimates, Bange says, “U.S. milk production in 2012 is expected to increase about 1.3%. We’re looking now at 198.5 billion pounds.” That’s unchanged from the last forecast, but the 2011 production total … Read More

Rising Milk Production Boosts Corn Sales

Cindy Zimmermancorn, Feed, Production, usda

Milk production is on the rise according to the latest report from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Milk production in the 23 major States during November totaled 14.7 billion pounds, up 2.2 percent from November 2010. October revised production at 15.2 billion pounds, was up 2.5 percent from October 2010. The report indicates that production increases came from both a … Read More

Prices, Cows and Milk All Up From Last Year

Cindy ZimmermanPrice, Production, usda

Despite rising feed prices and a hot summer, milk production continues to increase this year, with forecast milk output rising 1.5 percent in 2011 to 195.7 billion pounds, according to USDA. Cow numbers continue to increase more than expected and output per cow appears to have rebounded from the July and August heat. Cow numbers are projected at 9.2 million … Read More