Latest News From Hogs - General

Profit margins for cattle and hogs continue trending in opposite directions as feedyard closeouts slipped below breakeven and hog margins saw another boost from higher prices.

Attempting to use the legislative process to make things more difficult for animal agriculture is far from a new tactic for animal rights activist organizations, but things seem to be heating up in this area. 

Market hogs sold last week earned an average profit margins nearly four times that of fed steers. That’s mainly due to a rally that has added more than $20 per cwt. to lean hog carcass prices over the past month.

Why don't we finish goals? Jon Acuff, best-selling author and motivational speaker, says we often focus on the wrong thing when we talk about our goals. Here's what he says it takes to finish the goals that matter.

Merck will start manufacturing the COVID-19 vaccine in its human manufacturing facilities later this month.

Demand for protein of all kinds soared, but bacon outpaced it all.

U.S. beef and pork exports began 2021 lower than year-ago, yet the USMEF remains optimistic as the retail meat demand remains strong and the expectation is that foodservice will rebound in more regions.

Cattle and hog finishing margins were headed in opposite directions last week, with lean hog prices enjoying a three-week rally while cattle prices were stuck in neutral for a second week.

Pilgrim's Pride, the nation's second-largest poultry processor, entered a guilty plea to federal charges of price-fixing and bid-rigging, the Department of Justice said on Tuesday.

A virtual FFA community can only fill the gap so far. I am grateful FFA has found solutions during the pandemic, but I believe the things FFA members have missed drive home the reasons why FFA is so important today.

Cattle feeding margins were little changed from the previous week with modest profits. Hog feeding margins were boosted for a third week with another advance in lean carcass prices.

The USDA and FDA have sent out a reminder to trust current science and guidelines from official sources.

During USDA’s 97th Agricultural Outlook Forum, USDA chief economist Seth Meyer provided insight into what the livestock and poultry sectors can expect in 2021. 

Cattle feeding margins improved $60 per head the week ending Feb. 12 and hog margins reported profits for the second consecutive week as lean hog prices rallied.

Tyson Foods announced additional incentives for frontline workers to receive vaccinations for COVID-19, including compensation for workers vaccinated outside of their normal shift or through an external source.

Trade seems to be taking a back seat in Washington. From COVID-19 recovery to a focus on climate, other issues are taking priority in the new White House. That's not stopping ag groups from pushing for key trade deals.

A new report suggests investments and partnerships in agriculture could help reduce U.S. GHG emissions by two-thirds by encouraging widespread adoption of climate-smart practices on farms and ranches.

Beef packer leverage is evident with cash cattle prices $7 per cwt. lower than the same week a year ago and beef cutout prices $23 per cwt. higher. Pork producers are gaining leverage with a $5 per cwt. price rally.

Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) may be back on the table, but it’s far from a done deal. The topic was brought up during Tom Vilsack's confirmation hear thing week, but one economist says the economics have changed.

Tom Vilsack, during Senate confirmation hearings Tuesday, said he was willing to consider reimplementation of country-of-origin labeling (COOL) regulations for meat products.

During U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s confirmation hearing in January, Yellen previewed how the Biden administration may address trade issues with China.

Impossible Foods said it would cut the prices of its faux meat patties by 20% at U.S. grocery stores as it ramps up production with a larger plan to eventually undercut ground beef prices.

He’s the only USDA secretary that has served in one administration and has been asked to come back years later. For Tom Vilsack, it’s an opportunity he is looking forward to for many reasons.

The Center for Food Safety filed a legal brief challenging FDA's approval of soy leghemoglobin (“heme”), a color additive used to make Impossible Foods’ Impossible Burger appear to “bleed” like real meat.

A U.S. Congress panel is investigating COVID-19 outbreaks at meatpacking plants nationwide. Here's how some of the packing plants responded.

A U.S. congressional panel is investigating three large meatpacking companies for possible worker-safety violations following reports that hundreds of industry workers have died of COVID-19.

Matt Johnson of the activist group Direct Action Everywhere was charged with trespassing in May.

Cattle and hog feeding margins were little changed last week, with both recording modest losses. Beef packers saw improved margins on significant gains in wholesale beef prices.

Following the inauguration of President Joe Biden, the 46th President of the United States, agriculture industry leaders congratulated Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

As President Joe Biden took office Wednesday, one former Secretary of Agriculture thinks a Biden Administration and USDA will focus more on helping craft a farm bill that focuses on conservation.

Wild pig populations in Canada continue to expand rapidly and are completely out of control in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta. A new tool may help control this invasive species. Here's why you should take note.

Tyson Foods has agreed to pay a settlement of $221.5 million in the broiler chicken antitrust civil price-fixing lawsuit, according to filings Tuesday in federal court in Chicago.

From the unpredictability with trade to easing of regulations, the past four years have been a whirlwind with farmers, ranchers and policy experts looking back at the Trump Administration's impact on agriculture.

Former Tyson Foods Waterloo, Iowa, plant managers dispute claims of how an "office pool" regarding COVID-19 was portrayed in news stories and deny it was about how many employees would contract the virus.

Cattle and hog finishing profit margins were little changed from last week, with modest profits for cattle and losses for hogs. Beef packer margins declined again to their lowest mark since March.

Tyson Foods Inc. has agreed to settle a portion of a class action lawsuit alleging some of the nation’s major poultry companies conspired to fix broiler prices and rig bids.

Smithfield Foods, the world’s largest pork processor, said on Monday it paused all federal campaign contributions until more facts are known about last week’s riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., the nation’s second-largest U.S. chicken processor, said it has reached a settlement to pay $75 million to a group of poultry buyers in a price-fixing lawsuit.

November U.S. beef exports jumped 6% higher, the largest since July 2019. Meanwhile, U.S. pork exports January-November set new annual records for both volume and value.

Smithfield Foods, the world's largest pork processor, said on Wednesday it has medical capabilities at U.S. facilities and is actively preparing for COVID-19 vaccine distribution to employees.

Tyson Foods Inc. is adding breakfast sandwiches with soy-protein patties to its iconic Jimmy Dean sausage line.  

As China builds its domestic stocks of protein like pork, there are fears the country may view its supplies as ample in the second half of 2021. That could put more pressure on domestic demand to carry prices.

Impossible Foods Inc, maker of the plant-based Impossible Burger, said it would cut prices for foodservice distributors in the United States by about 15% amid increasing demand for its burgers.

The Meat Institute has joined with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union in asking governors from all 50 states to prioritize COVID-19 vaccinations for frontline meat and poultry workers.

Few producers in the U.S. even want to consider the fact that alternative proteins (aka “fake meat”) are a threat to their business in the foreseeable future. We want to try to change your mind on that.  

Industry-wide average cattle feeding closeouts were printed in red ink last week for the first time since late September, while packers saw another significant decline to their margins.

Tyson Foods Inc said on Wednesday it had fired seven managers at an Iowa pork plant after investigating allegations that they took bets on how many employees would catch COVID-19.

Livestock producers will face more feed cost inflation next year than they have in a decade, challenging their ability to recover from a difficult, volatile 2020.

Three meat industry trade groups sent a letter to the nation’s governors seeking to prioritize meat and poultry workers for COVID-19 vaccinations following healthcare workers and those in long-term care facilities.

Cattle and hog finishing margins were modestly positive the first week of December, marking the 11th consecutive week of profitability. Packer margins remain historically high.