More in Facilities

Jun. 18, 2012

News

Four Steps Lower Energy Use, Costs on the Farm

University of Minnesota Extension Agricultural Engineer Larry D. Jacobson recommends that farmers follow these four steps to lower their energy use and costs:...More
Jun. 6, 2012

video

It's time for dialogue with producers on sow housing issue, NPPC official says.

Several food service outlets and retailers have announced gestation stall-free policies for pork products in recent months. But none of those have offered to sit down with pork producers and determined how the policies can be implemented -- or better yet paid for. The National Pork Producers Council's Dallas Hockman talked about the lack of dialogue and the economic impact of such policies during an interview at World Pork Expo....More
May 15, 2012

Article

Studying Gestation Housing Alternatives 1

As the U.S. pork industry faces mounting pressure to abandon gestation stalls, we decided to take a closer look at how sows perform in three common housing alternatives — stalls, pens and pens with electronic sow feeding (ESF)....More
Apr. 18, 2012

News

Webinar Focuses on Legal Issues of Farm Animal Confinement

The National Agricultural Law Center is sponsoring a webinar on legal and policy issues dealing with farm animal confinement. The presentations center around laws and regulations with a special emphasis on the statutory evolution behind them. The webinar is scheduled for May 10, 2012 from 12 to 1 p.m. (eastern standard time) and costs $50 to participate. To register for the webinar, visit http://learn.extension.org/events/500....More
Apr. 4, 2012

News

How to Save Energy In Swine Buildings

“Managing Swine Ventilation Controller Settings to Save Energy, PM-2098T” is now available from Iowa State University....More
Mar. 15, 2012

Article

How Housing Affects Sow Performance 2

Producer conducts side-by-side comparisons of sow housing options....More
Mar. 14, 2012

Article

Making Animal Well-Being a Priority 1

Iowa Select Farms is continuing to refine what animal care should be, and is embedding a philosophy of caring for animals throughout all facets of production....More
Mar. 5, 2012

Article

USDA Confirms 131 FSA Office Closures 2

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack officially informed Congress that in 90 days USDA plans to approve consolidation of 131 Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices with other USDA service centers...More
Mar. 5, 2012

Article

Oppose Food Safety User Fees

A group of 44 meat, poultry and livestock organizations have written members of Congress opposing the USDA’s budget proposal requesting user fees for government mandated food safety inspection programs for meat, poultry and egg products...More
Feb. 22, 2012

News

Funds Approved for Pork Industry Research

The National Pork Board's six producer-led science and technology committees recently met in Dallas, TX, and reviewed research proposals to select projects that the Pork Checkoff would fund in 2012. In all, the groups reviewed more than 100 proposals, ultimately selecting those that would be of greatest benefit to the overall industry....More
Feb. 15, 2012

News

Taking a Closer Look at Impact of McDonald’s Decision to Eliminate Gestation Stalls

Steve Meyer, a regular contributor to National Hog Farmer, provides details in the CME Group Daily Livestock Report about the recent McDonald's decision to ask suppliers to phase out use of gestation stalls....More
Feb. 14, 2012

News

Read More Sow Gestation Housing Stories

National Hog Farmer presents research-based information and real-life sow gestation housing experiences....More
Feb. 14, 2012

News

McDonald's Calls for Plan to Abandon Sow Stalls 1

McDonald's Corporation issued a press release this week indicating it will require its U.S. pork suppliers to outline a plan to phase out the use of sow gestation stalls....More
Feb. 9, 2012

Article

Two Hands-On Ventilation Workshops Set in Iowa

...More
Feb. 2, 2012

News

Bill Penalizes Activists for Ag Facility Fraud

Two Iowa legislators have reintroduced legislation aimed at stopping undercover activities of animal activists around livestock producers’ farms. The measure introduced by Sen. Joe Seng (D-IA) and Sen. Tim Kapucian (R-IA), a former president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA), is known as the Ag Protection Act (House File 589), according to Cody McKinley, public policy director for the IPPA....More
Jan. 26, 2012

Article

Small Details Offer Big Feed Savings

Focusing on barn management details prior to entry, while loading the barn and while performing daily chores can help improve feed efficiency....More
Dec. 22, 2011

Article

2011 Swine Research Review - Facilities

Research conducted at stations across the United States has documented a 29% reduction in the consumption of heating fuel in reduced nocturnal temperature (RNT) nursery rooms without any negative effects on pig performance. Average savings is about $1.71/pig leaving the nursery...More
Dec. 8, 2011

Article

Proposed CAFO Rule Comment Period Open Until Dec. 20 1

Livestock organizations are working together to submit comments pertaining to the proposed new rule referred to as the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) 308 rule...More
Dec. 8, 2011

Article

Child Labor Rules May Say “No Kids Allowed” Near Manure Pits

The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) proposed on-farm child labor regulations have been getting a lot of attention in agricultural circles lately. Under the proposed rules, youth under the age of 16 would be prohibited from performing work, which the Labor Secretary defines as “hazardous,” on farms that are not owned by the child’s parents...More
Dec. 8, 2011

Article

White House Threatens Veto Of Republican Farm Dust Bill

The White House has threatened to veto House Republican legislation aimed at preventing the Environmental Protection Agency from tightening farm dust regulations, arguing that the bill in unnecessary and could be used to weaken public health standards...More
Dec. 5, 2011

Article

NPPC Contests Proposed On-Farm Child Labor Rules

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) along with the American Sheep Industry Association and the National Turkey Federation has jointly submitted comments on the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) proposed on-farm child labor regulations...More
Nov. 10, 2011

article

Striking Back at PRRS

Lantz Enterprises’ farm manager Doug Siebenahler will never forget the PRRS outbreak of 2007. Two strains of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) struck with a vengeance...More
Nov. 10, 2011

article

Taking a System PRRS Negative

Every farm is only 250 days away from PRRS-free production,” states Joel Nerem, DVM, director of health, Pipestone (MN) Vet-erinary Clinic and Pipestone System....More
Nov. 10, 2011

article

Filtration – the Last Step in Swine Biosecurity

There has been a groundswell of interest in filtering swine barns to block swine diseases, most notably for keeping out porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), but also for preventing the introduction of swine influenza virus and Mycoplasma pneumonia...More
Oct. 27, 2011

News

Farm Show to Feature Real-Life Livestock Production Displays

The first all-inclusive animal and modern agriculture exhibit in America will be unveiled at the 2012 Pennsylvania Farm Show on Jan. 6-14, as part of an effort to provide the non-farming public with a look at real-life production practices...More