More in Marketing

Jan. 15, 2013

News

Canada Claims COOL Cost its Producers $2 Billion

U.S. country-of-origin meat-labeling rules have directly cost Canada's hog and pork industry more than $2 billion, according to a report that could help determine retaliation against U.S. exports if Washington does not change its requirements. Details of the report were released Monday by Reuters. The United States must bring the labeling rules, known by the acronym COOL, into compliance with a World Trade Organization ruling by May 23, 2013, according to a WTO decision released last month....More
Jan. 15, 2013

Article

Understanding Improvest

Branded as Improvest in the United States, the generic name for the active ingredient is gonadotropin releasing factor analog-diphtheria toxoid conjugate. Its mode of action is to temporarily and immunologically block gonadotropin releasing factor (GnRF), which reduces the levels of androstenone and skatole in mature male pigs — the primary source of “off odors” in pork....More
Jan. 15, 2013

Article

When Corn Runs Short 1

Swine nutrition is changing. The once dominant corn-soybean meal diet has given way to a more diverse list of ingredients that few could have imagined just five years ago. Some changes have been dramatic, even painful, but ultimately essential for survival. But the use of “non-traditional” ingredients in swine diets is more complicated than simply bringing them to the feedmill and asking a swine nutritionist to have a go at developing a new generation of diets....More
Dec. 27, 2012

News

Crop Prices Dip, Livestock Prices Climb in Illinois Forecast

University of Illinois agricultural economist Darrel Good expects livestock prices to improve somewhat in 2013, and grain prices to be volatile but retreat lower, depending on the growing season....More
Dec. 27, 2012

News

Veterinarians Support Concept of Livestock ID Rule

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has responded to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) new livestock traceability rule....More
Dec. 27, 2012

News

USDA Grants Enable Pork Producer to Meet Demand

Since 2009, USDA has used the Value-Added program to help 12 agricultural producers in Minnesota reach new markets and access valuable working capital....More
Dec. 20, 2012

News

USDA Issues Final Rule for Animal Disease Traceability

This week the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a final rule establishing general regulations for improving the traceability of U.S. livestock moving interstate....More
Dec. 20, 2012

News

Groups Urge Prevention of Crippling Port Strike

The American Meat Institute (AMI) Wednesday joined a coalition of meat and poultry industry groups urging President Barack Obama to intervene and prevent a strike at container ports from Maine to Texas. The current labor contract between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) is set to expire on Dec. 29. The two sides have been negotiating a new contract since April with little progress, according to AMI....More
Dec. 17, 2012

News

NPPC: Russia’s History of Trade Barriers to U.S. Pork

Following are some quoted excerpts from a backgrounder prepared by the National Pork Producers Council in response to Russia’s efforts to block U.S. pork shipments....More
Dec. 17, 2012

News

Trade Restrictions Placed on U.S. Pork Exports to Russia

Late last week, Russia announced it is going ahead with restrictions on U.S. pork containing the feed additive ractopamine, despite the fact that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved it as a safe feed additive years ago....More
Dec. 15, 2012

Article

Getting to the Root Of Fallback Pigs

The last decade’s unprecedented rise in litter size has resulted in more pigs that fail to achieve performance equal to their contemporaries. These pigs are commonly referred to as “fallback pigs.”...More
Dec. 15, 2012

Article

Proper Pen Sampling Narrows Market Weight Distribution

A variety of factors contribute to producers missing target market weights, incurring discounts. Producers have adopted marketing strategies, such as topping pens, to help reduce economic losses from weight discounts at the processing plant....More
Dec. 13, 2012

News

Pork Exports Set New Monthly Records in October

U.S. pork exports set new monthly records in October, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), reaching 218,132 metric tons (mt) valued at $607 million. Export volume was 9% above last year and broke the previous monthly record of 217,080 mt set in November 2011....More
Dec. 12, 2012

News

HSUS and Nebraska Farmers Union Work Together on “Humanely-Raised” Marketing Project

Brownfield Radio Network reports that the Nebraska Farmers Union is working with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) on the launch of a new marketing program for “humanely-raised” livestock and poultry products. The program is called Farm to Fitness. Farmers Union spokesman Graham Christensen says the program will use health and fitness centers as drop points for cooperatively-purchased food orders....More
Dec. 11, 2012

News

Grain Prices Continue Downward Cycle; Pork Prices Rise

U.S. feedgrain supply and use projections for 2012/13 are unchanged this month, but prices for corn are lowered based on prices reported to date, according to the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)....More
Dec. 10, 2012

News

U.S. Officials Call for Suspension of Testing Requirements for Meat Exports to Russia

U. S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk Saturday issued a statement in response to Russia's new requirements that U.S. beef and pork exports to Russia be tested and certified free of the feed additive ractopamine....More
Dec. 10, 2012

News

Variety Meat Exports Become Key Opportunity

Growing global populations are creating export opportunities for pork variety meats....More
Dec. 7, 2012

News

Meat Demand Not Impacted by Labeling Law

Demand for meat products covered by the mandatory country-of-origin labeling (MCOOL) law that took effect in 2009 has not been impacted by the presence of the labels, according to a new analysis by the Kansas State University (KSU) Department of Agricultural Economics....More
Dec. 4, 2012

News

Canada Faces Subsidy Challenges in Trade Talks

Pig producers in Australia, New Zealand and the United States have warned Canada it will be challenged over its pork subsidization program in the next round of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations, according to an online report from Global Meat News....More
Dec. 4, 2012

News

Look for Higher Slaughter Weights by 2022

Mike Brumm of Brumm Swine Consultancy, Inc., says his prediction that barrow and gilt slaughter weights will increase to 290 lb. live weight by the year 2022 is based on a review of USDA federally inspected barrow and gilt carcass weight increases....More
Nov. 30, 2012

News

American Branded Pork Campaign Helps Japan Develop Taste for Thick-Cut U.S. Pork

The American Branded Pork Campaign encourages Japanese consumers to purchase branded U.S. Pork in supermarkets and restaurants....More
Nov. 30, 2012

News

USDA Projects Farm Exports to Soar in 2013

Farm exports in fiscal year 2013 look to continue a trend of astonishing growth that began in 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Since 2009, U.S. agricultural exports have climbed more than 50% percent in value, from $96.3 billion in 2009 to the most-recent forecast of $145 billion in 2013. Overall, these exports support more than one million American jobs....More
Nov. 19, 2012

News

NPPC Calls for Lifting of Unscientific Trade Barriers

Nick Giordano, vice president and counsel for International Affairs for the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), recently traveled to Australia and New Zealand to meet with United States and foreign government officials and industry representatives to discuss restrictions on U.S. pork due to unscientific concerns for the transmission of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS)....More
Nov. 16, 2012

News

Trade with the EU Must Address Ag Barriers

While maintaining its support for a free trade agreement (FTA) between the United States (U.S.) and the European Union (EU), a coalition of U.S. food and agricultural organizations led by the National Pork Producers Council reiterated that any deal must include agriculture and that the EU must address non-tariff trade barriers....More
Nov. 15, 2012

News

Pork Board Approves More Funds for Promotion

As pork producers struggle with record-high feed prices caused by the worst U.S. drought since the 1950s, the National Pork Board has approved domestic and international marketing budgets that will help drive pork demand at a critical time....More