Seasonal Supply Lows Pressuring Spot Market Prices

Supplies are in line with the projections from the latest hog inventory data. Market participants seem surprised by the seasonal shortfall. Hog and pork prices are firm in the near term.

- Hog slaughter was under 2.3 million head for the 5th consecutive week. While supplies are in line with the projections from the latest hog inventory data, nonetheless market participants seem surprised by the seasonal shortfall. Hog and pork prices are firm in the near term.
­ Lower than expected pork prices in May and June appear to have bought some demand in July and... 

Pork Checkoff: Mixed Signals in the Market as Some Items Struggle, Others Trade Firm

The cure for high prices is high prices — lack of features and ample inventory cause prices to adjust and create future opportunities.

Highlights
• Following the record-breaking levels of a year ago, backribs are now at the lowest levels of the past five years. Prices may need to stay low for a bit longer to “buy” some demand from retail and foodservice. For operators, current prices present excellent feature opportunities.

• Pork prices were firm at the end of the week on seasonally lower slaughter as well...

USDA Data, Climate & Weather Driving Markets

The June webinar covered domestic weather patterns and predictions, global events in crop and livestock markets and the most recent USDA Hogs and Pigs Report.

The National Pork Board uses Pork Checkoff funds to provide operational value to pork producers, crop farmers and other stakeholders through educational materials and other resources, which includes a webinar series.

On June 29, NPB welcomed experts Andrew Thut from IBM, Erin Borror from U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) and Altin Kalo from Steiner Consulting Group to speak to producers about domestic weather patterns and predictions...

NPB Elects New 2022-2023 Officers

The new NPB officers will lead the 15 producer directors that represent the 60,000 U.S. pig farmers who pay into the Pork Checkoff.

Indiana pork producer Heather Hill was elected to serve as president of the National Pork Board (NPB) for the 2022-2023 term. NPB’s 15 producer directors represent the 60,000 U.S. pig farmers who pay into the Pork Checkoff – a program funding research, promotion and education efforts for the benefit of the whole industry.

“Real Pork is about real farmers, leading efforts to ensure the public understands our product is real nutritious..." 

Cybersecurity Tips for Your Farm Business

Security experts are urging all farmers, including pork producers, to make cybersecurity a top priority for their businesses. This type of criminal activity continues to target America’s food industry.

Security experts are urging all farmers, including pork producers, to make cybersecurity a top priority for their businesses. This type of criminal activity continues to target America’s food industry.

The FBI informed the food and agriculture sector that ransomware actors are more likely to attack. The agency says agricultural cooperatives are of particular concern during critical planting and harvest seasons...

Impact of the Ukraine-Russia War on the Meat and Livestock Value Chain

Last week, National Pork Board hosted a Checkoff-funded webinar – The Ukraine-Russia War and the Meat Livestock Value Chain – to provide pork producers with an analysis of the current situation. Panelists included:

- Rupert Claxton, Gira
- Joe Kerns, Partners for Production Agriculture
- Dr. Steve Meyer, Partners for Production Agriculture

Impact of War Has Market Consequences Worldwide
Rupert Claxton shared the global economic impact of the Ukraine-Russia War on energy, fertilizer, feed and the livestock markets.

Fertilizer

Russia accounts for 13% of globally traded fertilizer value, producing...

NPB’s Mission to Make Pork a Leading, Sustainable Protein Choice

The 2022 U.S. Pork Industry Sustainability Report establishes the We Care® Ethical Principles as tools to measure on-farm sustainability efforts.

National Pork Board released its official U.S. Pork Industry Sustainability Report as a part of its continuous efforts to produce a leading, sustainable protein choice.

NPB announced the action-based and producer-developed goals and metrics in a Checkoff-funded producer webinar last month, in partnership with AgriPulse. Experts spoke about how the goals align with the six We Care® Ethical Principles, how producers can measure their...

Analysis: Experts Discuss U.S. Pork Export Data and NPB Diversification Strategy

NPB hosted a webinar following the report release to help pork producers understand the publicly available information.

The National Pork Board hosted a webinar on February 11 where experts spoke on the 2021 year-end U.S. pork export data, NPB’s international marketing strategy and their estimates for 2022 forecasting.

On February 8, USDA released the year-end export data. In 2021, U.S. pork exports set a new value record topping $8 billion for the first time. Export volume was down 2% from the 2020 record...

NPB Announces Pork Industry Sustainability Goals and Metrics, Releases First Official Report

More than half of U.S. consumers have made some modest changes in their purchasing decisions to be more sustainable, according to the Global Sustainability Study 2021.1

Today, the National Pork Board (NPB) shared more about its industry’s aspiration to produce a leading sustainable protein choice, with an announcement of goals and metrics and its first official U.S. Pork Industry Sustainability Report.

Sustainability Goals Developed By Pork Producers
The goals and report are part of the NPB’s sustainability efforts, which are led by producers and funded by their...

SHIC Receives Pork Checkoff Funding for Program Extension to 2027

The National Pork Board of directors has approved an additional $15 million investment of Pork Checkoff funds in the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) extending funding through 2027.

Launched with Checkoff funds in 2015, SHIC works to protect and enhance the health of the U.S. swine herd. This is done through coordinated global disease monitoring, targeted research investments that minimize the impact of future disease threats and analysis of swine health data.

The investment brings direct value back to producers through SHIC’s animal health research priorities...

Optimizing Manure as a Nutrient Source

Swine manure is an economical alternative to commercial fertilizer, especially with ongoing supply chain disruptions. Using manure more strategically this fall can help decrease overall commercial fertilizer costs.

Pig farmers have always been committed to safeguarding and nurturing natural resources now and for future generations. One of the many ways pig farmers manage natural resources on the farm is through nutrient application plans. This includes deciding whether to use manure, commercial fertilizer or a combination of these tools.

Sustainability means doing what’s right for people, pigs, and the planet by following the long-standing...

Pork Checkoff: Understanding PRRS 1-4-4

The swine industry is battling a tough strain of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus – PRRS 1-4-4 Lineage 1C. It is an unusual strain because infections peak in spring/summer, as well as fall/winter months, compared to other strains that typically only peak in fall/winter months. However, pork producers have the prevention tools to combat the pathogen and prevent spread, including biosecurity and research.

For the October Pork Checkoff producer webinar, animal health experts presented guidance, biosecurity considerations and recent research on PRRS. Speakers included:

- Pat Bane, Illinois pork producer...

Study Validates Pork Industry’s Biosecurity Measures Against African Swine Fever

On the heels of the announcement of African swine fever (ASF) confirmed in the Dominican Republic, a new study has found no major areas have been overlooked to prevent the introduction of ASF to the U.S. The year-long study was funded by the Pork Checkoff and Swine Health Information Center (SHIC).

“While we are encouraged by the report’s overall assessment of the industry’s progress in reducing the risk of ASF introduction into the country, we know that there’s always...