Local farmers hope Smithfield deal gets consumers thinking
Jody and Beth Osmund don’t expect the sale of Smithfield Foods to Shuanghui International to bring a mass exodus of concerned carnivores to their farm gate for the naturally-raised, antibiotic-free meat they raise and sell.
Swine judge set to evaluate 600th competition
The summer months are a busy time in the agriculture industry as farmers are busy in the fields keeping an eye on their crops and county fair season gets underway.
Saturated fats do not yield better bacon
A recent paper published in the Journal of Animal Science suggests producers may want to adjust pig diets when including distillers dried grains with solubles.
Biosecurity, sanitation key to controlling PEDV outbreaks
A potentially-costly virus in the U.S. hog herd has veterinarians and those in the U.S. hog industry doing some detective work. “I believe it’s truly a new introduction,” said Dr. Joe Connor of Carthage Veterinary Service in Carthage, Ill.
Nation’s largest pork processor announces sale
The nation’s largest hog processor, Smithfield Foods, announced that it was entering into a merger agreement with Shuanghui International Holdings Limited, the majority shareholder of Henan Shuanghui Investment and Development Co., China’s largest meat processor.
World Pork Expo seminars get down to business
The World Pork Expo’s three days are filled with information and insights, and leading that effort are the business seminars. Scheduled for Wednesday, June 5, and Thursday, June 6, they will feature cutting-edge ideas on swine nutrition and management and improved utilization of manure, as well as weather and market outlooks.
Pork checkoff offers pork management conference
The Pork Checkoff is offering the 2013 Pork Management Conference, Your Pork Industry Investment, June 18-21 in Denver. The conference brings together industry experts to speak on current business trends and challenges, helping pork producers gain important insight and financial sophistication they can use to help manage through tough economic times.
Pork producers make friends, open doors with chops and charcoal
The original Big Grill, all 300 feet of it, still is around and ready to go if needed, said Dennis Gienger, a Tama County pork producer. “We don’t put up the massive grill anymore, but it’s still here in a trailer. But we can bring it out if we needed to,” he said.
Nutritional value of copra, palm products fed to pigs established
Products derived from coconuts and oil palm trees are the primary protein sources in swine diets in parts of Africa, Southeast Asia, South America and Europe. New research from the University of Illinois is helping to establish the nutritional value of these products.
Sturtevant opens barn doors for Field Moms’ project
For Jennifer Sturtevant, getting involved with the Illinois Farm Families Field Moms’ program was as easy as opening the doors.
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