Meat and Poultry Demand Struggles Continue
US - In this week's "Market Preview" featured in National Hog Farmer magazine, Steve Meyer discusses the meat and poultry demand situation in the US.

Corn Price Swings to Continue?
US - Since early October, corn prices have bounced in a wide trading range. March 2012 futures have traded between about $5.75 and $6.75 while December 2012 futures have been between about $5.35 and $6.20,...

Pork Commentary: Banff Pork Seminar
CANADA - This past week we attended the Banff Pork Seminar held annually in the mountain resort town of Banff Alberta, writes Jim Long.

Measures to Manage Markets Needs Strengthening
EU - In the wake of increased market volatility, Copa-Cogeca welcomed yesterdays EU Farm Ministers debate on measures needed to manage agricultural markets, and called for them to be strengthened. In particular,...

Drought and Floods Hitting Agricultural Production
GLOBAL - A strange mixture of drought and foods appears to be affecting agricultural and livestock production across the Americas - both North and South.

Pig Farming in Mallorca Declining
SPAIN - In 2011, Mallorca’s Black Pig population fell by 20 per cent. The Association of Mallorcan Pork Producers (Porci-PIMEM) warned Agricultural Minister Gabriel Company about the grave situation...

Swine Herd Expansion Modest, Despite Profitability
US - Hog producers have remained cautious about expanding their breeding herds despite the industry's return to profitability – a wise decision considering there is still much economic uncertainty for...

US Hog Prices Record High in 2011
US - US hog prices were record high in 2011 and a big portion of the credit goes to international trade, writes Ron Plain.

Last Restrictions on Pork Import from Lithuania
LITHUANIA - Lithuanian State Food and Veterinary Service said that Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance lifted interim restriction on pork export from Kaunas region as...

Shout Prices Slip Across the Board
UK - Although Friday proved to be another depressing day for sellers especially in the spot market, signs are starting to emerge that we may be at or close to the bottom of the January trough that we seem...

Reduced Feed Costs Could Boost Profitability
CANADA - The President of Westside Economics predicts reduced feed costs will translate into improved profitability for North American pork producers throughout 2012 and into 2013, according to Bruce ...

Pork Turning Up the Volume
UK - Last year was good for fresh and frozen pork as volume sales were 2.2 per cent up on the year – the only meat to show an increase.

Ag to Consolidate Recent Growth through 2012
IRELAND - Following two years of impressive growth, the Irish agriculture sector is set to consolidate its position in 2012, according to a study released by Teagasc yesterday, 19 January 2012.

Broadening Feedstocks Eligible for RFS
US - US Representative Pete Olson (Texas) is introducing bipartisan legislation to increase competition, stabilise food prices and enhance American energy security and global competitiveness.

Meat, Milk, Eggs, Fish Not on Deflation Diet
INDIA - Food inflation has remained in negative territory for a third week, though the rate of decline has slowed quite a bit in the first week of 2012. Though prices of most articles continued to fall,...

New Technology Key to Increasing Food Production
CANADA - The Global President of Elanco Animal Health suggests freeing up access to new technology will be key to enabling farmers to meet the growing global demand for food, Bruce Cochrane writes.

ILRI Pig Production Project in Nagaland
NAGALAND, INDIA - A new set of training manuals for pig farmers is now available. The manuals inform poor rural pig farmers in developing countries how to ‘intensify’ their production, using lessons...

Minister Urges Greater Efforts to Boost Farm Exports
SOUTH KOREA - South Korea's agriculture minister on Thursday urged increased efforts to boost the country's food and agricultural exports, stating the country's free trade agreement (FTA) with the United...

Ingredients that Lower Feed Cost for Weanling Pigs
US - An extension swine specialist with Kansas State University says producers of weanling pigs can reduce feeding costs without sacrificing productivity by substituting less costly ingredients into their...

CME: Pork Production Forecast Higher in 2012
US - The latest WASDE forecasts for US beef, pork and poultry supplies in 2012 were little changed from December. There continues to be broad expectation that US meat protein supplies will be tighter...

Pork Industry's Ability to Help Meet Food Demand
CANADA - The Chair of the Banff Pork Seminar Advisory Committee predicts population growth will challenge Canada's pork producers to expand production and improve efficiency to help meet an increased demand...

Viet Nam Hog Markets
VIET NAM - Throughout 2011, the large price increase in pork has been quite pronounced amongst the livestock product groups. From early 2011 until now, all prices for livestock products increased continuously,...

CME: Pork & Beef Value in November Hit Records
US - The excellent year for US pork and beef exports continued in November with pork tonnage and value setting new records and beef tonnage and value hitting their highest level for November on record,...

Meat Industry Hits Back over Cancer and Meat Claims
UK - The British pig industry has hit back following the publication in the British Journal of Cancer by researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm suggesting eating two rashers of bacon a day...

Corn Stocks Report Throws Another Curve Ball
US - In this week's "Market Preview" featured in National Hog Farmer magazine, Steve Meyer discusses the latest WASDE and "Grain Stocks" report released by the US Department of Agriculture (U...

Farm Produce Prices Rise for 8th Straight Week
CHINA - Farm produce prices rose for an eighth consecutive week last week, while the prices of producer goods remained unchanged, the Ministry of Commerce said Tuesday.

Understanding the Surprise in Corn Stocks Estimate
US - The corn market was surprised by the USDA’s final 2011 corn production estimate and the estimate of 1 December 2011 corn stocks. The March 2012 futures price declined by $0.52 per bushel in the...

Helping British Pig Exports Succeed
UK - A call has been put out to support the British pig industry and to back quality British pig meat after a UK pig meat processing company was blocked from exporting to China, writes Lucy Towers, ThePigSite...

Margin-Based Approach for Risk Management
CANADA - The Managing Director of the Alberta Pig Company encourages hog producers to adopt a margin based approach to managing the economic risks associated producing pork, Bruce Cochrane writes.

EU Pig Prices: Pig Prices Reach Bottom
EU - It seems that the bottom has been reached on the EU markets with regard to pig prices.