Like September, October was not a very friendly month for many of the agricultural commodities. Mark Oppold looks at how trading did this past month. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Significant Support For ResearchDecember 19, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Considers Efforts Important to Cattle Producers in FloridaDecember 12, 2025Commitment From Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Members Seeks To Move Research …
Rain Delaying Midwest Harvest
Rain across the Midwest is delaying harvest in some areas. Mark Oppold has a look at that, and also at what cattle traders are currently watching. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Significant Support For ResearchDecember 19, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Considers Efforts Important to Cattle Producers in FloridaDecember 12, 2025Commitment From Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Members Seeks To Move …
Early 2023 Hog and Cattle Weights Lagged Behind 2022
Live weights of both hogs and cattle ran below year-earlier weights for the early part of 2023. Hog live weights averaged 284.9 pounds through the week ending on July 8, 2023, compared to 287.3 pounds during the same time in 2022. That’s an average difference of over 2.4 pounds. Lower weights this year are likely because of producer losses caused …
New Animal Disease Early Detection Partnership
There’s a new partnership for early detection of animal diseases. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. It’s a new partnership among the nation’s animal health and biodefense facilities to improve early detection of emerging animal diseases. This is Christy Loiacano, coordinator of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN), with the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service …
NPPC Asks to Intervene in CAFO Rule Court Case
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) has teamed up with the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association, and the United Egg Producers (UEP) requesting the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to allow their intervention in a lawsuit filed by environmental and animal rights extremists against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over …
Smithfield Foods to Close North Carolina Pork Plant
Smithfield Foods will close its Charlotte, North Carolina pork-processing plant and transfer production to its Tar Heel, North Carolina facility. The company says the move is to increase efficiency and better utilize existing capacity, and comes as the company faces “abundant supplies and soft demand” weighing on pork prices. The company will provide financial and other transition assistance to the …
Record Value for Mexico Fuels August Pork Exports; Modest Rebound for Beef
According to new data released by the USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), August exports of U.S. pork were steady year-over-year. This was led by another tremendous performance in Mexico, as shipments totaled 226,519 metric tons (mt) in August, while export value fell 1.5% to just under $650 million. Exports to leading market Mexico remained on a record …
NPPC Seeks Input on Updated Swine Traceability Standards
October is National Pork Month, and one thing U.S. pork producers asked the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) to do is to lead an effort to update the existing swine traceability system. So, NPPC is asking swine producers, veterinarians, cull swine and breeding operators and show pig enthusiasts to comment on the draft standards by Oct. 27, 2023. In 2006, U.S. swine …
Traders Looking Ahead at Two Reports This Week
Traders are looking ahead at two reports coming out this week. Mark Oppold explains what the trade is thinking. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Significant Support For ResearchDecember 19, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Considers Efforts Important to Cattle Producers in FloridaDecember 12, 2025Commitment From Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Members Seeks To Move Research ForwardDecember 5, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board …
Increasing Competition in Global Pork Trade
A recent Rabobank report says competition between major exporters has intensified in the global pork trade, meaning the competitive landscape will continue shifting in the years ahead. Low-cost producers like Brazil and the U.S. will likely have an advantage, while Europe’s position is expected to weaken following increasing market and regulatory requirements concerning animal welfare and sustainability. Countries adopting effective …