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Pork
Profits Could Stretch to the End of the Year
Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Group Corn, Soybean Meal
and Lean Hogs futures as of Friday, June 4 say there is more to come.
My costs and returns model, which are based on the historical Iowa State
estimates, have profits of roughly $30/head for June, July and August,
and nearly $23/head for September. Current future markets would even
provide profits of $5.72/head and $6.87/head, respectively, for November
and December – two months that frequently bring red ink, even in good
years.
So, is the futures market right? As I have pointed out many times, I
find it difficult to argue much with futures markets. They represent a
great melting pot of economic information and analysis, all backing real
money making real bets on what prices will be in the future. I know of
nowhere that more information and analytical talent interact to give us
a prediction of the future. That doesn’t mean futures markets are
always correct. It only begs the question, “What is a better
predictor?”
Good Numbers Needed in Hogs & Pigs Report
USDA’s survey of June 1 hog inventories is underway. Last June’s
survey included 9,200 pork producers. March’s survey covered 8,700,
so I presume that this year’s June survey will go to roughly 9,000
producers. USDA samples large producers more heavily than small
producers since they hold a larger share of total inventories.
Responses were received from about 7,600 producers in June 2009 and
about 7,000 producers in March 2010.
FULL ARTICLE
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Checklist
to Reduce Heat Stress on Sows and Gilts
As the temperatures rise in summer, sow’s body
temperature will increase, too, usually causing a drop in feed intake,
especially during lactation. Lower feed intake causes sows to lose
extra body weight, which can affect pig weaning weights, days to estrus
after weaning, farrowing rate and subsequent litter size.
Because hogs have no sweat glands to cool themselves, we add extra stir
fans, water drippers or cool cells in gestation and farrowing rooms to
reduce the heat stress on sows and gilts.
A sow’s normal body temperature is 100-103o F. They prefer
an environmental temperature at 80o F or less, which is their
thermo-neutral temperature.
Two factors influence the effective environmental temperature (EET) of a
hog – relative humidity and air temperature. These measures can help
create a “heat index” that can be used to determine the temperature
settings for cooling systems. The attached heat index chart (Table 1)
shows how a change in relative humidity or air temperature can change a
sow’s EET.
FULL ARTICLE
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China
Rises to the Top of U.S. Export Market
USDA announced that this fiscal year’s agricultural
exports were on pace to reach the second-highest level in history at
$104.5 billion – $8 billion higher than last year. The report also
indicated that the trade surplus in agriculture is expected to reach $28
billion, the second-highest ever achieved. U.S. agricultural exports to
China grew to $10.6 billion during the first half of fiscal year 2010,
an increase of nearly $3 billion. This made China the United State’s
top market for the first half of the fiscal year.
Regulate non-0157 E. coli Strains — Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
(D-NY) has introduced legislation to require USDA to regulate non-0157
E. coli strains. The proposed legislation would add the confirmed
strains of E. coli (026, 045, 011, 0121, and 0145) and give USDA
authority to find and regulate more toxic strains in the future.
Senator Gillibrand said, “By expanding the definition of adulterants
to other strains, it will require USDA to begin spot testing procedures,
force companies (through legal pressure) to test and eliminate the
pathogen, and require the Food Safety & Inspection Service (FSIS) to
recommend best testing practices to companies.”
FULL ARTICLE
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Downers,
Euthanasia Among First Issues for Ohio Board
Among the first issues to be addressed by the Ohio
Livestock Care Standards Board will be downer animals and euthanasia,
with hopes of submitting recommended rules by the end of summer
“Those issues are the ones that have a great deal of both federal and
state rules and regulations already in place,” says Agriculture
Director Robert Boggs. So, unlike some of the other commodity sorts of
issues that are going to take a lot of study and a lot of research, we
believe that we can move forward on those fairly soon.”
Both issues are also among the provisions included in a proposed
constitutional amendment from the Humane Society of the United States
(HSUS), which has until June 30 to collect over 400,000 valid
signatures, in order to place the measure on the November
ballot.
FULL ARTICLE
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June 8-10, 2010: "Sustaining Animal
Agriculture: Balancing Bioethical, Ecnomic and Social Issues."
Jefferson Auditorium, USDA's South Agriculutre Building
Washington, DC
For more information contact: Dave Stender by
phone (712) 225-6196, fax (712) 225-3173 or e-mail dstender@iastate.edu.
June 9-11, 2010: World Pork Expo, Iowa State
Fairgrounds,
De Moines, IA;
For more information contact: www.worldpork.org.
June 23, 2010: Advanced Swine Reproductive Management
Workshop Lifelong Learning Center
Norfolk, NE
For more
information contact: Dave Stender by phone (712) 225-6196, fax (712)
225-3173 or e-mail dstender@iastate.edu.
FULL ARTICLE
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BLUEPRINT
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In just two days thousands of pork producers and industry
partners will convene at the Iowa State Fairgrounds for the 2010 World
Pork Expo! Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, network, train and
have fun. For an up-to-date glance at all the events and activities, click here.
See you soon!
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