Feedstuffs in Focus

On the backside of a global pandemic that wreaked havoc on the global supply chain, the Russian invasion of Ukraine added further strain and chaos to the global marketplace. In the short run, the unprovoked war drove commodity prices higher, but what will the long-term consequences be for the global meat and animal feed markets? In this episode we’ll dig into the broader implications of Russia’s w...

Rail service failures in recent months have led to widespread delays of train delivery at major grain export destinations. Failures and delays that have cost the grain industry more than $100 million through the first quarter of 2022, according to the National Grain and Feed Association. NGFA testified this week before the Surface Transportation Board about those failures and costs to the industry...

Researchers at Kansas State and Ohio State universities recently calculated that performance gaps between barrows and gilts cost integrated swine operations as much as $5.12 per gilt, a significant cost you might think of as “The Gilt Gap.” Dr. Jason Woodworth, a nutritionist at Kansas State University, and Dr. Ben Bohrer, a meat scientist at The Ohio State University, conducted a statistical anal...

Next month the Animal Agriculture Alliance will be under the leadership of a new president and CEO.  The Alliance, a decades-old consortium of trade associations, companies and other stakeholder groups in the food animal sector, recently announced the promotion of Hannah Thompson-Weeman, the organization’s current vice president of strategic engagement, following the departure of its longtime pres...

Environmental compliance, right-to-farm laws, contracting issues and more. Agriculture is not without its legal risk management challenges, particularly in the livestock sector. What strategies can producers adopt to protect themselves from potential liability and litigation? At the Midwest Poultry Federation Convention in Minneapolis, Minn., last month, attorney Paul Goeringer presented a worksho...

After nearly two months of waiting, the U.S. Supreme Court this week announced they would be hearing the case brought by the National Pork Producers Council and the American Farm Bureau Federation challenging California’s Proposition 12 requiring additional space requirements for gestating sows. The state law seeks to ban the sale of pork from hogs that don’t meet what agriculture groups describe...

Animal disease challenges are simply a part of life in livestock production, but some disease challenges are more problematic than others. One major problem facing the poultry industry this spring is highly-pathogenic avian influenza, a viral disease currently popping up in flocks and in wild birds across the country. How well-prepared is the poultry industry for this challenge, what is the curren...

The Fed increased Interest rates this week as part of its plan to tackle inflation. The modest rate hike is part of a strategy to ensure a smooth "glide path" for the economy, which heated up in part due to the unprecedented events of the COVID-19 pandemic and the attendant federal efforts to help consumers and businesses stay afloat. But what will that rate hike mean for agriculture? We...

Despite strong growth in both the agriculture and construction sectors over the past 18 months, fewer equipment companies are optimistic about that growth trend continuing in 2022, particularly given the ongoing issues with inflation, workforce shortages and supply chain disruptions. With costs on the rise across the manufacturing and logistics sectors, is long-term growth in agricultural equipmen...

Animal disease outbreaks are one of the key challenges facing livestock producers and veterinarians. State veterinarians and related animal health officials at the state level play a critical role in managing outbreaks of certain diseases that could devastate the industry. Significant progress has been made in recent years but there is more that needs to be done to support the preparedness and pla...

The COVID-19 pandemic created a complex and confusing labor market on a national scale, and the agriculture sector is feeling the strain both literally and figuratively. Combatting employee burnout is critical to the bottom line of the business, and something that isn’t easily done given the generational diversity seen in the modern workforce. While much of the current labor challenge centers on s...

Beef prices – like all food prices – have increased as the inflationary story in the marketplace unfolds. Thus far consumers haven’t balked at paying higher prices for their favorite center-of-plate protein, but how long can that demand hold out? And what is the outlook for the cattle producer as feed costs escalate, too? Don Close is an agricultural economist, and senior animal protein analyst wi...

After the Supreme Court ruled that the Biden Administration had overstepped its authority in mandating COVID-19 vaccination for businesses, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration withdrew its vaccine and testing rules. So where does that leave private employers, and do feed manufacturers and large livestock operations have any regulatory responsibilities with regard to the ongoing pande...

A great nutrition program is foundational to success in livestock production, and mineral supplementation is a big part of proper nutrition. One company says it has pioneered a unique approach to mineral supplementation that will lead to improved daily gains and profitability. Neil Bumgarner is the Director of Sales for Ridley Block Operations, an Alltech Company, and manager of the Blueprint anim...

Two years into a global pandemic, the challenges facing the animal protein and animal feed industries are many, from labor and logistics to inflationary pressures and ongoing human health concerns. Leading a global company in this space is no small task in the best of years, let alone in the current environment. At this week’s International Production and Processing Expo in Atlanta, Georgia, leade...

To many in agriculture, the letters E-P-A may as well spell a four-letter word. Long a source of frustration for landowners and producers of a variety of commodities, the Environmental Protection Agency plays an important role in regulating a variety of aspects of food production and natural resource stewardship. At this week’s Farm Futures Business Summit, hosted by our sister publication Farm Fu...

You’ve seen the signs; from your local diner to national retail chains and seemingly every business in between, the “help wanted” sign is practically everywhere you turn.  Although the COVID pandemic created a complex and confusing labor market on a national scale, the agriculture sector has dealt with labor challenges for a long time, particularly in the areas of live animal production and logist...

The plant-based market continues to grow, particularly in the human and pet sectors. Along with that growth new premium market opportunities for soybean growers are emerging. In this segment, Feedstuffs editor Sarah Muirhead catches up with Bruce Bennett, president of ingredients at Benson Hill, to talk about those market opportunities in general as well as the things the company is doing to expan...

The National Pork Industry Foundation has announced the Neil Dierks Scholarship, created to support students seeking a graduate degree, in a field related to the pork industry, at a land grant university.  As CEO of the National Pork Producers Council for more than 30 years, Neil Dierks devoted himself to U.S. pork producers’ well-being.  His 2021 retirement created an opportunity to honor his con...

PRRS and PEDv are diseases of particular concern to the swine industry, but they are far from the only economically important diseases of note in pork production. How big is the financial impact of these disease challenges for the average producer, and what are some management strategies that can help producers reduce or eliminate these pressures from their herd? That’s the subject of this week’s...

“Help Wanted” signs seem to hang in the window of every business in America these days, and the labor shortage is a frequent topic of discussion on the nightly news. How has the pandemic changed the job market for companies in the essential industries of animal agriculture and construction?  In this episode we talk about the challenges employers face in the agriculture industry, and the outlook fo...

Standing at the intersection of nutrition, technology, science, policy, and consumer values is our food system. It’s a complex system that consistently delivers a safe and affordable food supply with a dizzying array of choices to fit a growing list of customer needs and wants. With families across the country gathering around the table to break bread and give thanks this week, let’s take a moment...

Animal welfare has long been a topic of discussion, and even some debate, across the food sector and within agriculture but when both sectors can come together to discuss moving forward, it’s a powerful thing. That is exactly what took place this week in Orlando, Fla., and Feedstuffs editor Sarah Muirhead was on hand and had the opportunity to catch up with symposium organizer Angela Baysinger, DV...

Global exports have become an important part of the U.S. pork industry’s growth in recent decades, and the emergence of African Swine Fever – particularly in China – has had profound impacts on the flow of pork products around the world. Recent research funded by the National Pork Board looks at the ways the industry can and should diversify its global marketing strategy to adjust and adapt to tho...

Over the past two decades, U.S. animal protein exports grew from $7.4 billion to $20.7 billion, driven by a combination of strong marketing by the industry and a series of trade negotiations between governments. Today, global trade accounts for 10%-30% of U.S. animal protein production, depending on industry segment. But with the Trump Administration’s harder line on trade changing the tone of U.S...