Smithfield hit by higher hog prices Thursday, June 10, 2010 Smithfield Food Inc, and the analysts who keep an eye on it, have been caught off guard by the recent leap in hog prices. Meatingplace.com notes that Smithfield was warning investors before regular meetings that its fourth quarter numbers will be weaker than expected, in spite of changes in the way the company is doing business.A BMO Capital Markets analyst noted that Smithfield had still made the right decisions by restructuring its hog business and reducing the amount of debt carried on its balance sheet. The world's largest hog producer is expected to do much better in 2011.Higher raw material costs, meaning hogs, are affecting Smithfield's fresh pork business, while the unexpected run-up in futures has hurt the value of those assets, according to "mark to market" accounting, a system of assigning current market value to financial instruments. BP Bacon a must for foster children? Canada's share of world pork trade predicted to decline
Swine fever deaths surge in Spain amid fears of new virus strain Wednesday, January 14, 2026 Spain has recorded a surge in the deadly African swine fever sweeping Catalonia as authorities bring in drones and helicopters to help contain the outbreak. The region’s department of agriculture announced on Monday that a further 18 wild boar have died from the highly contagious disease... Read this article online
MU Extension tackles persistent labor shortages in hog production Wednesday, January 14, 2026 University of Missouri Extension specialists are working with the swine industry and temporary visa holders to help recruit, retain and develop agriculture professionals needed to address ongoing farm labor shortages. The TN visa program was established in 1994 under the North American... Read this article online
How University of Iowa dropouts built a global ag tech company Wednesday, January 14, 2026 Matthew Rooda began working in the swine industry at a young age. First, he helped his grandfather on a family farm, and later he worked with his father, who managed a commercial farm in Iowa. When it was time for college, he enrolled at the University of Iowa with plans to study genetics... Read this article online
PowerWood Canada Secures Land for Rail Spur to Advance Biofuel Exports Tuesday, January 13, 2026 PowerWood Canada Corp has finalized the purchase of 175 acres of land in northern Alberta from Mackenzie County to construct a rail spur that will transport advanced black biofuel pellets to Canada’s tidewater for export. The land parcel, located in the Mackenzie Highway Industrial... Read this article online
Saving Pigs and Other Livestock from Deadly Diseases Tuesday, January 13, 2026 High-immune response (HIR) technology is changing how farmers protect their animals from diseasethanks to University of Guelph,Ontario Veterinary CollegeprofessorDr. Bonnie Mallard. This technology helpsidentifyanimalsthat naturallyhave stronger immune systems. These animals can pass their... Read this article online