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
Flash Drought Threat Grows Across Southern Plains as Historic El Niño Builds Saturday, August 22, 2026 After flooding, a derecho, storms, and wildfire smoke, asignificant shift in North America's weather pattern is creating a new set of challenges for farmers, with forecasters warning that flash drought conditions are becoming a growing concern across key agricultural regions of the United... Read this article online
U.S. Opens Door to Additional Beef Imports in Bid to Lower Ground Beef Prices Friday, August 21, 2026 President Donald Trump announced on August 21 that the United States will temporarily allow up to 300,000 metric tons of beef intended for ground beef production to enter the country without being subject to out-of-quota tariffs for a period of 90 days. According to the president, the... Read this article online
Niagara Flooding Pushing Fruit Prices Higher, Not Only This Year, but for Many Years Wednesday, August 19, 2026 Heavy rainfall and flooding in Ontario's Niagara region could have lasting effects on fruit production and prices across Canada. Agricultural experts warn that damage to orchards may reduce supplies of popular fruits such as peaches, plums, and cherries in the coming years.Read the article:... Read this article online
New Ag Partnership Prioritizes Farmer Mental Health Wednesday, August 19, 2026 The Do More Agriculture Foundation and McDonald’s Canada have announced a new partnership focused on supporting mental wellbeing within Canada’s agricultural community. The collaboration began with a roundtable discussion held during the Canadian Beef Industry Conference on August... Read this article online
Canada places restrictions on Finnish pork imports over ASF Wednesday, August 19, 2026 Canada is restricting some imports of Finnish pork and related products due to African swine fever (ASF) in that country. An Aug. 18 Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) notice indicates the measures are meant to “safeguard the health of Canada’s livestock and prevent the economic... Read this article online