Worldwide hog production shrinks and Smithfield rocks Sunday, February 6, 2011 Only last June, a troubled Smithfield Foods Inc., based in Virginia, was denying published reports from Brazil that it was going to sell its pork production to JBS, the Brazilian meat packing giant that had already purchased Smithfield's beef operations. What a difference a few months make for the self-described world's largest pork processor and hog producer. While worldwide hog production shrank two per cent, Smithfield reported record high earnings in the quarter ending Oct. 31.Smithfield made money on both pig raising and processing. Live hog market prices rose 54 per cent to $56 per hundredweight from $36. Cutout prices rose more. "Smithfield is performing at record levels and we are focused on continuing to deliver strong earnings in the second half of fiscal 2011. All indications are that fiscal 2011 will be a record year for the company," said C. Larry Pope, president and chief executive officer, in a December press release.Published reports indicate that Smithfield managed to pay down half of a US$1 billion debt in bonds that were due in 2011. The other half may not be as easy, since recently the U.S. government renewed an ethanol subsidy that keeps grain prices high. BP 'Pocket pigs' pose problems Commercial feed is the salmonella culprit
Ag in the House: April 27 – May 1 Monday, May 4, 2026 Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald was in the House of Commons on April 27 where he fielded a question from a Conservative MP. Jacob Mantle, the MP for York—Durham, wanted to know if the Liberals will make farm transfer and succession planning easier for Canadian farm families. “If a... Read this article online
Grains Gain Momentum as Trade Hopes, Weather Stress, and Fund Buying Converge Monday, May 4, 2026 On the weekly hosted by Farms.com Risk Management, Chief Commodity Strategist Moe Agostino and Commodity Strategist Abhinesh Gopal, for the week of April 27 to May 1, 2026. The title for this week’s podcast was “” The two experts noted that grain, oilseed, and livestock markets are... Read this article online
Canada’s Meat Sector Joins CAFTA Ahead of CUSMA Review Friday, May 1, 2026 The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance and the Canadian Meat Council have announced that CMC has joined CAFTA as a Friend of the organization, marking an important step in strengthening agri-food trade advocacy at a critical time for Canada’s export-oriented sectors. CAFTA represents... Read this article online
Operating farm equipment in Newfoundland and Labrador Friday, May 1, 2026 Farms.com’s Canadian tour of licensing and insurance requirements for ag machinery continues with a look at Newfoundland and Labrador. Do farmers in Newfoundland and Labrador need a license for farm equipment? If the equipment remains on private property, an operator doesn’t need to... Read this article online
When Grain Stops Moving Rail and Port Delays Cost Canada Up to $540 Million Friday, May 1, 2026 A new economic analysis commissioned by the Agriculture Transport Coalition has found that just one week of rail and port disruptions during peak export season can cost Canada’s grain sector up to $540 million. The majority of these losses stem from missed export sales that cannot be... Read this article online