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Better Pork Featured Articles

Better Pork magazine is published bimonthly. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Pork belly futures a thing of the past

Monday, October 3, 2011

The mid-July notice from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange was simple and terse.
"Because of a prolonged lack of trading volume and after significant discussion with industry participants, CME will be delisting Frozen Pork Bellies Futures and Options effective Monday July 18, 2011."

According to Minyanville Media, which reports on commodity trading, pork belly trading, which celebrated its 50th birthday this year, was the most recognized and glamorous of the commodity trading contracts. Pork bellies, frozen in the winter when demand was low, were thawed in the summer to meet the high demand when bacon and tomato sandwiches were peaking. The seasonal demand produced a need to hedge against higher prices. A single contract consisted of 40,000 pounds of frozen trimmed bellies from which bacon was made.

Minyanville said trading in hog bellies declined for a number of reasons. The packing industry has switched to fixed price contracting. A few huge companies producing both pigs and bacon dominate. On top of that, demand is no longer seasonal, with hamburger chains adding bacon to make their sandwiches more palatable. BP
 

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Farms.com Swine News

Swine Health Ontario confirms first PED case of 2026

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Ontario has its first case of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) in 2026. A finisher barn in Perth County is dealing with the disease as of Jan. 2, Swine Health Ontario says. In total, Ontario has 23 active instances of PED dating back to January 2025. Seven are in Perth County,... Read this article online

Winter AGM roundup

Monday, January 5, 2026

It’s early in 2026 and industry groups are preparing for annual general meetings. Here’s a brief roundup of the meetings on the horizon. The Sask Crops Forum on Jan. 13 and 14 at the Western Development Museum at 2610 Lorne Ave. in Saskatoon, will include AGMS for four producer... Read this article online

Ag represented in Order of Canada recipients

Monday, January 5, 2026

A member of Saskatchewan’s ag community is among the 80 newest appointees to the Order of Canada. Governor General Mary Simon appointed Wayne Brownlee, the CFO of PotashCorp who helped the company become Nutrien, to the Order of Canada on New Year’s Eve. The Order of Canada is Canada’s... Read this article online

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