March 02, 2021
Livestock Risk Protection Valuable to Producers’ Toolbox
The last twelve months is a period most of us would just as soon move past. ...
The last twelve months is a period most of us would just as soon move past. While much attention was focused on a global pandemic, a summer of civil unrest, and a November election, USDA was revamping ...
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November 03, 2020
Pork Cutout Futures
Pork cutout futures start trading later this month. For many producers, this ...
Pork cutout futures start trading later this month. For many producers, this can be a significant addition to their margin management strategy. Pork producers often price their animals using ...
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August 04, 2020
It’s Time to Re-examine Livestock Revenue Protection
Tumultuous market conditions and repeated ad-hoc disaster payments highlight ...
Tumultuous market conditions and repeated ad-hoc disaster payments highlight need for improved longer-term, market-based support for livestock producers. The term “unprecedented” has been ...
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June 03, 2020
Understanding Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Payments
The CARES Act was passed by Congress to provide quick and direct economic ...
The CARES Act was passed by Congress to provide quick and direct economic assistance to Americas to combat the economic impacts of COVID-19. The Act also directed the USDA to administer the newly-created ...
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May 03, 2020
Understanding USDA Cutout Reports
What is the best way to determine the fair market value of a pig? This seemingly ...
What is the best way to determine the fair market value of a pig? This seemingly innocuous question has resulted in a multitude of opinions over the years as market dynamics, participants, and ...
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January 02, 2020
Supply, Demand and Price – Looking Ahead to 2020
As 2019 closes out, hog producers are no doubt feeling better about the upcoming ...
As 2019 closes out, hog producers are no doubt feeling better about the upcoming year compared to what is being left behind. To say this year was tumultuous for the industry is putting it mildly. ...
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August 06, 2019
Keeping Improved Hog Margins in Perspective
Following a difficult period earlier this spring in May and June when hog margins ...
Following a difficult period earlier this spring in May and June when hog margins plummeted on rising domestic production and a sharp increase in corn prices, profitability has returned as falling ...
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May 07, 2019
Managing Hog Margins in a High Volatility Market
Recent volatility in the hog market has been both a blessing and a curse for ...
Recent volatility in the hog market has been both a blessing and a curse for producers trying to navigate the current environment as they evaluate risk management decisions. On the one hand, ...
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January 03, 2019
The New Year Brings Both Hope and Fear
With 2019 about to begin, U.S. hog producers are hopeful that the New Year ...
With 2019 about to begin, U.S. hog producers are hopeful that the New Year will deliver better financial outcomes for their operations than what 2018 provided. Among other casualties of the escalating ...
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