Hog Outlook: Red ink deepens for producers
The red ink continues to get deeper for hog producers. Iowa State University's monthly estimate of costs and returns indicate the average Iowa hog was sold at a loss of $41.44 during March.
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Bank survey shows livestock operators rebuilding
Livestock operators are ready to expand business with commercial bank loans for livestock purchases rising to record levels not seen almost a decade.
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Key lawmakers hopeful bipartisan immigration bill will pass
Two authors of a bipartisan bill to revamp immigration laws said on Thursday they are hopeful most Senate Democrats and Republicans will support their White House-backed measure.
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Brumm Speaks Out: The farm bill and ag research
In the past few weeks I’ve had conversations with several production systems that have made investments in research facilities. All of the systems say having access to within house research has been one of the reasons they feel they can remain competitive and profitable in the business of pork production.
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Endangered Species Act lawsuit dismissed
The U.S. District Court of Northern California granted motions brought by both CropLife America (CLA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to dismiss the lawsuit Center for Biological Diversity and Pesticide Action Network North America v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
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Hog Outlook: Retail pork prices down from March 2012
Retail pork prices in March averaged $3.466 per pound, up 2.5 cents from the month before, but down 2.4 cents compared to March 2012.
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Coalition behind U.S. immigration bill may be fragile
The eight senators who crafted comprehensive U.S. legislation to overhaul the immigration system went to great lengths to balance the competing priorities of dozens of interest groups. But many of the favorable comments have been accompanied by caveats and "yes, but" statements that illustrate the vulnerability of the bill, which must survive months of legislative scrutiny.
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Hidden impacts of FMD
Outbreaks of foot and mouth disease (FMD) result in a range of direct and indirect costs, and public opinion can play a significant role in response and outcomes. Those were key messages as Sebastian Heath, VetMB, PhD, branch chief of program development with the Federal Emergency Management Agency kicked off this week’s FMD Symposium in Louisville, Ky. The symposium, focusing on FMD preparedness, took place in conjunction with the National Institute for Animal Agriculture’s annual conference.
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Immigration bill would mandate E-Verify
A summary of immigration reform legislation shows employers would be required to use the E-Verify system and outlines a system by which undocumented agricultural workers could obtain legal status. It also outlines a new guest worker visa program for agricultural jobs.
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USMEF: U.S. pork exports to Mexico slip
Through the first two months of this year, U.S. pork exports to Mexico slipped 13 percent in volume (98,237 metric tons) and 12 percent in value ($183.4 million) from the record pace of 2012.
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Group distorts resistance data to blame farmers
Just days after the release of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report showing that medical doctors annually are prescribing enough antibiotics to give them to 80 percent of Americans, a group today is set to issue its own report, claiming that antibiotics use in food animals is the main cause for people developing antibiotic-resistant diseases.
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