Packer/Processor

HSUS files SEC complaint; Tyson responds

05/18/2012 1:27:16 PM

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has filed a legal complaint with the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) asserting that Tyson Foods is making deceptive public statements related to animal well-being. Tyson officials report that they have not seen nor been informed of any such filing. ... Full story.

Pork producer losses continue to mount

05/16/2012 5:00:00 AM

Margins slip further into the red for farrow-to-finish producers, having lost another $3.42 per head by the close of last week. Meanwhile, packer margins, while still reporting a loss, have improved by $2.93 per head from the week before. ... Full story.

Denny’s wants gestation-sow stalls off its menu

05/15/2012 3:35:57 PM

Denny’s restaurants announced that the chain will begin to require its suppliers to provide pork from systems that do not use gestation-sow stalls. However, the company did not offer a timeline for implementation. ... Full story.

Thank Domino’s; order a pizza

05/15/2012 5:00:00 AM

A grassroots movement is afoot among those who support U.S. agriculture. More specifically, social media is sending out the word far and wide to support Domino’s Pizza this weekend, May 18-20, by ordering a pie—or several. ... Full story.

New Zealand opens market a crack to U.S. pork

05/14/2012 5:10:00 AM

Porcine reproductive and respiratory (PRRS) costs U.S. pork producers an estimated $646 million annually, but it’s also costing them the potential of exporting pork to the likes of New Zealand and Australia. ... Full story.

Pork exports post strong first quarter

05/11/2012 9:15:00 AM

March export value of $570.5 million was 3 percent higher than last year and up 8 percent from the previous month. These results were led by excellent growth in the China/Hong Kong region and by strong performance in Mexico, Japan and Canada. ... Full story.

Commentary: Whack a mole is not the answer

05/11/2012 5:15:00 AM

Raising, processing, distributing and preparing food involves a complex series of systems. Actions in one sector can have unintended consequences in another. ... Full story.

Hog price decline due to several reasons

05/09/2012 4:13:06 PM

One reason for the recent hog price decline, the number of pigs per litter has risen each quarter since 2003. Another reason, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) predicts that 2012 world pork production will increase by 2.7 percent over 2011 levels. ... Full story.

Actions shown on WPF video, ‘indefensible’

05/09/2012 2:41:51 PM

The verdict is in from the Animal Care Review Panel regarding the actions shown on the undercover video released on Tuesday, which was shot at a Wyoming Premium Farms’ (WPF) sow unit near Wheaton, Wyo. The panel of three animal well-being experts, called the animal mistreatment “unacceptable and indefensible.” ... Full story.

WTO decision on U.S. COOL appeal expected this summer

05/08/2012 4:01:35 PM

Since its inception, U.S. trading partners, specifically Canada and Mexico, have contested the U.S. country-of-origin labeling (COOL) law, arguing that it is a protectionist measure. The law also is unpopular with many U.S. livestock organizations. ... Full story.

HSUS releases video shot at Wyoming Premium Farms

05/08/2012 3:23:56 PM

Capitalizing on the attention of Safeway announcing its new directive regarding gestation-sow housing, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) released an undercover video on Tuesday that was shot at Wyoming Premium Farms (WPF) in April. Investigations are underway, and the industry responds. ... Full story.

Pork producer margins drop into the red

05/08/2012 5:30:00 AM

Pork producer margins continued their downward slide last week, turning negative by showing a 60-cent-per-head loss. Packer margins remain negative, but made up significant ground last week. ... Full story.

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