News archives 2000

Search by month:

December 2000

USDA has announced national standards for organic food, including labeling requirements and restrictions. Read a USDA news release about the announcement. This website http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/ provides links to the new rule, the background and history of the National Organic Program (NOP), and additional helpful resources. 12/21/2000
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service is offering a series of educational sessions around the country to assist livestock producers in understanding the new mandatory livestock market reporting program. Sessions begin this month and continue through early 2001. The only session scheduled for Iowa will be in Ames in January 2001. Read this USDA news release for more information. 12/14/2000
Read a report on sow housing by John McGlone, director of the Pork Industry Institute at Texas Tech University. 12/14/2000
Meat processors strengthen their fight against potential recalls. Read this article from Just-Food.com on how plants are using the latest technology to combat pathogens and keep food safe for the consumer. 12/11/2000

November 2000

U.S. pork producers are now free to ship their boneless products to Argentina. Read a news release from the National Pork Producers Council. 12/08/2000
Iowa Farm Bureau Federation plans cosponsored swine risk management seminars around the state in December and January. The two-hour seminars will present current and projected fourth quarter 2000 hog prices with emphasis on price risk, ideas and strategies on marketing risk management, and a look at the new swine revenue insurance planned for availability in 2001. Find a list of meetings.
Contact Ed Kordick at IFBF for more information. 11/22/2000
Tyson Foods, Inc. has offered to buy IBP, Inc. at $26 per share. To learn more, read this Tyson news release. 12/04/2000
PQA III (Pork Quality Assurance) recertification is under way for those producers first certified in 1998. National Pork Producers Council has developed new materials specifically for youth that should be available in the next few weeks. To request a copy of this manual, contact NPPC Education Program Manager Kristi Bray at Brayk@nppc.org. For more information on recertification, call NPPC at (800) 456-7675. 12/04/2000
Hog pricing insurance for Iowa producers planned for 2001. IPIC's next quarterly ICN program will provide information on this potential offering. Check out the details at this URL. 11/22/2000
The USDA has announced new regulations that require large meatpacking firms to report daily purchase prices for cattle, swine, lamb and selected meat products. Read a news article. 11/29/2000
Smithfield offers to acquire IBP in a stock-for-stock transaction. Check this URL for more information.
See Smithfield's presentation at this URL. This is a pdf file.
Read IBP's response to Smithfield at this URL. 11/16/2000
Hog prices higher, slaughter numbers lower, and weights the same as a year ago. Read Kansas State University''s Hog Outlook by James Minert at this URL 11/09/2000

October 2000

Pseudorabies Information for Iowa Pork Producers--the latest information on the state's eradication program, implications, vaccination requirements and more.
National Pork Producers Council has a PRV section on its Web site that provides up-to-date data including numbers of infected herds, maps and PRV fact sheets. This section is also linked from the IPIC's PRV page. 10/17/2000
Names, addresses and counties of challenged voters in the recent pork checkoff referendum are available on the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service Web page. 10/13/2000
Check out rooster.com for the latest news, weather, markets and more. It's an e-commerce site, so eventually you're required to register (at no charge.) 10/02/2000
Iowa Attorney General offers more than 30 livestock production and marketing contracts. Check out this Web site at http://www.state.ia.us/government/ag/ag_contracts/index.html 07/08/2000
Composting livestock manure is subject of Michigan State University research study. Read this news release to learn more. 09/25/2000

September 2000

Smaller hog farms can use a "band" system to become competitive, according to a University of Minnesota veterinarian. Read an article on the band system in the latest U of M Sustainable Agriculture newsletter 09/22/2000
Increased Chinese pork demand could raise prices $5 per head. Iowa State University economist Dermot Hayes says higher prices are a definite possibility when permanent normal trade relations are established with China. The U.S. Meat Export Federation and National Pork Producers Council are working on trade development activities between the two countries. Read more in this news release. 09/21/2000
Looking for more information on Paylean? Check out this page at Purdue University for papers and PowerPoint presentations. 09/18/2000
Pigs born from non-surgically implanted embryos using Gourley Scope(TM) technology. Read this news release about the result of implantation procedure at Struthers, Inc. Spencer, IA research farm. 09/06/2000
Kansas State University Extension agricultural economist James Mintert says this fall's Iowa-S. Minnesota cash hog prices are likely to average from $38 to $40. Read the rest of the K-State livestock update newsletter at this URL 09/01/2000
Want to receive e-mail notification of the monthly release of the K-State Livestock Update? Go to this URL 09/01/2000
USDA plans a monthly hog numbers report beginning in October. Read a news release at this URL. 09/01/2000

August 2000

ISU economist John Lawrence says continued high demand for pork could mean a drastic downturn in price a year from now. Read this news article from the Des Moines Register for more information. 08/29/2000
The Packers and Stockyards Administration of the USDA is finishing its investigation into the closing of the former Farmland packing plant in Dubuque. Read more about it at this URL. 08/22/2000
Paylean has been approved by the Food and Drug Adminstration as a swine feed additive, and will be introduced this month on a limited basis. Read this article for more information. 08/22/2000
NPPC says checkoff funds helped turn US from largest importer to second-largest pork exporting nation. Read a news release at this URL. 08/22/2000
Pork checkoff referendum just a month away and North Dakota pork producers don't show overwhelming support. Read a news release at this URL. 08/14/2000
Will there be a critical shortage in slaughter capacity within the next two years? Read what University of Missouri economist Ron Plain thinks at http://agebb.missouri.edu/mgt/bull1b.htm 08/01/2000
ISU study of manure structures in Iowa shows no serious contamination concerns. Read an article by Joe VanSickle of National Hog Farmer Magazine at this URL. 08/01/2000

July 2000

Smithfield, the world's largest pork producer and hog processor, expects record first quarter earnings. Read a news release from the company at http://www.smithfieldfoods.com/news/news_000724.html 07/27/2000
Survey says people will pay more for family-farm raised pork. Read this article from Successful Farming at this address 07/25/2000
"Fresh" is not necessarily the same as "raw" according to the National Food Processors Association (NFPA). Read a news release at http://www.just-food.com/cookieplace.asp?art=10326&page=/news_detail.asp 07/24/2000
Pork producer groups in northwest Iowa work to add value to their products. Read a news release about their activities at this url. 07/20/2000
Strong consumer demand is likely to maintain hog prices that have risen in 2000. Read about the forecast for pork markets in the latest Agricultural Outlook from USDA's Economic Research Service at http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/agoutlook/jun2000/AO272C.PDF This is a pdf file. 07/18/2000
ISU field day will feature liquid manure application systems. Learn more about this event at <http://www.ipic.iastate.edu/events.html> 07/17/2000
Procedures and dates of the referendum on the pork check-off vote have been announced by the USDA. Read the news release at this URL, http://www.ams.usda.gov/news/199-00.htm.
Who may vote? According to the USDA, "Producers who have owned and sold one or more pigs or hogs at any time from Aug.18, 1999, through Aug.17, 2000, are eligible to vote, as are those who have imported pigs, hogs, pork, or pork products during this time period." 07/14/2000
Managing risk through various futures and options strategies. ISU Extension economists John Lawrence and Alan Vontalge on comparing prices and return to the cash market and different packer contracts in this paper at http://www.econ.iastate.edu/faculty/lawrence/ManagingHogPriceRisk.pdf.This is a pdf file. 07/13/2000

June 2000

Certified manure applicators--know your requirements and deadlines.
Commercial manure applicators certified in 1999 must recertify by July 2000. Confinement site manure applicators certified in 1999 must either attend two hours of training each year or pass an exam every three years. 06/21/2000
Have we seen the summer high price for pork? Read what National Pork Producers Council consultant Glenn Grimes says at <http://www.nppc.org/NEWS/PorkLeader000616.html> 06/20/2000

May 2000

1999-2000 Pork Facts now available from the National Pork Producers Council Web site at http://www.nppc.org/PorkFacts/pfindex.html 05/31/2000
July 1 deadline for owners of confinement operations with lagoons or basins. Owners of confinement operations using anaerobic lagoons or earthen basins with a construction permit granted between May 31, 1985 and January 1, 1993 must inspect for drainage tile lines by July 1, 2000. 05/31/2000
Iowa Premium Pork Co. draws 1,400 members. Read an update on this new co-op formed earlier this year by a task force of the Iowa Pork Producers Association. Phase I is set to begin by June 1, 2000. 05/17/2000
Wonder why pork production operations continue to increase in size? To keep their businesses profitable, retailers force concessions from suppliers that reduce supplier profit. As this works its way back along the supply line to the producer, lower prices and resulting lower profit margins to pork producers eventually mean more animals per operation are necessary to make a living. Thus, the trend toward larger herds. University of Minnesota economist Jean D. Kinsey explains how consumer demands are changing the face of today's pork industry. 05/16/2000
The National Animal Health Monitoring System study, Swine 2000, will research respiratory diseases such as porcine reproduction and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), Mycoplasma, and swine influenza virus (SIV). It also will collect blood samples to add to the serum bank established through NAHMS' 1990 National Swine Survey and Swine '95 study at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL). Antibiotic use and environmental issues will be studied. National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) officials will contact eligible pork producers about participating in this NAHMS national study. Eligible producers are defined as those statistically selected swine operations that represent over 90 percent of the U.S. swine population on operations with a total inventory of 100 or more. This population is located in 17 states, including Iowa. Read more about this study. 05/10/2000
Pork America extends membership drive. This initial stage has been extended through June 30, 2000. Registration in some of the 20 targeted states is taking longer than originally expected, and the new national co-op's leadership wants to be sure all who want to join have the opportunity to do that. Iowa City area pork producer John McNutt is the group's new director of development. For more information, call (507) 372-4708 or read this news article. 05/10/2000
Bigger herds--higher disease risk? Iowa State University microbiologist and veterinarian D. L. "Hank" Harris just written the first definitive manual on multi-site production, describing and comparing the many variants of this technology and how they can be used to control or reduce severity of major swine diseases. Harris explains the basis for "isowean" principle, the building block of Multi-Site Pig Production methodologies. He explains the advantages and disadvantages of this new technology that many hog farms utilize. Since isowean was developed specifically for elimination of infectious diseases, Harris emphasizes many aspects of disease control throughout the text. Read more about his book, "Multi-Site Pig Production." 05/09/2000
West central Iowa pork marketing group formed after producers completed a swine marketing information series. Read a news release about the series and the new group. 05/02/2000
Highlights from the NPPC Genetic Evaluation Maternal Line Program are available in this National Hog Farmer article. 05/02/2000

April 2000

Respond soon. Comments on the USDA's proposed rules for voting on the pork checkoff are due May 18, 2000. Read a news release from NPPC on the proposed rules. 04/27/2000
Hog manure boosts forage yields. Preliminary results of a Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute three-year study show that hog manure is a tremendous yield booster when applied to forage crops.04/24/2000
Online meat trading (and more) by meat processing and other food companies means easier access and better potential prices.
- Read a news release about the reaction to these six giants joining hands: IBP Inc., Cargill Inc., Smithfield Foods Inc., Tyson Foods Inc., Gold Kist Inc. and Farmland Industries Inc.
- MeatsUSA is already taking orders. Read about their opening day success. 04/17/2000
Sort no more. A researcher from the Prairie Swine Centre near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan says sorting pigs by weight is a waste of time. Read this article explaining his position, confirmed by a recent Kansas State University study. 04/17/2000
NE Iowa pork producers: USDA wants you. Ag Department teams want to assess the impact on Dubuque-area hog farmers of plans by Smithfield Foods Inc. to buy a packing plant from Farmland Foods Inc. Information gathered by the teams will be used by USDA to determine if the sale violates the Packers and Stockyards Act.
Producers and other interested parties were encouraged to attend the sessions, which will run from 2 p.m.-8 p.m. Iowa meetings will be held at:
--Epworth, Iowa, on April 17 at the Farm Service Agency office, 204 South Center Avenue
--West Union, Iowa, on April 17, at the FSA office, 120 North Industrial Parkway
Other meetings are set for the following day at Mount Carroll, IL and Lancaster, WI. 04/10/2000
Your comments are requested by the Natural Resources Conservation Service on the draft Technical Guidance For Developing Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMPs). NOTE: this deadline has been extended through April 14, 2000. This guidance document will be used by Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and conservation partner state and local field staffs, private consultants, landowners/operators, and others who either will be developing or assisting in the development of comprehensive nutrient management plans (CNMPs). 04/05/2000
Read the draft version of this document.
Read comments submitted by the Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS) (pdf).
Ultrasound Certification Conference set at ISU. Registration is under way for ISU's ultrasound certification conference, established by the National Swine Improvement Federation. This program is the only one of its kind in the country, and last year drew participants from nine different states.
Download the registration brochure (pdf).
Read more about this conference. 04/05/2000
You're invited to the North Central Farm Management Extension Conference that will be held at Michigan State in May. In addition to Extension and university educators, this conference is also designed for anyone interested in gaining a broad understanding of the contemporary issues facing animal production and the complex and difficult choices facing producers and society. Information on registering for this conference can be found at: http://www.mwpshq.org/. Look under the news and announcements section. 04/04/2000
Trip to the Ukraine, anyone? Check out the agenda for the program, International Conference Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the First Successful Embryo Transfer in the Pig. Jointly sponsored by the Iowa State University College of Agriculture, the Ukrainian Academy of Agrarian Sciences, the Ukrainian Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Kharkov [Ukraine] Animal Biotechnology Center, the conference will convene in Kiev, Ukraine and run from May 15-18. For program details, see or contact Curtis Youngs. 04/04/2000
IPIC Associate director James McKean was named a University Professor at Iowa State University's 2000 Spring Convocation. This title is bestowed on a senior faculty member who has had a significant impact on his or her department and the university in the areas of teaching, research and professional service. McKean has been ISU Extension veterinarian since 1974 and associate director at IPIC since its inception. 04/04/2000
Are we in a true hog cycle? Read what ISU economist John Lawrence has to say on the matter. His "Life Cycle of a Hog Cycle" is updated after USDA reports. View his March 30 ICN presentation. 04/04/2000

March 2000

$50 hogs by summer? Read ISU Extension economist John Lawrence's comments (in pdf-format) on the latest USDA Hogs and Pigs Report. 03/27/2000
Lagoon monitoring through technology -- learn about the continuous monitoring systems developed by two companies in this National Hog Farmer article. 03/27/2000
Iowa State University will host the Tri-State Swine Retreat late this summer at the Wallace Research Farm near Lewis. Kristjan Bregendahl of ISU's animal science department is in charge of the event. 03/17/2000
Mabry ready for lead role
02/16/2000
Why does hog manure stink? Researchers from the USDA's Agricultural Research Service are delving into this problem--literally. They're sampling waste handling facilities and the lower digestive track of swine to determine which bacteria are most likely to cause a stink. So to speak. Read about their efforts in this article from the March issue of Agricultural Research magazine. 03/13/2000
Composting can be a convenient way to dispose of animal carcasses on the farm. Learn how composting works with Tom Glanville of ISU's Ag and Biosystems Engineering department.
Read a publication on the newest Iowa Department of Natural Resources composting regulations. 03/07/2000
Fresh meat branding is among the latest efforts to bring recognition to individual market segments. Read what Dennis DiPietre of E-Markets says about how brands are determined and what happens with a brand's success or failure in National Hog Farmer magazine. 03/07/2000
Iowa pork producers now have a new PRV eradication program. Read this news release from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, "Judge Announces 2000 Pseudorabies Eradication Program," to learn more. 03/07/2000
1. Look at a map of counties requiring vaccination of imported feeder pigs and designation of stage II and stage III areas.

2. Check out the Iowa Health Requirements Governing the Admission Of Hogs to the state.

3. Here are the 2000 health requirements for exhibition of livestock, poultry and birds at a county 4-H/FFA fair.
Contract producers are encouraged by the Iowa Attorney General's office to use the contract lien registration opportunity to help preserve their financial standing. Steve Reno and Steve Moline of the AG's farm division urge producers to file a new form every six weeks. The lien form is found on the Web site of the Iowa Secretary of State.
This is a Livestock Production Contract Checklist, developed by Attorney General Tom Miller's Production Contracts Task Force. Although the date is 1996, the information is still current and applicable to today's production contracts. 03/06/2000
Iowa pork producers are invited to learn more about the Iowa Premium Pork Company, a new closed cooperative formed by a task force from the Iowa Pork Producers Association. Read about this co-op and check the schedule of informational meetings for a site near you. 03/02/2000
There will be a check-off vote for pork producers after all. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman announced yesterday that he's calling for the first vote on the Pork Check-off since it began 14 years ago. 03/01/2000

February 2000

The Iowa Pork Producers Association has named 32 producers from around Iowa as members of the Iowa Pork Ambassadors. Read about this new group and learn how to reach the person in your part of Iowa. There's no charge for their services.02/29/2000
The new nationwide pork cooperative, Pork America, is looking for members and a CEO. Read news releases about their initial membership drive and search for a leader who help members fulfill their mission of finding new ways for producer-members to participate in the pork value chain by assuming greater risk while striving to capture a larger share of the retail pork dollar. 02/23/2000
A European-like strain of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has been identified in an Iowa herd by University of Minnesota scientists. Location of the herd has not been made public, but researchers say the operation's veterinarian submitted samples to them after recognizing possible symptoms of the disease. Read a news release about this finding. 02/19/2000
To learn more about the disease and what it might mean for other Iowa producers, read this question-and-answer piece by the National Pork Producers Council. 02/19/2000
Composting--is it right for your operation?
As rendering costs increase, pork producers are looking at ways to keep their animal disposal costs down. One such method is composting. Learn more about composting and how it could work in your operation. 02/15/2000
ISU Swine Teaching Farm Honored by Iowa Pork Producers as a Master Seedstock Producer. Read more about this award. 02/11/2000

January 2000

ISU animal science leader named honorary master pork producer
AMES - Dennis Marple, head of the Department of Animal Science at Iowa State University, has been named an Honorary Master Pork Producer by the Iowa Pork Producers Association. The award was announced at the Iowa Pork Congress held last month in Des Moines.
Marple joined Iowa State in 1992 as head of the animal science department. As department head at ISU, Marple has responsibility for instruction, research and extension programs that support the swine, beef, dairy, sheep, horse and poultry industries.
Marple served as the ISU liaison to the USDA for the development and construction of the National Swine Research Center in Ames. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Iowa Pork Producers Association and the Iowa Cattlemen's Association. He also is an officer and director of several animal science societies. January 2000

Page last updated: 8/25/04