Latest News From HOGS

Meat Institute Announces Ambitious Climate Target
Meat Institute Announces Ambitious Climate Target

The North American Meat Institute announced that 100% of its members will deliver independently approved science-based greenhouse gas reduction targets in line with the Paris Climate Agreement goals by 2030.

Alltech’s 2020 Sustainability Report Underscores its Commitment to a Planet of Plenty
Alltech’s 2020 Sustainability Report Underscores its Commitment to a Planet of Plenty

Alltech believes agriculture can meet global demand and positively impact the future of our planet. The company's vision of Working Together for a Planet of PlentyTM is reflected its 2020 Alltech Sustainability Report.

Alltech Unveils 2020 Sustainability Report
Alltech Unveils 2020 Sustainability Report

Agriculture has the greatest potential not only to meet the global demand but to positively impact the future of our planet, Alltech says. The company just released its 2020 Alltech Sustainability Report. 

Cutting Into The Center Of Meat Processors' Labor Pains, This State Is Rolling Out A Hot Dog Factory On Wheels
Cutting Into The Center Of Meat Processors' Labor Pains, This State Is Rolling Out A Hot Dog Factory On Wheels

As labor woes continue to cripple meat processing plants, Missouri is rolling out a unique concept to answer many processors’ biggest need. The classroom on wheels will provide workforce development at a pivotal time.

Here’s What You Need to Document on Drug Treatment Records
Here’s What You Need to Document on Drug Treatment Records

If you or an employee treats an animal with a drug, it’s important to keep adequate and updated treatment records.

New Veterinary Toxicology Training Program Created at K-State
New Veterinary Toxicology Training Program Created at K-State

The goal of the program is to create impactful and innovative outreach tools. This will better enable livestock veterinarians to recognize and address toxicology problems in food animal species.

Non-Profit Focuses On Mental Health Needs Across Rural America
Non-Profit Focuses On Mental Health Needs Across Rural America

Addressing mental health is a significant challenge in rural America due to unique barriers. Rural Minds™ provides education and resources to confront the stigma of mental illness.

Telemedicine and African Swine Fever: 5 Reasons to Take a Closer Look
Telemedicine and African Swine Fever: 5 Reasons to Take a Closer Look

The pandemic and the shortage of food animal veterinarians have catapulted the concept of telemedicine forward. As ASF inches closer to the U.S., experts say telemedicine could become even more useful. Here's why.

UC-Davis Professor Calls Methane Emissions an Opportunity
UC-Davis Professor Calls Methane Emissions an Opportunity

Agriculture can be a powerful part of the solution in reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. That's the message Frank Mitloehner, animal scientist and air quality expert, delivered at a lecture at Kansas State.

BREAKING: New Vaccine Candidate Blocks Spread of African Swine Fever Virus
BREAKING: New Vaccine Candidate Blocks Spread of African Swine Fever Virus

A new African swine fever vaccine candidate has been shown to prevent and effectively protect both European and Asian bred swine against the current circulating Asian strain of the virus. 

Help Your Business with Good Work-Life Balance
Help Your Business with Good Work-Life Balance

When employees have a good balance between work and life, they feel a greater sense of control and ownership over their own lives.

Study Affirms U.S. Pork Industry’s Efforts to Keep ASF Out
Study Affirms U.S. Pork Industry’s Efforts to Keep ASF Out

The time you are most at risk for something is when you don't know it's a risk, says Patrick Webb, National Pork Board acting chief veterinarian. That's why a new study to identify biosecurity gaps is causing a stir.

USDA Announces $700 Million in Grants to Help Ag Workers Impacted by COVID-19
USDA Announces $700 Million in Grants to Help Ag Workers Impacted by COVID-19

USDA Secretary Vilsack announced that $700 million in competitive grant funding will be available through the new Farm and Food Workers Relief grant program to help farm and food workers with pandemic costs. 

ASF Vaccines: Is the Waiting Game Almost Over?
ASF Vaccines: Is the Waiting Game Almost Over?

Although there’s no licensed commercial vaccine for African swine fever available, experts say they are encouraged by the progress that’s been made in the last few years. Here's why.

How to change the face of agriculture
How to change the face of agriculture

It’s no wonder Michael Smith wasn’t comfortable with pursuing a career in agriculture when he started college at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo.

It’s Unlikely the U.S. Will Escape ASF
It’s Unlikely the U.S. Will Escape ASF

While there are lots of reasons to believe ASF in the Dominican Republic is not a sure sign it will penetrate the U.S. industry, still, everyone has become focused on it and how slippery it is to contain.

When Your Plate Is Too Full: Delegate More to Stress Less
When Your Plate Is Too Full: Delegate More to Stress Less

Think about the tasks and duties that fill your day. Do you continually put some off? Are there ones you just don’t like? If so, it’s time to delegate.

Feds Issue New Rules for Importing Dogs from ASF-Positive Countries
Feds Issue New Rules for Importing Dogs from ASF-Positive Countries

The number of dogs being imported into the U.S. for resale from countries affected by ASF is growing. Combine that with an increasing risk of foreign animal disease spread, and it’s a formula for potential disaster.

Grade Your Management IQ
Grade Your Management IQ

Strategic management for your business is about anticipating, adapting to, driving and capitalizing on change, says Danny Klinefelter, Texas A&M University professor emeritus.

California Launches Team to Provide Aid to Livestock and Domestic Animals During Emergencies
California Launches Team to Provide Aid to Livestock and Domestic Animals During Emergencies

The California Veterinary Emergency Team will be overseen by the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and will support and train a network of government agencies and organizations to aid animals during emergencies.

See the 2021 Farm Journal Field Day Agendas
See the 2021 Farm Journal Field Day Agendas

In 2021, you have the choice to join Farm Journal Field Days in person or online.

74-Year-Old Veterinarian Offers to Give Away his Practice to Attract Replacement
74-Year-Old Veterinarian Offers to Give Away his Practice to Attract Replacement

A rural veterinarian in Faribault County, Minn., is offering to give away his practice, clinic, pickup and even the vet clinic cat, in an effort to recruit his replacement.

Animal Ag Groups Launch Protein PACT
Animal Ag Groups Launch Protein PACT

Twelve groups representing farmers and companies who make a majority of America’s meat, poultry, dairy and animal feed and ingredients, unveiled the Protein PACT for the People, Animals, and Climate of Tomorrow

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How Will the Economic Boom Impact U.S. Agricultural Businesses?

CoBank says challenges brought on by COVID-19 will speed up automation throughout many sectors of the supply chain. Here's a deeper look at the animal protein industries in CoBank's latest report.

Gene Editing: Experts Say it’s Time to Remodel Regulatory Landscape
Gene Editing: Experts Say it’s Time to Remodel Regulatory Landscape

In order for gene editing in agricultural animals to “unleash enormous gains in productivity,” a remodeling of the federal landscape is imperative, experts conclude.

Don’t Get Fooled by Figures (Part I)
Don’t Get Fooled by Figures (Part I)

This article can help you have more confidence in evaluating data that's shared graphically, so you can better separate accurate information from the inaccurate.

Lawmakers Address Shortfall of Veterinarians in Rural Areas
Lawmakers Address Shortfall of Veterinarians in Rural Areas

Sen. Debbie Stabenow and Sen. Mike Crapo introduced bipartisan legislation to address the shortfall of veterinarians in rural areas.

New Product In Battle With Feral Hogs
New Product In Battle With Feral Hogs

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced a new tool in the war against feral hogs with the release of a new hog contraceptive bait entering the market this week.

Air Pollution Study Contributes to False Animal Ag Narrative
Air Pollution Study Contributes to False Animal Ag Narrative

A new study claims U.S. agriculture, in particular animal agriculture, is a major source of air pollution. NCBA's Ethan Lane says the misleading nature of this study contributes to the false narrative around animal ag.

FAQs on COVID-19 Vaccination with U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy
FAQs on COVID-19 Vaccination with U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy

“We know rural areas are different from urban areas, people are more spread out, it's not always as easy to travel to one location that's close to everyone to get a vaccine," Dr. Murthy says.

Researchers Tackle Three Deadly Livestock Diseases
Researchers Tackle Three Deadly Livestock Diseases

The Pirbright Institute is tackling three deadly livestock viruses: porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and African swine fever virus in pigs and bovine respiratory syncytial virus in cattle.

Give Your Feet The Support They Need
Give Your Feet The Support They Need

Proper arch position is important for the good lower extremity alignment necessary to minimize lower body stress and fatigue and to decrease the risk of injury.

When Stress Goes Beyond Normal 
When Stress Goes Beyond Normal 

It started with a broken baler. The farmer panicked. He had recently lost his brother to cancer and his father to old age. Not to mention he had 2,500 acres to farm, 250 beef cows to attend to and his crop just froze. 

HSAs Offer Health Care, Retirement Savings
HSAs Offer Health Care, Retirement Savings

Health insurance coverage and healthcare costs are among the greatest challenges for self-employed Americans, including farmers.

Do Imported Rescue Dogs Pose Threat to Livestock Industry?
Do Imported Rescue Dogs Pose Threat to Livestock Industry?

Each year, several thousand dogs enter the U.S. for resale or adoption. In a recent Hogs on the Hill article, NPPC chief veterinarian Liz Wagstrom wrote that it’s time to sound the alarm on importing rescue dogs.

Bouncing Back from Failure
Bouncing Back from Failure

Failure is a part of life, but how we bounce back from it determines how successful we will become.

Americans Love Meat: Purchases and Confidence Reach Record Highs
Americans Love Meat: Purchases and Confidence Reach Record Highs

Americans are buying more beef, pork, poultry and lamb than ever. Pandemic purchases helped send meat grocery sales soaring by 20% from 2019 to 2020. Here's the latest from the newly released "Power of Meat" report.

Avoid, Adapt, Alter, Accept: Stress Management Tools for Farm Families
Avoid, Adapt, Alter, Accept: Stress Management Tools for Farm Families

The only certainty during spring planting is uncertainty. Farmers face many challenges: too much rain, too little rain, long hours, crop diseases and pests, machinery breakdowns.

The Surprising Truth: 4 Things You May Not Know About Reaching Goals
The Surprising Truth: 4 Things You May Not Know About Reaching Goals

Why don't we finish goals? Jon Acuff, best-selling author and motivational speaker, says we often focus on the wrong thing when we talk about our goals. Here's what he says it takes to finish the goals that matter.

Merck to Help Produce COVID-19 Vaccine, Won’t Impact Livestock Sector
Merck to Help Produce COVID-19 Vaccine, Won’t Impact Livestock Sector

Merck will start manufacturing the COVID-19 vaccine in its human manufacturing facilities later this month.

Veterinarians Authorized To Administer COVID-19 Vaccine In Some States
Veterinarians Authorized To Administer COVID-19 Vaccine In Some States

Veterinary technicians, podiatrists, dentists and paramedics are also being authorized to administer the vaccine.

Use Emotional Intelligence to Tackle The Tough Stuff
Use Emotional Intelligence to Tackle The Tough Stuff

“If you can manage these moments, the world is yours,” says Dr. JP Pawliw-Fry.

4 Things Animal Ag Can Learn from the Human Response to COVID-19
4 Things Animal Ag Can Learn from the Human Response to COVID-19

When COVID-19 struck, veterinarians engaged in critical conversations with human doctors about herd immunity. Almost a year later, National Pork Board's Dave Pyburn shares what he's learned from the human response. 

Researchers Hope To 'Predict and Prevent' Future Pandemics
Researchers Hope To 'Predict and Prevent' Future Pandemics

Ohio State University scientists are looking for SARS-CoV-2 in animals and the environment.

Is the Livestock Industry Prepared for a Foreign Animal Disease Outbreak?

FADs are a constant threat to the livestock industry. The country is more tuned in to this struggle than ever before with the recent COVID-19 pandemic. National Pork Board's Dave Pyburn and NCBA's Ethan Lane discuss why.

Credit: REUTERS/Mike Segar
Vilsack Weighs In On Parallel Between COVID-19 and Animal Disease Outbreaks

If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught the country anything, it’s that there is a tremendous amount of synergy between the circumstances of a pandemic involving humans and those involving animals. 

Animal Agriculture Alliance Releases 2020 Conference Recordings, Sets 2021 Date
Animal Agriculture Alliance Releases 2020 Conference Recordings, Sets 2021 Date

Sessions focus on equipping food and agriculture stakeholders with the tools needed to bridge the gap between farm and fork.

The Decade Ahead: Societal Trends Will Leave Their Mark On Agriculture
The Decade Ahead: Societal Trends Will Leave Their Mark On Agriculture

The past decade has been weird and wacky to say the least. It makes you wonder what’s in store for the next 10 years. Here are some possible hints.

Broiler chicks
Court Rejects Meat Institute’s Prop 12 Appeal

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rejected the Meat Institute’s challenge to California’s 2018 ballot initiative that imposes new standards for animal housing.

The view of the Nations Capitol as the Democrats and Republicans continue moving forward on the agreement of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) aid package in Washington, D.C., U.S. December 21, 2020. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno
Covid Aid Bill Provides Ag Funding for Sectors Left Out of CFAP

The coronavirus aid package approved by Congress overnight Monday provides $13 billion in ag funding, much of it destined for sectors left out of previous aid packages.