https://www.farms.com/swine/ News-Swine related content provided by https://www.farms.com/ Copyright � 1995-2026 Farms.com, Ltd. All Rights Reserved. The Commission recognises that Europe would benefit from farming systems that rely less on imported feed and fertilisers, and from producing and eating more home-grown legumes such as beans, peas and lentils. https://www.farms.com/news/livestock-strategy-and-protein-action-plan-correct-diagnosis-but-no-cure-prescribed-244255.aspx NEWS_244255 Thu, 09 Jul 2026 07:59:15 GMT A new approach by an NC State University professor aims to make animal producers’ waste management practices more sustainable and less stressful. https://www.farms.com/news/could-duckweed-solve-one-of-hog-farming-s-biggest-challenges-244247.aspx NEWS_244247 Thu, 09 Jul 2026 04:58:09 GMT We recently received all first-quarter data used to compile the financial results for the Compeer Financial Swine Producer Index. The U.S. swine industry has shown steady financial improvement through the first quarter of 2026, supported by disciplined cost control and modest gains in hog prices. Year-to-date (YTD) results reflect a return to profitability and continued strengthening of producer balance sheets, although the pace of recovery from the 2023–24 downturn varies across operations. Perspective from World Pork Expo While attending the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, I was asked why the industry did not appear to rebound more strongly based on year-end 2025 financial results. It’s a fair question and one that requires looking beyond the surface-level data. Several factors help explain the year-end financial results. 1. Tax planning strategies, particularly deferrals and prepaid expenses, can significantly influence financial statements. These strategies often increase an oper https://www.farms.com/news/swine-industry-recovery-continues-into-2026-244117.aspx NEWS_244117 Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:51:21 GMT Hallway conversations, tent chats and trade show talks are some of the greatest tools to help pork producers tackle the next tough issue. Industry experts share four “under-the-radar” topics that they believe need more discussion in the pork industry. 1. GLP-1 Drugs and Animal Protein Consumption “The impact of the use of GLP-1 drugs on animal protein consumption in the U.S. The affordability and access to these drugs by millions of people is absolutely affecting per capita meat consumption in the U.S. While beef may be the biggest beneficiary to date, the pork industry needs to use this pent-up demand to double down on pork’s quality and relative affordability to increase pork demand in demographics where it has lost ground to beef or chicken.” – Hyatt Frobose, commercial director – North America for Jyga Technologies – GESTAL 2. Future Global Demand “While global pork demand is not likely something that will hurt us this year, next year, or maybe even in the next 5 or 10 years, 20 https://www.farms.com/news/4-trends-in-the-pork-industry-that-deserve-more-attention-244116.aspx NEWS_244116 Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:50:01 GMT Past research has shown that increased supplementation of certain vitamins can enhance parameters such as conception rates, litter size, and the passage of maternal immunoglobulins; https://www.farms.com/news/the-influence-of-gestational-vitamin-supplementation-on-sow-and-piglet-performance-244115.aspx NEWS_244115 Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:50:00 GMT The Associate  Director of the Swine Health Information Center says SHIC's Domestic Swine Disease Monitoring Report has become one of the most accessed reports on its website.The Swine Health Information Center is observing the publication of the 100th edition of its Domestic Swine Disease Monitoring Report. https://www.farms.com/news/shic-domestic-swine-disease-monitoring-report-marks-100th-edition-244114.aspx NEWS_244114 Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:40:53 GMT In modern pork production, most sows are bred at their first heat (estrus) after weaning. However, some herds may benefit from allowing all first parity (P1) sows to rest for one estrous cycle (~21 days) before rebreeding, a practice commonly known as “skip-a-heat.” Research presented at the 2025 Al Leman Swine Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota, suggests that this strategy can improve second parity (P2) reproductive performance. According to Paul Thomas (AMVC), a field study demonstrated several advantages, including 0.7 to 1.2 more liveborn pigs in the second parity, a 3.5 percentage-point increase in farrowing rate, and 27.7 non-productive days (NPD) for rested sows compared with 13.2 days for sows bred immediately after weaning. No data are available regarding effects on parity structure. The biological rationale for skipping a heat is straightforward. First parity sows typically experience the greatest body weight loss during lactation because their feed intake is often lower than https://www.farms.com/news/improved-parity-distribution-may-be-biggest-benefit-of-adopting-skip-a-heat-244113.aspx NEWS_244113 Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:40:52 GMT The United States swine industry has invested significant resources into preventing the introduction and spread of foreign animal diseases. While these diseases remain absent from the U.S. swine industry, recent global outbreaks serve as a reminder that preparedness is not simply a regulatory exercise. It is a critical component of protecting animal health, maintaining business continuity, and preserving consumer confidence in the pork supply chain. In the event of a foreign animal disease detection, one of the first priorities for animal health officials is determining where susceptible animals are located and identifying which operations may have been exposed. The ability to rapidly locate livestock populations can significantly influence the speed and effectiveness of a disease response. Producers play an essential role in that effort by ensuring key preparedness measures are in place before an outbreak occurs. A premises identification number (PIN) serves as the foundation of ani https://www.farms.com/news/strengthen-fad-preparedness-3-essential-steps-for-pork-producers-244112.aspx NEWS_244112 Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:38:39 GMT Few periods in a pig's life are as challenging as the weeks immediately after weaning. Enteric pathogens such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) can disrupt gut health, suppress growth and increase maintenance costs during the nursery phase. New research suggests protected benzoic acid may help nursery pigs maintain performance and microbial balance during these challenges. The trial, featuring over 900 weaned pigs, evaluated the effects of protected benzoic acid (PBA, NOVUS® PB Feed Solution) on nursery pigs under both controlled challenge and commercial conditions. The findings suggest this nutritional approach can support gut health and deliver measurable production benefits. In the first study, 54 newly weaned pigs were assigned to one of three groups where they were fed diets containing pharmacological levels of zinc oxide to resemble feeding programs in the United States: an unchallenged control, an E. coli F18 challenged control, or an E. coli F18 challenged group receiving PBA. Re https://www.farms.com/news/e-coli-challenge-research-reveals-gut-health-performance-benefits-244111.aspx NEWS_244111 Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:36:26 GMT Pork production increased marginally in April while prices for hogs, finishing animals and wholesale pork all rose, pointing to strong consumer demand against a backdrop of tight slaughter-ready supplies, according to the USDA's May livestock, dairy and poultry outlook. Federally inspected pork production in April was 2.3 billion pounds, up fractionally from a year ago, with higher dressed weights more than offsetting a 0.5% decline in slaughter numbers to 10.7 million head. The average price of live-equivalent producer-owned hogs in April was $67.03, up 3.6% from April 2025. The wholesale pork carcass cutout reached $98.06 per hundredweight in April, up 3.7% from a year earlier. Most of the April strength came from butt and rib primals, likely in preparation for the grilling season. Relatively lower hog numbers were attributed to higher winter disease incidence and declining breeding inventory, as indicated in the March USDA Hogs and Pigs report. Strong flows of finishing animals f https://www.farms.com/news/us-hog-prices-rise-3-6-in-april-on-tight-supplies-244110.aspx NEWS_244110 Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:32:35 GMT The Trump administration on Wednesday declined to extend the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, starting a decade-long clock to wind down the trade deal as it seeks changes to try to reshore manufacturing jobs and reduce US trade deficits with its North American neighbours, reported Reuters. The decision, announced after a six-year review of the North American free trade zone, keeps the agreement in place for another 10 years with annual reviews before it expires, unless the three countries agree to renew it with changes. "The United States did not agree to renew the USMCA in its current form," US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement. "As a result, the USMCA is not renewed. The United States will continue to engage with Mexico and Canada to address the agreement's shortcomings and our trade deficits with these countries." Greer said the US will proceed with a USMCA bilateral negotiating round scheduled with Mexico during the week of July 20. A senior administration offi https://www.farms.com/news/us-declines-to-extend-usmca-beginning-10-year-wind-down-244109.aspx NEWS_244109 Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:31:42 GMT Manitoba Agriculture reports damage from intense rain earlier this week will be assessed over the next few days. Manitoba Agriculture released its weekly crop report Tuesday.Dennis Lange, provincial pulse and soybean specialist with Manitoba agriculture and editor of the provincial crop report, says isolated thunderstorms brought hail, strong winds, intense rain, and possible tornadoes to most of the province over the past seven days https://www.farms.com/news/crop-damage-from-intense-rains-across-manitoba-monday-still-being-assessed-244106.aspx NEWS_244106 Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:06:22 GMT The Associate Director of the Swine Health Information Center highlights action being taken for the rapid identification and containment of New World screwworm cases with the goal of its eradication from the United States. https://www.farms.com/news/swine-health-information-center-highlights-efforts-to-support-eradication-of-new-world-screwworm-from-the-united-states-244105.aspx NEWS_244105 Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:03:59 GMT A Professor with the University of Saskatchewan says research that identified temperatures needed to kill swine disease causing pathogens continues to influence swine transportation biosecurity. The report, "From Research to Results: Measuring the Impact of Pork Research in Canada," released by the University of Saskatchewan and profiled as part of a YouTube webinar, looks at the value of national swine research funded through partnerships involving Swine Innovation Porc. https://www.farms.com/news/identification-of-temperatures-needed-to-kill-swine-pathogens-continues-to-shape-swine-transportation-biosecurity-244104.aspx NEWS_244104 Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:02:28 GMT A Partner with Polar Pork suggests despite the lack of progress in discussions aimed at extending the Canada-U.S.-Mexico agreement, pork producers in all three countries remain hopeful common sense will prevail and the free movement of agricultural products will continue.  https://www.farms.com/news/north-american-pork-producers-hopeful-common-sense-will-prevail-and-cusma-will-continue-244103.aspx NEWS_244103 Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:00:46 GMT Saskatchewan Agriculture reports over the next week or so farmers across the province will be assessing crop losses caused by rain and hail. Saskatchewan Agriculture released its crop report Friday for the period from June 23rd to 29th.Kim Stonehouse, a Crop Extension Specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture says significant rain was received across many areas of the province along with some hail. https://www.farms.com/news/rain-and-hail-causes-crop-losses-across-saskatchewan-244102.aspx NEWS_244102 Mon, 06 Jul 2026 09:58:21 GMT Research conducted by the University of Minnesota has shed light on the risk of swine transport trailers becoming contaminated when unloading pigs at the processing plant.A University of Minnesota study, conducted under the Swine Health Information Center and Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research Wean to Harvest Biosecurity Research Program, looked at the risk of swine transport trailers becoming contaminated at harvest plants. https://www.farms.com/news/university-of-minnesota-research-examines-risk-of-swine-transport-trailer-contamination-at-the-processing-plant-244101.aspx NEWS_244101 Mon, 06 Jul 2026 09:56:18 GMT From early disease detection to future-oriented decision-making, technology is reshaping the modern pig farm. Industry experts explore how AI and automation are solving day-to-day inefficiencies while addressing the broader challenges of labor, animal welfare, https://www.farms.com/news/real-talk-on-roi-four-swine-experts-on-the-future-of-farm-tech-244073.aspx NEWS_244073 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:38:24 GMT “America’s ranchers deserve a strong, competitive marketplace that rewards their hard work and preserves opportunity for generations to come,” said Secretary Brooke L. Rollins. https://www.farms.com/news/secretary-rollins-announces-program-to-support-small-and-mid-size-beef-processors-243977.aspx NEWS_243977 Thu, 02 Jul 2026 06:23:33 GMT Warfarin-based toxicants provide an additional tool that can be used to assist with feral hog control efforts. The Department will continue to work with producers, dealers, and applicators so the requirements are clearly understood. https://www.farms.com/news/arkansas-rule-sets-requirements-for-future-use-of-feral-hog-bait-243970.aspx NEWS_243970 Thu, 02 Jul 2026 05:33:41 GMT