Friday, March 15, 2013

Future ag producers develop skill through 4-H Livestock Quiz Bowl

The Lincoln County 4-H Livestock Quiz Bowl team may be young, but these kids know a thing or two about animal husbandry. All four team members are 10 years old or younger and involved on their families’ farms or ranches in the North Platte area. Team members include Caleb Allison, Kasen Cole, Cole Steffes and Westyn Wasserburger. Being part of the 4-H Livestock Quiz Bowl team is reinforcing real-life lessons to strengthen their understanding of livestock production to become advocates for the industry. “Livestock Quiz Bowl encourages youth to actually learn about agriculture. They are learning the ‘why’ behind what they are doing for animal management,” said Caitlyn Jacobson, 4-H youth development extension educator for Lincoln, Logan and McPherson Counties. The event is making a comeback in Lincoln County after many years without a team. Jacobson participated on the Lincoln County 4-H Livestock Quiz Bowl team when she was a 4-H member in Lincoln County, but interest ceased sometim

Markets Connect Dots Toward US China Trade Deal

During the week of August 18 to 22, farm markets reacted to crop tour data, US China trade deal signals, drought stress, and mixed yield forecasts

Canadian Farmers Embracing Solar and Wind

Canadian farmers are adopting renewable energy, led by solar and wind. FCC and Statistics Canada highlight cost savings, incentives, and farm opportunities to use or sell power.

Effective enrichment promotes performance

Abby Tillotson – It is well known that environmental enrichment provides several benefits to intensively raised pigs, such as reducing tail biting, increasing play, and improving disease resiliency.

Factors driving high hog prices

Hog prices were strong this summer. The average market hog price for June-August will come in roughly 18% above the same months last year. There are a number of factors contributing to this price improvement. Production is down. Through July 2025 hog slaughter was down 1.7% and pork production was down 1.5%. Not only was hog slaughter down from a year ago, it was down relative to summer expectations. U.S. hog slaughter over the last 12 weeks (since the beginning of June) was down 3.0% year-over-year. The heavy weight market hog inventory in the June Hogs and Pigs report implied slaughter during this period would be unchanged from a year ago. The difference is larger than usual. The June Hogs and Pigs Report implies fall slaughter will be up a bit less than 1%. Weather also may be having an impact on slaughter levels. The hot summer slowed rates of gain and thus pulled down slaughter weights. The reduced rates of gain also delayed slaughter. The amount of pork in cold storage at the