As coronavirus hog backlog shrinks, farmers should see higher prices
Hog farmers struggled with a coronavirus-caused backlog of market-ready hogs that peaked at 3.5 million head at the end of May, forcing them to cull some and slowing weight gain on others. The backlog remains large, but Purdue economist Jayson Lusk says farmers may see "possibly elevated hog prices" by the end of the year as the hog supply shrinks.
USDA should stop environmentally risky ‘depopulation’ methods, advocates say
The Department of Agriculture should restrict certain animal disposal methods used by farmers who euthanize herds during the Covid-19 pandemic, and make information about those “depopulation” events public, says a coalition of environmental groups that petitioned the agency Monday.(No paywall)
Iowa expands offer of hog disposal aid
Although the state has the money to pay for disposal of 600,000 hogs stranded by packing plant slowdowns, Iowa producers have applied for payments to cull a comparatively small 43,897 head so far. So the Iowa state Agriculture Department offered on Tuesday to pay for the cost of disposal of …