Hog Industry News

Grassley Urges Trump To Prioritize A Trade Deal With China

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 20:12:03 GMT

As the government shutdown continues through day 21, there is little to no hint that a resolution to the ongoing stalemate between Republicans and Democrats is about to end.

The latest setback: On Monday night, Senate Democrats rejected a Republican-led stopgap funding bill for the 11^th time with a 50-43 vote. The resolution needed 60 votes to pass, according to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA).

He says more Democrats are needed to step up and vote in cooperation with Republicans to get the government reopened.

“If we can get four more Democrat votes, the government will be opened up,” Grassley contends.

In the meantime, county Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices remain closed, keeping services like new loans, farm program sign-ups, and disaster assistance from being addressed. Market data that helps set commodity prices is also not being released.

Trump has mentioned taking action to reopen the county offices, but Grassley is unsure whether he can accomplish that.

“I don’t know that he has that authority, but he surely had it with about $8 or $10 billion in the defense budget – to shift it from one activity in the Defense Department to paying the soldiers and the military people,” he told AgriTalk Host Chip Flory on Tuesday.

So far, Trump administration officials say there are no plans to shift dollars around for agriculture like they’ve done with troop pay and other priorities.

President Trump ‘Has To’ Get Trade Resumed With China
Grassley was adamant that Trump needs to make progress in pressing China for a new trade deal.

“He has to [get that done},” Grassley says. “I’d say the president needs to spend a massive amount of time, even some of his personal time, on dealing with China. I know it’s necessary to have lower-level people begin those discussions, but it’s got to be a top priority.”

The U.S. and China exchanged barbs last week, with the U.S. threatening to raise tariffs to 157% if no new deal is reached by Nov. 1. President Trump is supposed to travel to Asia later this week to renew discussions with China.

During his conversation with Flory, Grassley weighed in with his perspective on consolidation in the fertilizer, seed, equipment, the pesticide industries and how that relates to the development of potential monopolies.

“I’m going to wait until the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission gets done with their investigations before I make a decision on it,” Grassley says. “I don’t think we have to pass any laws. The antitrust laws that have been in existence for 130 or 140 years ... just use those laws as they’ve been used for the last 100 years. They’re pretty effective laws.

“It just takes the government enforced to get it done. There’s certain guidelines that have to be met and protocols be met before you actually can break up a monopoly. But the free-market system dictates you don’t have monopolies,” he adds.

Grassley also weighed in on needing year-round nationwide availability of E15, noting that he wishes the president would be more proactive in getting the product readily available on a permanent basis.

“We got legislation that would make it permanent without a presidential waiver. It ought to be easy for the president to promote that. He’s going to have a bailout for farmers because of low prices now, and he ought to connect with that – getting E15 through the Congress of the United States and have it permanent. Because until we get the law passed, we’ll never get the investment by retailers to put in the expensive pumps that it takes to get E15 out.”

Hear the complete discussion between Grassley and Flory on AgriTalk here:

ADM, Alltech Unveil North American Animal Feed Joint Venture

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 14:20:05 GMT

ADM and Alltech have signed a definitive agreement to launch a North American animal feed joint venture, bringing together decades of experience and unparalleled capabilities to create new advantages for customers, the companies announced on Sept. 23.

“The first company name I can remember, besides our own, is ADM — a name I’ve heard since I was 3 years old, and likely even earlier,” Mark Lyons, president and CEO at Alltech, announced on LinkedIn . “My father’s very first order — and his second, for those who know the story of Alltech’s beginnings — came from ADM. That early vote of confidence helped shape our story. Over the decades, the relationship between our two companies has only grown stronger. We’ve long explored ways to partner more deeply, and now the time is right to align our passionate teams, proven products and shared values.”

Alltech will contribute its U.S.-based Hubbard Feeds and Canada-based Masterfeeds businesses, including 18 feed mills in the U.S and 15 in Canada, and ADM will contribute its 11 U.S. feed mills. The joint venture will be majority-owned by Alltech and governed by a board with equal representation from each parent company.

“This partnership combines the complementary strengths of our businesses — the expertise of our people, extensive manufacturing capabilities, trusted product portfolios and deep knowledge of nutrition science,” Lyons wrote. “Together, we are building something greater than the sum of its parts, with the shared goal of advancing animal nutrition and delivering our customers every advantage.”

As the animal nutrition industry continues to reshape itself to support a growing global population, Alltech and ADM will bring together passionate teams, proven products and shared values to ensure enhanced advantages for our customers, the companies said. They plan on evolving with purpose to offer an industry-leading range of products and solutions for livestock, equine, backyard and leisure animals.

“By joining forces, we can offer more than we ever could alone: broader capabilities, practical solutions and an uncompromising commitment to our customers’ success,” Lyons wrote. “This is a milestone moment — one that sets the stage for the continued growth of our North America feed business and enhances the advantage we can deliver to those we serve.”

The venture will be supported and strengthened by the parent companies’ leading-edge technology and R&D, broad logistical capabilities, and connections across the broader ag and feed value chains.

Alltech will retain its Ridley Block Operations, Ridley Feed Ingredients and Alltech specialty ingredients, although these business units will be partners and suppliers to the joint venture. ADM’s Canadian locations will remain with ADM, as will its U.S. premix and additive businesses, though those capabilities and products will help supply the new company.

The companies expect to complete the transaction and formally launch the joint venture in the first quarter of 2026.

Could EPA Decision Signal The Beginning Of The End For DEF?

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 16:24:41 GMT

Mike Berdo has strong words to describe his ongoing experiences using machinery requiring DEF ( Diesel Exhaust Fluid ) on his southeast Iowa farm.

“It has been an absolute nightmare, at least for us. Mechanics make trip after trip to do little stuff that’s very expensive to fix,” said Berdo, who produces grain and beef cattle near Washington. “We had planting delays last spring … little stuff that came from it and just seemed like [an issue to deal with] day after day.”

The ongoing mechanical issues and costs are why Berdo said he is “all for” EPA rescinding the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding. The Finding has enabled the agency to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under Section 202 of the Clean Air Act and, in recent years, and launch requirements such as the use of DEF systems in diesel-powered engines.

EPA Draws A Line In The Sand
On Tuesday, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin released a proposal to rescind the 2009 Finding.

If finalized, the proposal would remove all greenhouse gas standards for light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and heavy-duty engines, EPA said in a follow-up press release .

The move would start with EPA’s first greenhouse gas standard set in 2010 for light-duty vehicles and those set in 2011 for medium-duty vehicles and heavy-duty vehicles and engines.

EPA said the proposal is expected to “save Americans $54 billion in costs annually through the repeal of all greenhouse gas standards, including the Biden EPA’s electric vehicle mandate, under conservative economic forecasts.”

Zeldin made the announcement to rescind the Finding in Indiana, alongside Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and called it the largest deregulatory action in U.S. history.

What The Decision Could Mean To Farmers
Specific to U.S. farmers, the proposal could potentially result in DEF systems no longer being included on new tractors and other heavy equipment using diesel-powered engines, said Chip Flory, host of AgriTalk, during a Farmer Forum discussion on Wednesday.

South Dakota farmer Ryan Wagner told Flory he has a wait-and-see perspective on how or whether the EPA proposal goes into effect. He anticipates that reversing the Finding will take considerable time and effort for EPA to implement.

“It took a long time with the interim engines and things to get into full DEF in the first place,” Wagner said. “I don’t know how long it would take to unwind all that and how quickly manufacturing will just take those systems right off, but it’ll be interesting to see what happens.”

To Wagner’s point, here’s a brief look back at some timing showing when DEF rolled out in agriculture and nonroad equipment and became mandatory . The regulations were phased in over several years based on the type of equipment and engine size:

2008: DEF became required for all new diesel engines with engine sizes over 750 horsepower.

2011: the regulations expanded to include equipment with engine sizes between 175-750 horsepower.

By 2015, all new nonroad diesel engines were required to be Tier 4 compliant and utilize DEF, regardless of equipment type or engine size.

As Wagner considers DEF, he noted its use in diesel engines has provided him with one benefit: “On the plus side, I do like that they don’t make the walls of my shop black. That’s been nice,” he said. “You can run them inside for a short time and not not feel like you’re breathing in a bunch of soot and making everything black.”

Expect Legal Challenges To EPA Decision
A number of environmental groups have already blasted the move by EPA, saying it spells the end of the road for U.S. action against climate change, according to an online article by Reuters .

Legal challenges from various environmental groups, states and lawyers are likely ahead.

That fact wasn’t lost on Flory and the Farmer Forum participants during the AgriTalk discussion on Wednesday.

“If this proposal is finalized, it’s going to start a lot of conversations … and the dominoes are going to start to fall, something that we need to keep track of, no doubt,” Flory said. You can hear the complete Farmer Forum discussion on AgriTalk here:

EPA will initiate a public comment period to solicit input. Further information on the public comment process and instructions for participation will be published in the Federal Register and on the EPA website .

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Farming and Public Service Memoir Released By Former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 20:18:20 GMT

On April 24, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture John Block released a memoir chronicling his years growing up on an Illinois farm and his time in public service. Pigs Politics, Persistence: The Life and Legacy of John “Jack” Block offers an in-depth look at his career in agriculture, government, and public service. The book provides firsthand insights into Block’s experiences as an Illinois farmer, policymaker, and national leader who played a pivotal role in shaping modern American agriculture.

Block grew up in Galesburg, Ill., and helped on his family farm milking cows, collecting eggs and feeding pigs . His childhood included going to school in a one room schoolhouse, and he remembers the time the family got electricity and indoor plumbing.

Block went to West Point and served in the Army before returning to the family farm and working with his dad in the 60s and 70s raising corn, soybeans, hogs and cattle. When Block returned to the farm, the family expanded, little by little. At one time they were farming 3,000 and feeding out 6,000 hogs.

Block served as the Illinois State Secretary of Agriculture, then as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 1981 to 1986 under President Ronald Reagan. During his tenure, the industry dealt with the U.S. grain embargo, the Conservation Reserve Program, and the 1980s farm crisis. A lifelong advocate for farmers, Block’s leadership continues to influence agricultural policy today. His new book shares personal stories, policy battles, and reflections on the evolution of American farming.

“This book is a testament to the resilience of America’s farmers and the importance of sound agricultural policy,” said Block in a release. “I hope readers gain a deeper appreciation for the challenges and triumphs of those who dedicate their lives to feeding the world.”

Block has remained active in agriculture and public service, continuing to be a respected voice on issues impacting rural America.

Your next read: Your Veterinarian: A Critical Partner for Success

National Pork Board Says New Tagline is About You, But It’s Not For You

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:00:09 GMT

The National Pork Board announced the tagline of its new pork campaign, “Taste what pork can do,” before a crowd of pork producers at the National Pork Industry Forum on March 13.

One message stood out to marketing advisory committee members Jennifer Tirey, Rob Brenneman and Gordon Spronk as they discussed the new tagline: I’m not the target. Likely, neither are you.

Here’s why that’s good news.

When Jennifer Tirey, executive director of the Illinois Pork Producers Association, first heard the final tagline, she admits it took her a minute.

“I had to sit with it. I had to say it a couple times,” Tirey says. “At first, I thought it was a little uneventful, that we were trying too hard. But as I thought about the consumer who is not in our lane every day, I was sold. Consumers need to hear this tagline the way it’s presented because we know they are not thinking about our product like we are every day.”

This is Tirey’s tenth year working for Illinois pork producers. Quite frankly, she says recent campaigns felt more like a rally of the home team.

“What’s different about this campaign is that it’s looking beyond the pork producer that already loves our product,” she says. “That’s where I feel like we’ve not hit that home run in the past. A lot of outside perspective was brought in, which is important to play at that level we’re hoping to play. Producers can have confidence that this campaign is being built around what consumers say they want about pork.”

It’s time to open the floodgates of flavor.

(Jennifer Shike)

Iowa pork producer Rob Brenneman wasn’t sure what to think at first either.

“The tagline isn’t meant for pork producers, though. We produce the product and then we want somebody to eat it,” Brenneman says. “We already know what it tastes like, and we don’t need a tagline to eat it. But we have to draw the attention of millions and millions of people who have not experienced raising pigs or being in agriculture.”

Taste Leads the Way
Brenneman stands behind the tagline because it emphasizes the most important thing he produces: tasty pork. Data shows taste and flavor matter to consumers of all ages.

Gordon Spronk, a veterinarian with Pipestone, says he was pleased with the final choice. He values the hard work, research and data that the National Pork Board used in determining the final tagline.

“Do you know what our agency did when they started the process of this campaign?” Spronk asks. “They had a barbecue. They came up with a number of things, and settled on “Taste what pork can do,” because they actually tasted, cooked and ate the pork. I was like, ‘OK, you got me there.’”

He believes the whole industry should pay attention because this is a key moment for the pork industry.

“Old guys like me and the generation coming up with our family farm are in a generational transfer. I’m really more excited for them than me when it comes to this tagline,” Spronk says. “I think they can ride this brand for a long time. It has great potential for a number of reasons.”

“We are unapologetically pork.” The consumer testing was very clear, says National Pork Board’s David Newman, that pork must be in the tagline.

(Jennifer Shike)

Using Pork to Sell Pork
The industry has not had a recognizable campaign stick since the tagline, “Pork. The Other White Meat.” established decades ago, Brenneman says.

One of the biggest reasons he’s excited about this new campaign is that it will use pork to sell pork. It sounds simple, but “Pork. The Other White Meat,” straddled the line between trying to be a little like chicken and a little like beef, Spronk says.

“That was a strategy we learned from,” he says. “We are unapologetically pork. We start at bacon, then go to sausage, pepperoni, ham and on from there.”

It’s Different This Time
This pork campaign will look different than past campaigns for two reasons, Spronk says.

“First, it’s not going to be about billboards, it’s going to be about swipes and clicks and screens that pop up,” he adds. “Second, the National Pork Board has a long effort in collecting the data of who’s actually eating pork. We know consumption for Gen Zs and Millennials is much lower than Baby Boomers. We need to speak to them. This tagline has been thoroughly tested by professionals, it’s not for me. I’m going to eat my 55 lb. regardless of what the tagline says. I’m probably not going to change my eating habits, but they may.”

Data shows younger Americans eat pork less frequently, says David Newman of the National Pork Board. Long-term consumption is at risk, but he says it’s all reversible.

(Lori Hays)

Chad Groves, CEO of Seaboard Foods and a director on the National Pork Board, says the younger generations love the processed side.

“They love bacon, sausage, ham, and we view that as the gateway to fresh pork,” Groves says. “I go back to my childhood, growing up in central Indiana, a pork loin was a part of our meal at least two to three times per week. My kids don’t have that same experience. The younger generations are not being exposed to the fresh pork category like we used to be.”

In the consumer segmentation research, the National Pork Board asked individuals who are not the prime pork audience how they feel about pork.

“A lot of the messaging and promotional campaign items they’re working on are going to be targeted to what those consumers said,” Tirey adds. “It’s not going to be geared to your traditional pork producer that loves making a great pork chop on the weekend on the grill. It’s going to be that consumer that doesn’t have as much knowledge about our product and how they can start adding it into their daily menus. That’s what makes me excited – the research behind the decision making that we are making today.”

Cultural Differences
The “can do” part of the campaign builds on the concept that the ways to add pork to every meal are unlimited. Pork’s 111 flavor profiles baffled Spronk at first.

“The cultural opportunities and ways pork is used globally are astounding,” he says. “I just returned from Cuba and have Cubano sandwiches on my mind. I love pork dumplings in noodle soup and cooking tonkatsu for my friends and family. I promise my grandmother didn’t even know what tonkatsu meant. We have not even scratched the surface of what pork can do in our blended U.S. culture.”

The pork industry doesn’t have the marketing budget to hit everybody, Tirey explains, so being strategic is key. That’s where the consumer segmentation data will help guide efforts to “ fish where the fish are .”

“The campaign won’t use a shotgun approach. We’re not going out to all consumers like some of the campaigns in the past,” Groves says. “This will be very targeted to identify younger consumers and speak to them in a way that resonates with them, whether it’s taste, flavor, convenience or something else, to pull them into the category. This is not an investment for next year. This is an investment into the next 25 years of pork production and beyond.”

Read Next:
What’s The Risk of Doing Nothing About Pork Demand?
We Need a New Playbook in the Pork Industry

Ag Industry Mourns Death of Bill Northey

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 19:44:15 GMT

On Monday, February 5 the news of Bill Northey’s passing quickly spread through the agriculture industry, of which he dedicated his professional life to serving.

Most recently as CEO of the Agribusiness Association of Iowa (AAI), Northey was also previous Iowa Secretary of Agriculture and served as Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation at USDA from 2018 to 2021.

Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered flags be flown at half staff.

“Bill was a great leader whose work ethic and passion for Iowa agriculture was unmatched. Iowans and farmers around the country were fortunate to have such a rock-solid advocate and friend,” said Gov. Kim Reynolds.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said, “I am in shock at the news of Bill’s unexpected passing. Jaime and I send our deepest and sincerest condolences to Cindy and the entire Northey family. Bill was a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a farmer. He loved Iowa and he loved Iowa agriculture. His curiosity, care for others, and love of learning made him a leader that everyone could admire. Bill brought a farmer’s work ethic to every aspect of his life, and he was tireless in promoting our state, its people and our agriculture.”

Naig continued, “Bill was a friend and mentor to so many people here in Iowa and across the country, including me. This is an incredible loss for our state, for agriculture, and for everybody who knew and loved Bill.”

Northey was a member of the National Association of State Directors of Agriculture, and the organization’s president from 2011 to 2012.

NASDA CEO Ted McKinney said, “Bill Northey was my good friend as he was to so very many others. We have lost a titan in U.S. agriculture. All of NASDA expresses sorrow for his loss and our love and support go out to his wife Cindy and his family. As a lifelong leader in the industry, Bill had an immense depth of knowledge and experience that he shared to benefit all of agriculture.”

Others posted to social media:

American ag lost a tremendous servant and leader today with the passing of @BillAtUSDA. Former Iowa Secretary of Ag Northey dedicated his life to advancing the health and prosperity of family farms and rural communities. We extend our deepest condolences to the Northey family. pic.twitter.com/VwcXDWvWdz
— Corteva U.S. (@CortevaUS) February 6, 2024

All of us at the Renewable Fuels Association were saddened to learn of Bill Northey’s passing, and we offer our deepest sympathies and condolences to his family and friends. Bill was a passionate and tireless advocate for agriculture and renewable fuels. He dedicated his career… pic.twitter.com/ASFC9DRkPG
— Renewable Fuels Association (@EthanolRFA) February 5, 2024

Agriculture lost a tireless champion, defender and promoter.

Iowa Farm Bureau's statement on the passing of former Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey ⬇️https://t.co/xpCWs8Q8hn
— Iowa Farm Bureau (@IowaFarmBureau) February 5, 2024

From our President & CEO, Matt Carstens:

The State of Iowa and the greater agricultural community lost a true champion of ag, farmers, and rural communities with the untimely passing of Bill Northey. As the Secretary of Agriculture, he advocated for farmers and farm families.…
— Landus (@LandusAg) February 6, 2024

US Justice Department Probing ADM Accounting Practices

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 15:38:35 GMT

The U.S. Justice Department is probing accounting practices at Archer Daniels Midland Co, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter, ramping up pressure on the global commodities giant.

New York-listed shares of ADM’s stock dropped 24% on Jan. 22 after the company disclosed the previous day that it had suspended its CFO amid an internal probe into accounting practices related to its Nutrition division. The company’s probe was prompted by a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) inquiry, it said.

The two sources said that in recent days the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) has interviewed former ADM employees about accounting practices at the 122-year old, Chicago-based maker of animal feed, sweeteners and other products.

The sources each said a SDNY prosecutor asked about the company’s pricing practices related to the sales of goods from ADM’s commodities units to its Nutrition division.

A third source with knowledge of the matter said that the SDNY had opened an investigation into ADM. The source was unaware of the substance of the probe.

Reuters could not immediately determine the scope of the probe or the degree to which it had advanced.

Spokespeople for ADM and SDNY declined to comment.

Government investigations are not evidence of wrongdoing and do not necessarily result in charges.

Still, a probe by the Justice Department, which has the power to bring criminal charges and impose steep fines, increases pressure on ADM and is likely to inflame investor concerns.

Shares of ADM extended earlier losses on Monday, falling 4.3% to $53.29 at around 1:43 p.m. EST (1843 GMT).

Reuters could not ascertain if the Justice Department probe directly relates to the company’s internal probe. That focuses on “intersegment transactions” in ADM’s Nutrition reporting segment and the transfer of goods between segments, according to ADM’s Jan. 21 disclosure in which it also said it was delaying its financial results.

The Nutrition division manufactures ingredients used in pet food, animal feed and consumer products, such as energy bars. It is a relatively small unit of ADM, a giant in global grains trading which has a market capitalization of nearly $30 billion. Since 2020, however, the division has played a major role in the doling out of executive compensation.

A change by ADM’s Compensation and Succession Committee in 2020 tied half of long-term executive compensation to the Nutrition segment’s operating profit growth, according to ADM’s regulatory filings. Previously, long-term compensation had been based on ADM’s adjusted earnings, return on invested capital and relative total shareholder returns, the filings showed.

ADM’s 24% share price plunge was its biggest single-day fall since 1929, according to the Chicago-based Center for Research in Security Prices.

The company has since told employees that it will delay bonuses for some senior executives until its financial statements were completed and audited, Reuters reported last week.

(Reporting by Chris Prentice and Jody Godoy in New York; Editing by Michelle Price, Caroline Stauffer and Matthew Lewis)

ADM Puts CFO On Leave With Ongoing Investigation In Cooperation with SEC

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 19:37:47 GMT

On Sunday, Jan. 21, announced it has appointed Ismael Roig as Interim Chief Financial Officer. This is following the ADM Board of Directors placing Vikram Luthar, Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President, on administrative leave.

Luthar’s leave is pending an ongoing investigation being conducted by outside counsel for ADM and the Board’s Audit Committee. The investigation is in response to ADM receiving a voluntary document request by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Specifically, the request regards accounting practices and procedures with respect to ADM’s Nutrition reporting segment, including as related to certain intersegment transactions.

“The Board takes these matters very seriously,” said Terry Crews, Lead Director, in a news release. “Pending the outcome of the investigation, the Board determined that it was advisable to place Mr. Luthar on administrative leave. The Board will continue to work in close coordination with ADM’s advisors to identify the best path forward and ensure ADM’s processes align with financial governance best practices.”

The company says it is cooperating with the SEC and ADM with the Audit Committee’s oversight is working with its advisors to complete the investigation. Any future updates will be after the board of directors of ADM approves announcing any further disclosure.

With the CFO announcement, ADM also said it will delay its earnings release and conference call relating to fourth quarter and full year 2023 financial results, as well as the filing of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Regarding its future outlook, because of the ongoing investigation, ADM withdraws all of its forward-looking outlook for the Nutrition reporting segment.

Roig joined the company in 2004, and he most recently served both as President of Europe, Africa and Middle Eastern markets at ADM.

In the company’s news release Roig said, “I look forward to working closely with the management team and Board, including the Audit Committee, as we resolve this matter and continue to drive value for our stockholders and customers.”

Chair of the Board and CEO Juan Luciano said, “We are fortunate to have a leader of Ismael’s caliber step into the Chief Financial Officer role on an interim basis. Having served in various leadership positions at ADM over the past 20 years, as a member of the Executive Council for ten years, and with his global financial and operating experience, Ismael is the right choice to lead the Finance organization. We appreciate Ismael’s willingness to take on the Interim CFO role at this juncture.”

Tyson Foods to Deploy Driverless Trucks in Arkansas

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 13:26:47 GMT

Tyson Foods, Inc., is teaming up with Gatik AI, Inc., in a multi-year collaboration to deploy autonomous, “self-driving” refrigerated box trucks to bolster Tyson routes in Northwest Arkansas. Operating 18 hours a day, trucks will deliver Tyson, Jimmy Dean and BallPark products, among others, to the company’s distribution and storage facilities in the Rogers and Springdale, Ark., areas.

“The deployment will introduce Gatik trucks equipped with commercial-grade autonomous technology to the Tyson supply chain, operating on predetermined short-haul, repeated routes to support fast and efficient product flow from plant to storage facilities,” Tyson said in a release . “In a nationwide truck driver shortage, these autonomous trucks are an innovative and safe way to add resources that will allow the company to elevate drivers to other transportation positions in the Tyson business, while ensuring continuous supply chain reliability.”

Beginning this week, the collaboration includes multiple trucks with the potential for expansion at other Tyson locations in the future. A safety driver will initially be present in the cab to monitor the autonomous system and take command of operating the truck if required.

“The trucks are equipped with a 26-foot, temperature-controlled box purpose-built to transport refrigerated and frozen goods quickly and safely and multiple sensor modalities that are custom-designed for fail-safe short-haul B2B operations,” Tyson said.

The partnership is expected to provide the company with increased asset utilization within its short-haul logistics network, assist with inventory objectives, all while supporting a transition to a more responsive, high-frequency approach to goods movement. Additionally, autonomous trucks operate with increased efficiency and sustainability, leading to reduced emissions and enhanced fuel economy.

“At Tyson Foods, we are innovating and using automation throughout our business, including in transportation,” said Patrick Simmons, vice president of transportation for Tyson Foods. “This partnership allows us to strategically place our drivers where they are needed most while still reliably and safely transporting protein from the plant to distribution centers.”

Read More:

What Was Everyone Talking About at the 2023 Carthage Swine Conference?

5 Things I Learned About Hog Farming from Aerial Surveillance

KENT to Celebrate Grand Opening of Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex at Iowa State

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 19:17:38 GMT

KENT Corporation will celebrate the grand opening of the Iowa State University KENT Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex on Sept. 8. The family-owned company gave the lead $8-million gift.

“The contribution celebrates a 100-year commitment to the success of generations of people engaged in livestock production and agriculture,” Gage Kent, KENT Corporation Chairman and CEO, said in a release. “KENT is proud to partner with those working to advance new technologies in the feed and grain markets. This complex is a hands-on platform to further advance innovation and sustainability for future leaders in feed and grain processing.”

The 47,000-square-foot complex includes a warehouse and an educational building with an analytical laboratory, pilot plant, a 100-foot-tall concrete milling tower, a 40-foot-tall pelleting plant and 220,000 bushels of steel grain storage with handling and drying systems.

“It is incredibly rewarding to have been part of this project because we at KENT Nutrition Group know it will provide an authentic, challenging and fun learning environment for students and industry professionals,” Mike Gauss, President of KENT Nutrition Group, said in a release. “This industry is intrinsically linked to our everyday lives; teaching that, in this real-world way, will be meaningful to all involved.”

The Iowa State University KENT Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex will help prepare the next generation of workers in related technological advances in efficiency and safety, the release said. A dedication and ribbon cutting at the site of the new facility will begin at 3 p.m. in Ames on Sept. 8.

How to Talk to Team Members About Poor Performance

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 14:53:29 GMT

Every team has one. That employee who is not contributing his or her fair share. The rest of the team knows this person is a poor performer. You can try to sweep the employee’s bad behavior under the rug, but that only makes it acceptable.

As the boss, you must coach this employee to be an all-star — or show them the door. Here’s a step-by-step process to help guide you through these tough conversations.

1. State the behavior and outcomes. You owe it to the employee be honest and let them know what the conversation is about, says Bob Grace, a leadership and organizational development consultant with The Leadership Effect in St. Louis, Mo. You don’t want them to feel threatened, but you must be direct. Stick to the facts.

2. Allow for reaction. This is the most commonly skipped step, Grace explains. “We don’t give people much time to react,” he says. “You have had time to move from emotion to reason, but the other person has not had time to react.”

After you state the poor behavior, stop for a little bit of silence. Grace suggests asking: What do you think? What is your reaction to this?

3. Agree on ownership of the problem. “The first time someone shows me that they don’t know how to do something, that is reflective of the leader,” says Dave Mitchell, founder of Walla Walla, Wash.-based consulting firm The Leadership Difference. “So that’s my fault. The second time is our fault, as they share some accountability. If there is a skill the employee doesn’t have, he or she needs to tell me.”

The third time, it is the employee’s fault, Mitchell says. “If you have that model, you don’t fire people—they fire themselves,” he says.

4. Discuss new outcomes and behaviors. Clearly state what a better outcome would look like and what behaviors could close the gap between what you need as a boss and how the employee is performing, Grace says.

5. Select a course of action. Outline the plan to better performance. Include a timeline and milestones, Grace says.

6. Express confidence change can be made. “Your goal as a leader is to make sure your team has high levels of self-efficacy,” Mitchell says.

Self-efficacy is having confidence in your own ability to achieve results. “Basically, it’s the feeling that I’ve got this,” Mitchell says.

Train and encourage your team and let them know it’s OK to make mistakes.

7. Follow-up on the plan with the employee. This step is critical, Grace says. Put the follow-up meetings on your calendar and keep your own copy of action steps and timelines.

8. Celebrate and recognize progress. Once an employee is on the right track, look for opportunities acknowledge it, Grace says. “Say thank you and tell them they are doing a good job.”

Read More

Take Your Team From ‘I’ To ‘We’

6 Leadership Tactics to Employ

How To Terminate An Employee

7 Reasons Your Best Employees Quit

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 21:11:54 GMT

Learn how to avoid these frustrating and deal-breaking mistakes

Yes, recruiting members for your team is extremely difficult. But before you spend your time and energy on that challenge, focus first on your current team.

“Put retention in front of recruiting,” suggests Mel Kleiman, president of Humetrics, a human resource consulting firm. “Become a place that people want to work, and then when people hear you have an opening, they come to you.”

How do you prioritize retention? Analyze why employees leave your farm. Many times, their departures fall into these categories.

1. Substandard Co-Workers: “The good employees aren’t paid enough to cover for or put up with the hiring mistakes,” Kleiman says. Don’t force your good employees to compensate for others who are lazy, indifferent or undependable.

2. Mind-Numbing Tasks: New employees are often handed boring and repetitive jobs. Even in downtimes, come up with meaningful work, suggests Erika Osmundson, director of marketing and communications for AgCareers.com. Find ways to make roles on your farm fun or challenging.

3. No Attention or Authority: “When a supervisor is so busy fighting the fires created by problem employees, he or she never has any time for his best people,” Kleiman says. Many times, this busy leader also fails to delegate authority to capable employees, leaving those employees frustrated.

4. No Training: Forgot that often-repeated phrase that training is not a good investment because “they’ll leave in three months anyway.” Establish an ongoing training plan, suggests Wesley Tucker, University of Missouri Extension agricultural business specialist. “Utilize multiple methods to ensure employees absorb and retain critical information,” he says. “Look for opportunities for both formal and spontaneous training.”

5. No Chance for Advancement: Do you share insights about future opportunities or positions? Recognize how advancements drive retention and job satisfaction. “A lot of times, we hire young people and think they are great,” says Dave Allen, president of Agri-Search, a placement firm for agricultural jobs. “So, you let them go do their thing. But, if you forget about them, they will be gone in two years.”

6. Lack of Respect: Employees need positive recognition, Kleiman says. “Praise in public and criticize in private,” he says. Many times, supervisors avoid positive feedback for fear the recipient might ask for a raise – this is the wrong approach.

7. Scheduling Conflicts: When an employer promises “flexible hours,” but it turns out “flexible hours” means having to work whenever and however long the manager wants them to, good employees look for the exit door. “Structure work schedules to allow for flexibility,” Osmundson suggests. “Maybe you can work shortened hours during certain parts of the year. Look for unique ways you can offer flexibility.”

Learn more tips on how to lead your team at the at the 2021 Top Producer Summit. Register now!

Read More

10 Tips for Finding Allstar Employees

Build A Talent Pipeline

‘Tis the Season for Appreciation

Texas Tornado Destroys Ag Shop, But Doesn’t Stop FFA Members From Helping Community

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 16:31:02 GMT

A line of storms snaked through north and central Texas on Monday, resulting in several tornadoes along the Interstate 35 corridor. About 60 miles northwest of Fort Worth, an F3 tornado touched down outside of Jacksboro at 3:45 p.m., ripping buildings to shreds, including the local high school, elementary school and ag shop.

“I felt so helpless,” says Kevin Thomas, ag teacher at Jacksboro Independent School District.

Thomas had left school to pick up his truck and trailer at his farm about 12 miles away when the tornado hit.

“I knew it hit my ag shop and there was nothing I could do,” he says. “Two co-teachers and 20 students were in the ag shop practicing for judging contests. All I could do was pray that nothing happened to them. Yes, they were capable, but my nature is to take care of things and when I couldn’t ...”

The Jacksboro High School’s ag shop was torn apart in the tornado that produced 150-mph winds, says ag teacher Kevin Thomas. Video by Kevin Thomas.

Braced for Impact

The tornado ripped off the roof the ag shop and the high school gym. The elementary school also took a major hit with 200 kids inside waiting for buses to arrive.
It’s a miracle no one was seriously injured or killed, Thomas says. Survey teams have confirmed 10 tornadoes hit the area, which might increase as the National Weather Service continues to investigate damage.

“We just didn’t have much warning,” Thomas says. “It developed quickly and was on us so fast.”

Despite the devastation this town of 4,000 experienced, Thomas says he’s grateful. All of his students that stayed after school to practice for FFA contests were safe and none of the elementary school kids or their families were hurt.

A look inside the high school gym at Jacksboro after the tornado struck. Video provided by Kevin Thomas.

The school district has relatively new buildings specially designed and geared for tornadoes, he says.

“Every building has tornado hallways built along concrete structures with emergency gates that slide in place like a bunker. We do drills to prepare us for moments like this,” Thomas adds.

Unfortunately, the ag shop wasn’t quite as equipped, and his co-teachers had to hunker down in the bathrooms with all their students. Once the storm passed and Thomas made it back to the school around 4:15 p.m., his FFA students jumped in his truck, and they headed out into their community to help people one house at a time. They passed out waters and Gatorades and comforted elderly members of their community standing outside their homes in shock.

“There were no emergency workers in sight. We had to drag trees out of roadways and there were power lines down everywhere,” he says. “I brought in my skid steer and helped move trees off houses, living rooms, etc. I just wanted to help give people a little peace of mind. We just talked and worked alongside each other and our FFA kids helped every step of the way.”

FFA members pitch in and help with clean-up after the tornado. Photo by Kevin Thomas.

A Desire to Help

To his knowledge, this is the first tornado to hit their community, or at least since he moved there in the mid-1980s.

“We’ve been through some really rough times as a community, but never a storm like this. With all the turmoil in the world, food and fuel prices, politics, I just looked up yesterday and saw good in people,” Thomas says. “No judgment. Nothing but a desire to help. When things get tough, we lay our differences aside and focus on one mission, one goal. It was about being a good human and helping your neighbor.”

A drone’s view of the damage at Jacksboro Independent School District. Video provided by Kevin Thomas.

The cost of the damage is still unknown. The school farm is wiped out. A week ago, Jacksboro FFA would have lost all the kids’ show pigs for Houston.

“We are starting a new season this week focusing on career development events,” he says. “I can’t imagine what it would have been like if this would have happened last week.

You can’t help but think there’s a man upstairs after driving through the community and seeing all the damage. How did we all make it out of this with hardly a scratch?”

More from Farm Journal’s PORK:

Is ‘Tornado Alley’ Expanding East?

The Day Derecho Hit Our Farm

Derecho Forces Evacuation of 25,000 Pigs After Winds Rip Barns Apart

Champion Steer Sells For $1 Million in Houston

The Night the Fire Took the Farm

Speechless: The Call That Saved One Hog Producer’s Farm

Our Derecho Story: The Trees Saved Our Pigs

Super Bowl Commercial Puts Spotlight on Illinois Farming Family

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 14:28:40 GMT

An Illinois pig farmer and his family will be starring in a Super Bowl commercial in select Illinois markets on Sunday. Chad Bell, his wife Brittany, and children Amelia and Charlie, will appear in the commercial, titled “The Corporation.” In addition to finishing 4,800 pigs per year as a production partner with a local farm family, the Bell family grows 1,200 acres of corn, soybeans, hay, wheat and cover crops in Viola.

“My family’s farming roots go back to the 1800s,” Bell says. His family has called eastern Mercer County home since the 1960s. Bell is the sixth generation on his family’s farm, still working with his father, Greg, who is semi-retired but still plays a strong support role on the farm. Bell is responsible for the day-to-day decisions on the farm.

Over the years, he’s had many opportunities to be a voice for agriculture because he was simply willing to say “yes,” he says.

“I’ve had the opportunity to host state and federal elected officials on my farm. You don’t realize how impactful you can be until you put yourself into those situations,” Bell says. “If we don’t take the time to advocate for our livelihood – agriculture – who will? If everyone did a little, nobody would have to do a lot.”

We Are the 96%

The ad is part of a new campaign – We are the 96% – which is an effort of the Illinois Farm Families (IFF) coalition. The IFF coalition is comprised of the Illinois Beef Association, IL Corn Marketing Board, Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Pork Producers Association, Illinois Soybean Association and Midwest Dairy.

Bell says the campaign came about as a result of consumer research IFF has conducted over the past couple of years – when asked, respondents said they think only 47% of Illinois farms are family-owned, with the other 53% being corporately owned.

This is a far cry from the actual number of Illinois farms that are family owned – 96%.

“We just really want to bridge the gap between farmers and consumers,” Bell says. “We really want to help consumers see that that of all the farmsteads they see while driving down the highway or interstate, 96% are owned by Illinois farm families.”

Bell is passionate about helping consumers understand agriculture and plans to keep people regularly updated in 2023 on what’s going on at his farm through short videos on social media.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of people wanted to know more about where their food was coming from. That drove a big movement towards local foods and local food processing,” Bell says.

There’s no doubt that there are many misperceptions about pig farming, but one that he continues to hear is that pigs should be raised outdoors.

“I think a lot about the parallels between humans and pigs. We don’t like to be outside when its freezing cold or blazing hot. Pigs don’t really like that either,” he explains. “We turn our A/C on in the house when it gets hot and the furnace on when it gets cold. Raising pigs in a barn allows us to take the weather variable out of the equation and keep the pigs comfortable year around.”

A Humbling Honor

Although Bell never envisioned himself making an appearance in the Super Bowl commercial lineup, he says it’s been a memorable experience and honor.

“It’s a humbling feeling to know that together with my wife and family we were asked to be involved in this,” Bell says. “Helping showcase Illinois family farmers is not easily describable; but being part of the Illinois family farmers – it’s amazing.”

The ad will air on Feb. 12, during the first half of the big game, in the Champaign, Springfield, St. Louis, Peoria/Bloomington, Rockford and Quad Cities markets, and will also be aired on streaming services statewide during the second half of February.

“I can tell you it’s not something I ever thought I would say in my lifetime, that my family would be on a Super Bowl commercial,” he laughs.

More than 25 families from across Illinois (including five with pork ties) will be featured throughout the campaign, which will shift to more of an earned media strategy as it builds toward the spring ad flight (April 3 through June 25). Included in that flight are more 30-second TV spots, radio ads, digital ads, print ads and social media promotion opportunities.

Check out this behind-the-scenes video that explains the campaign from the point of view of some of the farmers included. The campaign website, Wearethe96.org , will officially launch after the ad airs on Super Bowl Sunday.

Read More:

Super Bowl Stand-Outs: 8 Ways to Win With Pork

Super Bowl Snack Price Report: Cheaper Chicken Wings, More Avocados

Super Bowl Standouts: 5 Pork Recipes They’ll Rave About

Senate Ag Committee Chairwoman Will Not Run for Office in 2024

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 16:20:18 GMT

The House Ag Committee’s chairman seat flipped from Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.) to Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-Pa) this term, following Republican’s taking control of the House.

The Senate Ag Committee looks to also have a leadership role change within the next two years, as Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) announced on Thursday she will not pursue re-election in 2024.

“Inspired by a new generation of leaders, I have decided to pass the torch in the U.S. Senate,” she said in a press release .

As the first woman to be elected for Senate in the state of Michigan, Stabenow says her years of “blazing trails and breaking barriers” in her home state are what brought her to the Senate floor in 2001.

But these final two years might prove the most important of all her time in office.

“For the next two years, I am intensely focused on… leading the passage of the next five-year Farm Bill, which determines our nation’s food and agriculture policies. It is also key in protecting our land and water and creating jobs in our rural and urban communities,” Stabenow says.

Upon her exit from office, Stabenow says she will “begin a new chapter” of serving Michiganders outside of elected office, while also spending time with family.

More on policy:

House Speaker Vote Could Extend into Coming Months
Policy and Payments: What Producers Can Expect in 2023

AMVC and Landus Feed Mill Construction Underway in Iowa

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 14:11:56 GMT

First announcing the collaboration in March 2022 , construction of the AMVC and Landus feed mill in Hamlin, Iowa, is underway.

A recent release describes the building process thus far, including concrete pours on a day bin, loadout area and milling towers structures.

“The 145-foot mill took eight consecutive days to construct, rising approximately 20 feet each day, and a crew of 200 people worked 12-hour shifts, 24 hours a day. The roof is expected to be poured throughout the winter. Once complete, the project will enter the next construction phase, adding milling and mixing equipment and warehouse space,” the release explains.

The feed mill will have the capacity to produce up to 400,000 tons of swine feed per year, generating demand for roughly 8.5 million bushels of corn and 48,000 tons of soybean meal annually. The mill will also create 22 additional jobs, including eight full-time mill employees and 14 local truck drivers.

Steve Schmitz, veterinarian and managing partner of AMVC Management Services, notes the project’s ability to add long-term economic and agricultural value to Audubon County, Iowa, and surrounding areas. Additionally, the local feed mill allows AMVC and the company’s clients more control over ingredient sourcing, quality assurance and biosecurity.

“This investment into our nutritional program will provide cost savings and performance benefits for area pigs and enables us to better serve local swine operations,” says Trey Kellner, swine nutritionist and managing partner of AMVC Nutritional Services.

Through the collaboration, AMVC will own and operate the feed mill while Landus will be responsible for originating grain through its network of local farmer-owners.

“Our collaboration with AMVC showcases what’s possible when partners work together with an optimized approach to serving our local communities,” say Matt Carstens, president and chief executive officer at Landus.

Carsten also notes the benefits of the feed mill, including additional grain origination, marketing and storage opportunities for Landus farmer-owners.

The project first broke ground in August and is expected to be fully operational by the summer of 2024.

Down on the Farm: Halloween Costumes You Won't Forget

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 14:41:04 GMT

Halloween: an opportunity for parents to squish their adorable children into itchy, feathery, sequin-filled works of art in an attempt to capture that perfect moment and share it on their social media feeds. Oh, the joy of deciding exactly what to wear for this momentous annual occasion! Maybe it’s because I’m a farm kid at heart, but I think the best costume ideas come straight from the farm. And from the looks of pictures sent in by our readers, you do, too.

Just in case you are still looking for that perfect costume for Halloween (or just enjoy cute kids on Halloween), here are some farm-friendly ideas shared by our readers.

Go check out the rest of the “herd” of cute costumes on the next page!

Photos provided by:

Cindy Anderson
Gretchen Pein Baloun
Michelle Caldwell
Anna Dilger
Kelly Estes
Barbie Ford
Alissa Fosdick
Kate Goodson
Lenzi Holmes
Katrina Huffstutler
Katie Humphreys
Aimee Inskeep
Katelyn Jones Hamlow
Krista Kuipers
Jessica Patzwith
Ashley Pendley
Lynsee Pullen
Gary Rodgers
Jennifer Smith
Emily Spray
Traci Stierwalt
Nicole Strand
Emily Thomas
Kimberly Wolter

More from Farm Journal’s PORK:

6 Spooktacular Beef, Pork and Dairy Treats for Halloween

Dan Murphy: Pumpkin Phobia

Farm Journal Announces 365-Day Extension of Farm Journal Field Days

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:57:31 GMT

The success of Farm Journal’s inaugural Farm Journal Field Days TM has led to a 365-day expansion of the event, giving agricultural suppliers and service providers timely access to target audiences while also providing farmers, ranchers and growers with the critical information they need for upcoming seasons.

“When we looked back at the opportunities we were able to create for both Farm Journal Field Days attendees and industry partners who engaged with the event, the direction we needed to go was clear — we needed to expand it,” said Andy Weber, CEO of Farm Journal.

In a post-event survey, more than 87 percent of farmers, ranchers and growers that attended said the event met or exceeded their expectations, and 85 percent planned to participate in another Farm Journal online event.

“At the same time, we provided higher quality leads at a fraction of the cost of other farm shows to exhibitors, and we will continue to deliver valuable leads to those that continue to engage in this 365-day approach,” said Weber. “Bringing these groups together in the Farm Journal Field Days platform is a win-win for the industry.”

The 365-day approach will include seasonal “special edition” events delivering what farmers, ranchers and growers need to know right now, including a Harvest Edition kicking off October 19, followed by an Equipment Edition starting in December and going through February 2021. In March, a Planting Edition will launch followed by a Hay, Forage & Cattle Handling Edition in June. Then in August, the 2021 Pro Farmer Crop Tour TM, Farm Journal Field Days Summer Showcase and another #FarmONTM Benefit Concert will round out the summer. Each edition will feature live and on-demand content, networking, new pavilions and featured products and resources in exhibitor booths as well as in-person events and programming.

Farm Journal Field Days Harvest Edition will kick off with new stories, videos and other resources being added to the platform every day while pavilion hosts and exhibitors will be updating content around harvest topics. A new Harvest Pavilion will feature content relevant to farmers during the harvest season, and new exhibitors are expected to join as well. The search for farm locations to host in-person events is ongoing through Farm Journal’s Top Producer Network with plans to cover multiple geographies across the country.

“The landscape of agriculture events is changing, and Farm Journal is excited to offer a marketing alternative that allows our industry partners to get in front of their key accounts and prospects,” said Charlene Finck, president of Farm Journal. “We have built a successful platform, and farmer response is positive, as they see the value of online education and ag industry networking. Farm Journal Field Days is a celebration of learning and entertainment for all of agriculture, and we are proud to be leading the industry in these efforts.”

Farm Journal launched the New American Farm ShowTM experience in August with the 2020 Pro Farmer Crop Tour, the launch of Farm Journal Field Days and its first #FarmON Benefit Concert. All content from these events is still available for on-demand viewing, plus Farm Journal editors are continually pushing new content to the platform. All pavilions are still open as well as exhibitor booths and the networking lounge.

Registration for Farm Journal Field Days is free. To learn more or register, go to www.farmjournalfielddays.com .

COVID-19 Surge Slices U.S. Demand for Big Thanksgiving Turkeys

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:57:13 GMT

CHICAGO (Reuters) - All summer, Greg Gunthorp slaughtered and froze 15- to 24-pound turkeys on his northeastern Indiana farm for Thanksgiving sales to retailers, restaurants and families across the Midwest.

But as surging COVID-19 cases prompted U.S. cities and states to urge Americans to stay home just weeks before the holiday, customers swapped out orders for whole birds for smaller turkey breasts.

As a last-minute shift toward small-scale celebrations upends demand for the star of Thanksgiving tables, turkey producers and retailers are scrambling to fill orders for lightweight birds and partial cuts.

“It was very stressful,” Gunthorp said. “It cut our numbers on being able to fill customer sizes that they wanted for turkeys - way too short.”

Gunthorp raised and sold nearly 7,000 pasture-raised turkeys this year, up 75% from a year ago. Restaurants and meat shops in major Midwestern cities, his primary clients, cut orders by 10% to 20%, but Gunthorp has made up the difference by partnering with online retailers, shipping turkeys as far away as Los Angeles.

Suppliers need to be nimble as about half of Americans plan to alter or skip traditional festivities due to local health advisories against big gatherings, according to market research firm Nielson. About 70% are planning a Thanksgiving with fewer than six people, compared with 48% last year.

Demand for smaller birds will trim turkey production to 1.445 billion pounds in the last quarter, down five million pounds from previous expectations, according to a Nov. 17 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“We have seen our supply chain adjust to market disruptions and shifting consumer needs,” said Beth Breeding, spokeswoman for the industry group National Turkey Federation. “Like the rest of the country, it has been a challenging year for turkey production.”

While best known for beef, Nebraska-based Omaha Steaks this year offered 3-pound turkey breasts for the first time to cater to smaller Thanksgiving gatherings, said Nate Rempe, president and chief operating officer. The pre-cooked product sold out online, as some consumers are avoiding grocery stores.

Omaha Steaks also sold out of 10-pound turkeys earlier than usual, Rempe said.

“The number of individual Thanksgiving meals being prepared ... is going to be much higher because of the separation of gatherings,” he said.

Butterball, the largest U.S. producer of turkey products, shipped 1,900 truckloads of whole turkeys to grocers in the past two weeks, said Al Jansen, executive vice president of marketing and sales. Many major chains booked orders in the first quarter before the coronavirus outbreak, he added.

Retailers have slashed whole-turkey prices by about 7% to an average of $1.21 per pound, the lowest since 2010, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. That cuts the average cost of a Thanksgiving meal for 10 people by 4% to $46.90, Farm Bureau said.

The decline is welcome news for the nearly 24 million households facing empty cupboards due to COVID-19-related job losses. Food insecurity has nearly tripled since the pandemic began, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

“Thanksgiving will not be a holiday that all Americans can enjoy this year,” said Joseph Llobrera, research director at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. “Alarming levels of food hardship will last through the holidays and beyond unless policymakers immediately provide robust COVID relief.”

Some Americans who had relied on others to cook on Thanksgiving are ordering part or all of their meals from restaurants for the first time. Others simply do not want the hassle of preparing a feast for just a few guests.

“Thanksgiving is going to look very different this year, and we know there’s a lot of cooking fatigue out there right now,” said Tracy Hostetler, a vice president for Perdue Farms. The company launched turkey “ThanksNuggets” as an alternative to traditional turkey dinners.

In Houston, independent marketing consultant Anh Nguyen, 50, will dine with about 10 relatives on a smoked turkey from a local restaurant. Normally, three times as many of her family members gather to gobble up two 20-pound turkeys cooked at home.

“It’s a little weird,” said Nguyen. “Thanksgiving has been historically just one of the holidays where everybody is together.”

(Reporting by Christopher Walljasper and Tom Polansek; Editing by Richard Chang)

Employers Qualify for Tax Credit to Offset COVID-19 Paid Time Off

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:57:07 GMT

At this point in the pandemic, most employers have received a phone call that goes something like this. “Hi Boss, I was exposed to COVID-19. Do you want me to come in?” And in that moment, you run through 14,000 questions in your mind. Can we cover his or her schedule? Who had this person worked with before they knew they had been exposed? Can we afford to pay them for time spent at home? While those thoughts are going through your mind, your employee is worried about getting paid for required time off.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) signed into law on March 18, 2020 provides that eligible employees are entitled to paid sick time because of COVID-19, and employers are eligible for a tax credit to offset the expense.

Who qualifies as an eligible employee, how much time do they get and at what rate? Under the FFCRA, employees are entitled to:

a. Up to 80 hours of paid sick leave at the employee’s regular rate of pay (up to a maximum of $511 per day) where the employee is unable to work because the employee is quarantined pursuant to government order, is advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine and/or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and seeking a medical diagnosis; or

b. Up to 80 hours of paid sick leave at two-thirds the employee’s regular rate of pay (up to a maximum of $200 per day) because the employee must care for an individual subject to quarantine (pursuant to government order or advice of a health care provider), or to care for a child (under 18 years of age) whose school or child care provider is closed or unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19.

What is the tax credit for employers? The FFCRA provides eligible employers with payroll tax credits to cover 100% of the qualified sick leave wages and qualified family leave wages paid from April 1, 2020, through December 31, 2020.

The FFCRA payroll tax credit includes:

1) Qualified sick leave wages;

2) Qualified family wages;

3) Qualified health plan expenses; and

4) Medicare tax credit.

According to an advisory from tax accountancy CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA), qualified sick leave wages are wages an eligible employer is required to pay under FFCRA for paid sick leave. Qualified family leave wages are wages an eligible employer is required to pay under FFCRA for expanded family and medical leave.

The tax credits can be claimed three ways:

1. On the Form 941, Employer’s QUARTERLY Federal Tax Return;

2. Offsetting Federal employment tax deposits for the quarter (the employer must account for the reduction in deposits on the Form 941 for the quarter); or

3. Filing Form 7200, Advance Payment of Employer Credits Due to COVID-19.

CLA shares this example of how the claims process works.

Employer pays $15,000 in qualified sick leave wages and qualified family leave wages during the 3rd quarter of 2020. The employer is required to deposit $18,000 in Federal employment taxes (including taxes withheld from its employees) for the 3rd quarter of 2020. The employer may keep up to $15,000 of the $18,000 of taxes the employer was going to deposit but is required to deposit the remaining $3,000 on its required deposit date. The employer will account for the $15,000 when it files its Form 941 for the 3rd quarter of 2020.

For more information, including extended family and medical leave details included in the FFCRA contact your accountant.

Meyer to Replace Retiring Johansson as USDA Chief Economist

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:57:07 GMT

USDA Chief Economist Dr. Robert Johansson will retire at the end of January and will be replaced by Dr. Seth Meyer, currently the Associate Director for the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) at the University of Missouri.

Johansson leaves USDA for the American Sugar Alliance where he will serve as Associate Director of Economics and Policy Analysis. He was first named Chief Economist at USDA in 2015 and has served in a key role as the agency navigated large farmer support programs such as the Market Facilitation Program and Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.

“There is no doubt that I as well as the whole USDA family will miss Rob’s experience, preparedness, and direct economic analyses,” said USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue in a statement. “During his tenure as Chief Economist, Rob has been an upstanding public servant. Rob helped set up and serve as Acting Deputy Undersecretary for the Farm Production and Conservation mission area, early in this Administration. Rob’s leadership and economic support over the past two years with trade disruptions and COVID-19 relief has helped us make evidenced-based decisions when designing programs to assist American farmers and ranchers during their time of need. We are excited to bring back Dr. Seth Meyer and know that he will do a tremendous job serving the people of American agriculture.”

Meyer was previously head of the World Agricultural Outlook Board which publishes the closely watched World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate (WASDE.) He left the World Board to join FAPRI in 2019.

Meyer was a guest on the AgriTalk Radio Show on Monday before the announcement of his appointment at USDA was announced. He said a key to the farm economy will be watching the impact on farm income as ad-hoc assistance programs expire in 2021.

“We could have a really strange situation where we have sharply higher cash receipts for crops and sharply higher cash receipts for livestock, and yet sharply lower farm income,” Meyer said. “We’re talking about something where direct government payments are going from around $46 billion in 2020 down to something that’s about $10 billion-ish in 2021. And cash receipts increases aren’t going to offset that. So again, we’re talking about something where you could have a sharp decline in farm income at the same time receipts for crops and livestock look much better.”

CDC Prioritizes Frontline Meat Workers for COVID-19 Vaccination

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:57:00 GMT

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) agrees that frontline meat and poultry workers should be some of the first vaccinated after health care workers and those in long-term care facilities.

Federal guidance was approved on Sunday by CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Priority (ACIP).

“Priority access to vaccines is a critical step for the long-term safety of the selfless frontline meat and poultry workers who have kept America’s refrigerators full and our farm economy working,” said North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) President and CEO Julie Anna Potts in a statement. She applauded ACIP’s guidance and urged state governments to follow CDC’s decision.

$1.5 billion in COVID-19 preventions and supports implemented since the earliest days of the pandemic have reversed COVID-19’s impact on meat and poultry workers, the release said. Meat Institute members have distributed tens of millions of pieces of personal protective equipment, implemented health and temperature screening, radically modified facilities, conducted testing, preemptively paid leave for high-risk and quarantined employees, enhanced air sanitation and ventilation, and much more.

Because of these efforts, COVID-19 infection rates in meat and poultry workers are now more than 8 times lower than in the general population, the Meat Institute reported.

“Meat Institute members stand ready to support vaccination for our diverse workforce, which will also deliver wide-ranging health benefits in rural and high-risk communities. Meat and poultry leaders may also be able to aid vaccination for all Americans, for example by offering state-of-the-art cold storage for these precious vaccines,” Potts said.

Prioritizing vaccination for frontline meat and poultry workers is not only supported by leaders across industry, unions and civil rights organizations, but it has also been a key consideration in multiple other countries’ vaccine distribution planning, the Meat Institute reported.

On Oct. 1, Smithfield Foods urged government leaders to prioritize COVID-19 vaccine distribution to food and agriculture workers alongside the nation’s healthcare workers and other first responders.

“Food and agriculture workers are heroes. They have been on the frontlines of the pandemic, ensuring Americans have access to safe, nutritious and affordable food, and they should be at the front of the line for a COVID-19 vaccine as well,” Smithfield wrote to government leaders.

Read more from Farm Journal’s PORK:

Smithfield Urges Prioritization of COVID-19 Vaccine to Ag Workers

The 4 Crisis Management Types

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:56:53 GMT

After the challenges of 2020, it’s easy to feel like we’re in constant crisis management mode. Some people are ready to move on, while others are still very concerned. Which one is right? It depends.

COVID-19 is a crisis similar (in theory) to other crises such as genetic defect in the herd or a devasting weather event. Since we all react to crisis differently; it helps to understand employees’ and family members’ perspectives. Take a look at my “The Four Crisis Reaction Types” assessment. Hopefully it helps you find common ground.

#1: Hide & Hunker

Slash budgets, close doors, and avoid external decisions.
Underlying Issue: Haven’t accepted changed yet and are stuck in fear.

This type is one of fear. This person is concerned about how the crisis will affect them personally. They don’t want to take risks and will be slow to move on. When businesses are run by this type, they are slow to adapt and could close down.

#2: Conformist

Waiting for the “all clear” from an authority, such as the government.
Underlying Issue: Stuck in pause, need rules to move on.

This type is identified by their strict adherence to authority and rules. They will go for-ward with new activities but not without risk mitigation plans. Conformists demand others believe in the same precautions they consider essential. In crisis, they are rule followers to the extreme.

#3: Fence Rider

Bored and ready to move forward but need reassurance.
Underlying Issue: Unable to take the lead; prefer that someone influential ‘go first’.

This type is eager for change but doesn’t want to make the first move. They will seek out Conformists or Vanguards for leadership. Fence Riders see both sides of the issue, which is helpful to have around when tensions run hot. If your farm is run by a Fence Rider, someone else will need to propel them into action.

#4: Vanguard

Anger then action; already innovating, ‘So, what? The world is different.’
Underlying Issue: Impatient; ready to create and implement new-world solutions.

Vanguards throw out the rulebook and make their own rules that they believe are better suited to their lives and farms. Vanguards in crisis have already decided that the crisis has/is happening, and it’s time to tackle it. Vanguards are often initially motivated by anger at the crisis and frustration with the disruption, but they’ll quickly pivot and decide what needs to be done to survive and thrive. A caution with Vanguards, much like with Conformists, is they are often impatient with the other reaction types. This can lead unpleasant conflict with people either not ready to move on or seemingly slowing them down with too many arbitrary rules.

Recognize Reaction Types

So, where do you and your family fit? People can move through any or all of the stages. You cannot change everyone’s reaction, but you can still work together effectively if you know how to understand each other.

Sarah Beth Aubrey’s mission is to enhance success and profitability in agriculture by building capacity in people. She provides executive coaching as well as peer group and board facilitation.

Smithfield Foods Prepares for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution to U.S. Employees

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:56:53 GMT

Smithfield Foods, the world’s largest pork processor, said on Wednesday it has medical capabilities at U.S. facilities and is actively preparing for COVID-19 vaccine distribution to employees.

Meatpacking workers were among the groups hit hardest by the new coronavirus last year, as U.S. slaughterhouses became hot spots for outbreaks in the spring, helping spread the virus around rural America.

More Americans were hospitalized with COVID-19 on Wednesday than at any time since the pandemic began, as the historic public vaccination effort lagged.

Smithfield, owned by China’s WH Group, declined to provide details of its vaccination plans and said they vary from state to state. The company said all of its employees will be eligible to receive vaccines.

A day earlier, the governor of the U.S. state of Nebraska said undocumented immigrants who work in meat plants would likely not get vaccinated due to immigration status.

The Washington-based Migration Policy Institute estimates that 10% of meatpacking workers nationwide are unauthorized immigrants. Smithfield said it does not employ undocumented immigrants.

The company last month offered to help U.S. health officials distribute COVID-19 vaccines and store them in ultra-cold freezers that are in high demand to support the public vaccination campaign.

The U.S. Labor Department and a state workplace safety regulator in California separately cited Smithfield last year for failing to protect employees from COVID-19 and other violations during the pandemic. The company has contested the findings.

Smithfield and other meatpackers also came under fire last year as U.S. pork exports to China soared while U.S. processors warned of domestic meat shortages due to COVID-19 outbreaks at slaughterhouses.

(Reporting by Tom Polansek Editing by Chris Reese and Nick Zieminski)

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How is the Pandemic Affecting Agriculture’s Workforce?

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:56:47 GMT

Confidence about the future of the workplace has declined less than one might expect, says a report from ADP Research Institute . Positivity persists despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

In fact, the study says optimism about the next five years of the workplace increased from 79% in January 2020 to 84% in May 2020 in the U.S. The most optimistic group are young people ages 18 to 24, ADP reports.

Although one in five workers believe their job will not exist five years from today, most are upbeat about the flexibility of opportunities they will have in the figure, which ADP reports is virtually unchanged since before the crisis hit.

But how is the pandemic affecting the agricultural workforce?

Need for Farm Labor Remains Strong
According to Valerie Duttlinger, chief analytics officer at Summit SmartFarms, “Nearly all of the farms I am visiting with are not fully staffed and are actively trying to hire people. The unemployment is not impacting rural areas like it is the urban areas.”

The pandemic hasn’t slowed the seed sales job market down a bit, says Craig Spray, dealer manager for central and eastern regions at Beck’s Hybrids.

“Talented people in our industry are always in demand,” Spray says. “You would have thought with all the uncertainty in the world, people would be paralyzed and not want to move into new career opportunities. But we found the opposite to be true.”

For The Maschhoffs’ pork business, the pandemic has created more fluctuation than normal when it comes to finding employees.

“Our applicant pool for animal caregivers has fluctuated quite a bit throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. And, it has been different from region to region. Some weeks, our HR team reports an uptick in applications. Other weeks, we have very few applications,” says Josh Flint, director of recruitment, retention and communication for The Maschhoffs. “When it comes to office roles (accounts payable, IT, etc.) we have seen an uptick in applications. This is primarily for job functions that are not necessarily swine-specific.”

Flint notes that many of the people they have been interviewing have been laid off due to COVID.

Help People Feel Safe at Work
The ADP study says 44% of employers now have official flexible working policies in place, up from 24% pre-COVID-19.

However, for most swine industry roles, working from home is not an option. But where it is, Flint says the pandemic has motivated their company to make adjustments.

“We have worked very hard to accommodate our employees during this period of uncertainty. This has included increasing work-from-home capabilities and flexibility for those positions where this makes sense. It also includes bolstering our leave and communication policies to keep our employees safe,” Flint says.

During an employee feedback survey conducted in late summer 2020, Flint says employees were extremely appreciative of The Maschhoffs’ response to COVID-19.

“Employees are concerned about their health but often more concerned about the health of family members that they may take it home to,” Duttlinger says. “Companies need to do what they can to help people feel safe at work.”

To help protect their employees when the pandemic first started, Beck’s Hybrids worked with a skeleton crew at the main office and allowed many employees to work from home. However, most of their employees are back in the office now, Spray adds.

“I think as we look forward, we may see a shift in perhaps allowing more of those employees that used to come to the office every day work from home, as long as they can continue to be effective and manage their responsibilities at work,” Spray says.

Don’t Lose Sight of Relationships
During this time, part of feeling safe at work is limiting interaction employees have with each other. Duttlinger notes this can create a sense of disconnection and suggests finding ways to increase communication in other ways to help counter the isolation.

“If you have reduced face-to-face meetings, then you need to increase communication in other ways,” she says. “Video communication is a great alternative.”

For example, Beck’s Hybrids’ leadership team has been taking a more active approach at putting out video content to just stay in front of their employees and dealers. They also had to cancel their December dealer meeting in Indianapolis and moved to virtual video presentations and award ceremonies.

For an industry like agriculture, relationships and community building are critical to success.

“We want to really be careful that we don’t misplace relationships during this time of uncertainty because the relationships piece of our businesses and relationships amongst employees is key,” Spray says. “That’s what builds your culture and helps maintain your culture.”

It’s always a good time to remind people about the important role they play in the industry, but now is more critical than ever before, Duttlinger adds.

Spray says the added investment they’ve made in empowering employees during the pandemic has paid off.

“It’s like a marriage or anything else, if you don’t work on that relationship and make it a priority, eventually it’s going to erode,” he says. “You’ve got to continue to work on relationships.”

Source: ADP Research Institute

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

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:55:55 GMT

To answer common questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, U.S. Surgeon General vice admiral Dr. Vivek Murthy joined AgriTalk on May 4. This was the same day President Joe Biden shared the goal for 70% of adults in America to have had at least one shot of the vaccine by July 4.

“The progress report is good,” Murthy says. “We have made tremendous progress in vaccinating the country to date. If you look at people above the age of 65, we’ve gotten at least one dose of the vaccine into more than 80%, which is pretty extraordinary. And we have about 70% of our seniors who are now fully vaccinated.”

But even with those 150 million people who have had at least one shot, Murthy says the country needs to have another 100 million shots administered in the next 60 days to reach the president’s next goal by July 4.

You can listen to the full interview with Murthy here:

On the segment, Murthy answered several commonly asked questions about the COVID-19 vaccine:

Do we have enough supply?

“Here in America, we have done a good job of bolstering our supply. So we do have more and more vaccine available for those who want it. And we also, very importantly, have more places where you can get a vaccine.”

What is being done to increase access to the vaccine?

“There are over 40,000 pharmacies in the country that now have vaccine to offer. We have community vaccination sites, we have community health centers where we’ve actually directly delivered vaccine from the federal government and we’ve got more primary care doctors who are getting vaccine direct-ly in their offices so they can give it to patients. The President and the administration will be providing more direct funding and support to rural health clinics to support outreach as well as direct allocation of vaccine to rural health clinics so they can directly vaccinate their own patients.”

How is access being improved specifically to rural America?

“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. So we’ve got to work through some of those logistical barriers, which is why the funding for the rural health clinics and for these mobile units is so important. But we also know everyone looked gets information from different sources. We’re a big country. Not everyone listens to the same news station, radio station and that means we’ve got to do more work in getting information out, and particularly through people’s doctors, which is the reason behind one of the projects we launched. From my office and other offices in the government it’s something called COVID-19 Community Core, where we bring together doctors, nurses, faith leaders, local business leaders and others to get the accurate information they know they and their communities want and to be able to share that with them.

In addition to people trusting the doctors and nurses who take care of them, we know about 50% of people say they would take the advice of a family member or friend when it comes to making a decision on the vaccine. What that means is even if you don’t have a medical degree or a nursing degree, you can still be a vital force in helping people understand the vaccines we have for COVID-19 are a way to protect them against COVID and a way, ultimately, for us to help turn this pandemic around.”

Why are people hesitant to get the vaccine?

“We’ve seen a lot of news stories about people being hesitant to get the vaccine. But what we’re finding actually is people who haven’t gotten vaccinated yet it’s a combination of a few things. Some people have questions, which are important to answer. We want people to get answers from reliable sources, like their doctors or their nurses who take care of them. But we also know some people are wondering if it’s really that important for them to get vaccinated. Maybe they’re young and healthy, and they think, ‘Hey, I’m not at high risk of a bad outcome, do I really need to get this vaccine?’, or maybe they’re working two or three jobs and don’t have transportation to get to a vaccine center.

We’re trying to work on all three fronts to make sure we’re working closely with doctors and nurses around the country, as well as pastors and other faith leaders, to help get information to their com-munities. But we’re also trying to improve the number of access points so it’s easier and easier hope-fully over the weeks ahead for people to get vaccines in their pharmacy, in their doctor’s office or in their neighborhoods.”

Should people who have had COVID-19 get vaccinated?

“The answer is yes. And here’s why. It turns out the immunity you get from a natural infection is actually not as robust. It’s not as strong as the protection you get from the vaccine. So you’re more likely to be at risk for reinfection. That’s why we’re asking everyone to get vaccinated regardless of their prior infection.”

What if people still have questions?

“I always say our health is personal to us. And if you have questions, you absolutely have a right to get those questions answered because ultimately, it’s your health. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind about the vaccine.

Recognize 90% of doctors in this country have either gotten the vaccine or are planning to get it as soon as possible. That tells you about the faith the medical profession has in the vaccine.
Keep in mind these vaccines, even though it seems like they were developed on a quick timeframe, the technology behind them has been in development for decades.
We are lucky enough to see the culmination of that research, and these vaccines have been studied rigorously in clinical trials and what we’ve seen with nearly 150 million people having received at least one dose of the vaccine is this side effect profile remains really strong in terms of safety. The effectiveness remains extraordinarily strong and high as well. That’s what you want to see — high effectiveness and very low risk in any vaccine you take.
I know many people are worried about the side effects of the vaccine. But first of all, the vast majority of people don’t have side effects from this vaccine. Those who do tend to experience one to two days of flu-like symptoms, meaning fatigue, maybe a low-grade fever and a body ache, but that lasts for about a day or two. Then it goes away, and they feel pretty good. Afterward what you’re left with is protection from the vaccine.

“It’s certainly a blessing to be able to serve the country, especially at a time like this during this pandemic crisis. I’m eager to do everything I can to help,” Murthy says.

Grandma’s Still Got It: 92-Year-Old Pig Showman Gets Back in the Ring

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:55:34 GMT

A 92-year-old Iowa woman showed the world you can do anything you want if you put your mind to it when she stepped back into the show ring on July 9 during the National Swine Registry’s Summer Type Conference in Louisville, Ky.

Lois Martin, the great-great-grandmother of two, great-grandmother of 38, grandmother of 16 and mother of five from Marion, Iowa, lit up with joy as she drove her Hampshire gilt into the show ring for a second-place finish after taking a 20+-year break from pig showing.

“I was very nervous and kind of scared,” Lois says. “I kept thinking, what if something happens? But once I got in there, it felt so good.”

Lois Martin steps into the ring with a Hampshire gilt her family raised. Photo by Legacy Livestock Imaging.

Back to the Show Ring
Lois says her son, Dave Martin, and granddaughter Carly Martin concocted the plan to get her back into the show ring when Lois told them she wanted to go to the show with them.

“I didn’t want to be a burden to them,” Lois adds. “But they insisted they wanted me to go and went out to the hog lot to pick out a gilt for me to show. That gilt wasn’t pampered – I worked with her a few times at home and we washed her. Carly gave me a few tips on showing, but I watch enough hog shows that I knew what to do.”

Carly helped her grandma get up to the show ring and watched from the make-up area. She was equipped with a spray bottle and brush to help as needed.

Lois and Carly Martin wait to go back out for a final drive before the judge. Photo by Legacy Livestock Imaging.

But Grandma Lois got along just fine on her own, Carly says.

“My sweet, spunky 92.5-year-old grandma got to show a pig again and it was the best thing ever! The look on her face is truly priceless,” Carly wrote on Twitter.

My sweet, spunky, 92.5 year old Grandma got to show a pig again & it was the best thing ever! The look on her face is truly priceless ☺️ pic.twitter.com/xPq7cGtFGw
— carly.martin (@carlyjill31) July 10, 2021

Lois’ granddaughter, Ashley Fitzgerald of Boone, Iowa, couldn’t make it to the show but eagerly watched online at WaltonWebcasting.com .

“My grandma is the greatest. Grandpa is sure smiling down from Heaven today. He would be so proud,” Fitzgerald wrote.

The Last One in the Barn
Perhaps the best part about Lois is that age hasn’t stopped her from living life on the farm to its fullest. She works just as hard as ever and believes that’s what keeps her young.

She and her late husband, Loyd, have raised Hampshires since they were married in 1947. Loyd’s father started their pig business in 1933.

“My dad had Berkshires, so I had to change my way of thinking when we got married,” Lois says.

In 1972, Loyd and Lois added Durocs to their operation. Their son, Dave, continues to follow in his parents’ footsteps on the family farm raising Hampshire and Duroc pigs for breeding stock and the show pig industry.

He says his mother has always been an active part of the hog operation. At 92, she’s the head mower, mowing about 3 acres between the two farms. She also spends a lot of time trimming and tending her big garden. Whenever possible, she likes to spend time in the farrowing house.

“I like to check on the pigs and spend time out there. If the sows are having pigs, I take my Guidepost magazine out there and read it while they are farrowing,” she says.

Dave says his mom still pulls pigs and keeps the farrowing barn cleaner than any kid who has ever worked for their family.

An expert hand in the barn, Lois loves spending time caring for their pigs. Photo by Carly Martin.

Mother Knows Best
Last August, DCM Hamps and Durocs was hit hard by the derecho windstorm. Dave explains, “When your 91-year-old mother says a storm is coming and it’s coming fast, you better listen.”

For 40 minutes, the storm raged and snapped over 100 mature evergreen and pine trees between the two Martin farms located five miles apart. Read the full story here.

“You just can’t imagine how bad it was,” Lois says.

Last Christmas, her granddaughter bought her a little chainsaw and Lois is still working on cutting off some of the branches on the fallen trees. The damage caused by the derecho winds continues to be seen around the farm. One roof still needs replaced and a couple of grain bins will need repair work before they can put grain in them this year.

But that’s farm life, she says. It’s just one of many things that continue to keep Lois busy around the farm she has loved operating for so many years with her late husband.

“Loyd would have been pretty surprised to see me out in the show ring,” Lois laughs. “But he’d be really happy I was doing it. I always helped him get the pigs ready for the show ring, but I never went in except when we were showing truckloads at the National Barrow Show.”

She says their marriage was a true partnership. From running combines to serving at church to showing pigs, she’s grateful for all the time they were able to spend together doing what they loved.

“It’s been hard without him,” she admits. “But knowing where he is at has made it easier on me. He would have been pleased to see me showing. I always try to set an example to others and am grateful God has given me good health so I can do things like this.”

Lois Martin’s gilt sold for $5,250 in the STC Sale on July 10. Photo by Legacy Livestock Imaging.

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Tyson Foods Mandating COVID-19 Vaccinations for U.S. Employees

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:55:28 GMT

Tyson Foods announced Tuesday that it is requiring its team members in the U.S. to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 1, 2021, and all other team members are required to be fully vaccinated by Nov. 1, 2021, subject to continued discussions with locations represented by unions, a company release says.

“Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the single most effective thing we can do to protect our team members, their families and their communities,” said Dr. Claudia Coplein, chief medical officer, Tyson Foods, in the release. “With rapidly rising COVID-19 case counts of contagious, dangerous variants leading to increasing rates of severe illness and hospitalization among the U.S. unvaccinated population, this is the right time to take the next step to ensure a fully vaccinated workforce.”

This requirement makes the company the largest U.S. food company to require vaccinations against the coronavirus for its entire workforce. It says that almost 50% of its U.S. workforce has been vaccinated and infection rates among its team members remain low.

The company has hosted more than 100 vaccination events for its workers since February and more than 56,000 U.S. team members have been vaccinated so far, the release says. Additional onsite vaccination events will be scheduled, and the company will continue to collaborate with local health departments and healthcare providers to make the vaccine more accessible.

Tyson Foods also notes in the release that it will provide $200 to its frontline team members, subject to ongoing discussions with locations represented by unions, which it says is an expansion of Tyson Foods’ existing policy to compensate workers for up to four hours of regular pay if they are vaccinated outside of their normal shift or through an external source.

Exceptions to the mandate will be available for workers who seek medical or religious accommodation, it says.

Union Pushback

The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), which is the union for 250,000 meatpacking and food processing workers and includes 24,000 Tyson meatpacking workers across the country, says it has “serious concerns” about the vaccination mandate.

“UFCW is proud to say that we have high vaccination rates among our unionized food workers across the country, and as a result, we have helped reduce COVID-19 infection rates in many of our industries, including meatpacking. While we support and encourage workers getting vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, and have actively encouraged our members to do so, it is concerning that Tyson is implementing this mandate before the FDA has fully approved the vaccine,” says UFCW international president Marc Perrone.

“As the union for Tyson meatpacking workers, UFCW has made clear that this vaccine mandate must be negotiated so that these workers have a voice in the new policy. UFCW will be meeting with Tyson in the coming weeks to discuss this vaccine mandate and to ensure that the rights of these workers are protected, and this policy is fairly implemented. We believe the FDA must provide full approval of the vaccines and help address some of the questions and concerns that workers have. Additionally, employers should provide paid time off so that their essential workers can receive the vaccine without having to sacrifice their pay and can rest as needed while their body adjusts to the vaccine and strengthens their immune system to fight off the virus,” Perrone’s statement continues.

A memo from Tyson Foods president and CEO Donnie King to team members can be read here .

To date, Tyson Foods says it has spent more than $700 million related to COVID-19 mitigation, including buying personal protective equipment and temperature scanners, installing protective barriers and providing onsite testing and vaccinations. It also partnered with an independent medical provider to bring medical services onsite, hired an additional 200 nurses and its first chief medical officer, the release says. It has also spent time educating team members, in many languages, about the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccination.