The agricultural landscape is evolving rapidly, and artificial intelligence (AI) stands at the forefront of this transformation. Jacqui Fatka, farm supply and biofuels economist with CoBank, takes us on a comprehensive journey through AI's emerging role in agricultural retail and farm supply cooperatives. Far from threatening the traditional relationships between farmers and their trusted advisors, AI offers powerful tools to strengthen these connections. As Fatka explains, "That relationship is...
Jun 26, 2025•20 min
A Super Bowl commercial extolling "a world without cows" became the final straw for Alltech, spurring them to commission a documentary that would tell the real story of global animal agriculture. What emerged after three and a half years of investigation across 40 locations worldwide is a compelling narrative that's changing minds—even among non-agricultural audiences. "World Without Cows" takes viewers on a global journey examining the multifaceted role of cattle in our food systems, economies,...
Jun 18, 2025•12 min
Phibro Animal Health made a landmark move in the animal health industry with its recent acquisition of the medicated feed additive product portfolio and certain water-soluble products from Zoetis, Inc. This pivotal expansion marks a significant advancement in fulfilling the company's mission of optimizing global animal health for a more sustainable world. During our conversation at the World Pork Expo with Scott Fry, Director of Swine Business, and Larry Miller, Chief Operating Officer, we explo...
Jun 12, 2025•7 min
A collaboration between the Angus Foundation and the Bezos Earth Fund and Global Methane Fund has sparked passionate debate throughout the cattle industry. At its heart lies a $4.85 million research grant focused on exploring genetic differences in methane production among cattle—but as we discover, this project represents far more than environmental concerns. Matt Perrier of Dalebanks Angus, whose family has ranched the same Kansas land since 1867, offers a producer's perspective on why this re...
Jun 06, 2025•24 min
PRRS (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome) stands as the most economically devastating disease in US swine production since the eradication of classic swine fever. What makes this viral pathogen so destructive? Dr. Nic Lauterbach, Technical Services Veterinarian with Pharmgate Animal Health, brings seven years of front-line experience battling PRRS to this essential conversation. The days of PRRS being merely a seasonal concern have vanished. Modern producers now face this challenge ye...
May 21, 2025•14 min
Taste is taking center stage as the National Pork Board unveils a bold new strategy to transform how consumers—especially younger generations—think about pork. Sarah Showalter and Neal Hull reveal how deep consumer insights are reshaping the future of pork marketing in America. At the heart of this transformation is a surprising disconnect: millennials and Gen Z consumers who claim they "don't eat pork" while enthusiastically consuming bacon, ribs, pepperoni, and sausage. This revelation has spa...
May 15, 2025•18 min
The safety nets protecting America's agricultural workforce are unraveling. Dr. Jeff Bender, Director of the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (UMASH), reveals the far-reaching consequences of recent budget cuts to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) - cuts that have already eliminated 85% of the agency's workforce. For fourteen years, UMASH has served as a vital resource for farmers, agricultural workers, and rural communities across the Upper Midw...
May 08, 2025•18 min
A tug-of-war is brewing between building America's shipbuilding capacity and maintaining the competitiveness of U.S. agricultural exports. As Mike Steenhoek, Executive Director of the Soy Transportation Coalition, explains, this tension stems from recent USTR actions addressing Chinese dominance in global shipbuilding—a position China achieved through 25 years of focused development to capture over 50% of vessel production worldwide. While promoting domestic shipbuilding represents a worthy nati...
May 02, 2025•21 min
The razor-thin margins in today's pork industry demand a laser focus on herd health to maintain profitability. Dr. Nic Lauterbach, Technical Services Veterinarian with Pharmgate Animal Health, draws on his years of industry experience to deliver practical insights on keeping pigs healthy during challenging times. What makes sick pigs so costly? As Dr. Lauterbach explains, illness diminishes the efficiency of every production input – feed conversion suffers, space utilization decreases, and labor...
Apr 24, 2025•14 min
Cattle producers often turn to average daily gain, feed conversion or reproduction when targeting improved efficiency but while they all have a place, a focus on feed efficiency traits is critical as it zeroes in on both the cost of feed and the value of gain. Jason Osterstock, Chief Science Officer at Vytelle, joins Sarah Muirhead to explore how data-driven approaches are transforming herd management decisions. Rather than relying solely on conventional measures like average daily gain or feed ...
Apr 17, 2025•7 min
Ever wonder what consumers really think about animal agriculture practices? Dr. Valerie Kilders of Purdue University reveals groundbreaking approaches to understanding public sentiment through web-scraped data and media analysis during her presentation at the PEAK Conference in Minneapolis. When poultry markets experience price volatility and consumer concerns about animal welfare intensify, producers need insights faster than traditional research methods can deliver. Dr. Kilders demonstrates ho...
Apr 14, 2025•14 min•Ep. 286
Egg prices have been on a wild ride, with unprecedented volatility creating headaches for everyone from producers to restaurant chains. But what if there was a financial tool designed specifically to smooth out these price swings? That's exactly what StoneX has developed with their new shell egg contract. As Ryan Turner of StoneX explains, this innovative risk management solution emerges just as the company celebrates its centennial anniversary—a meaningful full-circle moment considering StoneX ...
Apr 03, 2025•11 min•Ep. 285
Ileitis is a common cause of diarrhea in grow-finish pigs. When underdiagnosed, ileitis can result in a significant amount of money being left on the table and out of producers’ pockets. Joining our Ann Hess today to talk about ileitis and what producers can do to minimize its impact is Dr. Nate Winkelman, co-owner and veterinarian at Swine Services Unlimited. This episode is brought to you by Pharmgate Animal Health , a growing business that puts livestock first. Pharmgate provides a proven por...
Mar 21, 2025•25 min•Ep. 284
To prevent the spread of influenza in a commercial livestock system, it is highly recommended for staff to wear personal protective equipment or PPE. Considered the last line of defense to prevent an infection in an individual, it is also the least effective as wearing PPE well and consistently can be a challenge for producers and caregivers on farm. Feedstuffs Ann Hess caught up with Montserrat Torremorell of the University of Minnesota at the American Association of Swine Veterinarian’s Annual...
Mar 14, 2025•10 min•Ep. 283
With unique access to those on the frontlines of agriculture and science, two filmmakers set out on an incredible journey around the world to find the answer to what would seem like a relatively easy question. That being, Are we better off in a World Without Cows? Joining our Ann Hess from the NCBA tradeshow floor in San Antonio are World Without Cows filmmakers, Michelle Michael and Brandon Whitworth. This episode of Feedstuffs in Focus is brought to you by Alltech. Acting as your trusted partn...
Mar 13, 2025•10 min•Ep. 279
Dr. Luke Strehle of Nebraska Vet Services, a full-service mixed animal practice based in West Point, Nebraska, joins us to share his insight on swine respiratory pathogens – how to reduce and eliminate their risk as well what interventions are available to manage pig health. This episode is brought to you by Pharmgate Animal Health, a growing business that puts livestock first. Pharmgate provides a proven portfolio of technically supported, high-quality products that are the foundation of custom...
Mar 06, 2025•10 min•Ep. 282
Joining us for this episode of Feedstuffs in Focus is Dr. David Baumert, Senior Technical Services Veterinarian at Zoetis Pork, to discuss the reasons why producers sometimes choose not to treat pigs — usually heavier weight finishers — in need of swine respiratory disease (SRD) therapy and the implications of non-use from a performance, labor and economic standpoint. This episode of Feedstuffs in Focus has been brought to you by Zoetis Pork. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: People with known hyper...
Feb 25, 2025•10 min•Ep. 281
Red dye number 2 was banned in 1976 due to links to cancer in rats. Red dye number 3 was banned in 2025 over similar health concerns. Manufacturers have been given until January 16, 2027, to remove red dye number 3 from their products. What might this ban mean for the animal feed industry? Does it have application and perhaps implications? During IPPE in Atlanta, Ga, we had the opportunity to talk with David Eisenberg, President of Micro-Tracers, a manufacturer of analytical tracers that uses a ...
Feb 20, 2025•10 min•Ep. 280
Have you ever stopped to think what our world would be like without cows? Around the world, cows hold both cultural and economic significance. They provide nourishment of bodies and minds. They also impact climate. When it comes to cows, it’s not all black and white. Joining us to talk about a thought-provoking documentary about the cultural, economic, nutritional and environmental significance of cows and the global feed industry is Dr. Mark Lyons, President and CEO of Alltech. We caught up wit...
Feb 06, 2025•12 min•Ep. 278
There is a new leadership in Washington, D.C., and changes have already started to happen on the policy and regulatory front. What’s might all the change mean for the U.S. feed industry? Joining us from IPPE 2025 in Atlanta, Ga., to talk about policy and the new Administration is Constance Cullman, President and CEO of the American Feed Industry Association. This episode of Feedstuffs in Focus is sponsored by United Animal Health, a leader in animal health and nutrition. You can learn more about...
Jan 30, 2025•10 min•Ep. 279
The spread of high-risk human and animal diseases across borders in the last five years has clearly demonstrated that the best-laid plans can go wrong when it comes to infectious disease control and prevention. In fact, North American and European countries proved decades ago that swine diseases like ASF and classical swine fever can be eradicated through effective government policies, even without ideal vaccines. However, the world has since changed. Joining our Ann Hess to discuss this topic a...
Jan 27, 2025•18 min•Ep. 278
This episode explores the critical issue of biofilms in waterlines and their hidden impact on swine health and productivity. Understanding biofilms can help producers implement better management practices, ensuring optimal water quality and animal welfare. • Dr. Gabi Doughan of the Swine Medicine Education Center discusses her research on waterline biofilms in swine operations • Biofilms pose significant health risks for pigs • Importance of testing both source and in-barn water for pathogens • ...
Jan 16, 2025•20 min•Ep. 277
It’s the world’s largest annual poultry, feed and meat technology exposition and it’s coming up January 28-30 in Atlanta, Ga. Known as the International Production and Processing Expo, it offers a vast show floor highlighting the latest in technology, products and services, along with extensive networking and education opportunities for all. Joining us to talk about IPPE 2025 is Sarah Novak, Chief Operating Officer of the American Feed Industry Association. For more information, visit https://ww...
Jan 10, 2025•16 min•Ep. 276
In this episode, we explore strategies to bolster the pork industry's resilience. Christine McCracken, Senior Animal Protein Analyst at Rabobank, graces Feedstuffs Pork Nation with her expertise on the state of the pork industry. Curious about the path to recovery and what lies ahead in 2025 for pork producers? We're unpacking the improving financial health and potential for more robust margins, despite looming challenges like political uncertainties, tariffs, and changing immigration policies. ...
Dec 26, 2024•19 min•Ep. 275
The Center for Animal Health and Food Safety, in collaboration with the Swine Health Information Center, has developed a near-real-time event-based surveillance system to support informed decision making for U.S. pork producers. To further enhance disease monitoring, the team has expanded its focus to include production diseases, and develop a global swine disease dashboard. What might this mean for the hog industry? From the 2024 International Conference of Swine Viral Diseases in Chicago, Feed...
Dec 19, 2024•10 min•Ep. 274
With disease outbreaks on the rise across the Midwest, controlling swine respiratory disease (SRD) pathogens has become even more crucial. Air filtration has been shown to reduce pathogen introduction. However, aerosol transmission into barns continues to occur. This episode is brought to you by Pharmgate Animal Health, a growing business that puts livestock first. Pharmgate provides a proven portfolio of technically supported, high-quality products that are the foundation of custom herd health ...
Dec 13, 2024•19 min•Ep. 270
Similarities and differences exist in poultry production around the world. In Germany, production and labeling standards are driving change and creating opportunities. Likewise, technology aimed at reducing labor in all stages of production and processing are under evaluation and implementation. We catch up with Brian Earnest, lead economist for animal protein in CoBank's Knowledge Exchange research division, to get his observations from a recent trip to Germany where he visited poultry producti...
Dec 05, 2024•22 min•Ep. 269
There is a new convenient, one-shot, low-volume antibiotic from Elanco Animal Health that offers swine respiratory disease treatment protocol flexibility from nursery to finish. Pradalex has a unique structure that differs from any molecule in its class. What opportunities might Pradalex have for your hog operation. Joining us to share his experience and trial work to date with Pradalex is veterinarian Dr. Paul Thomas of AMVC. This episode of Feedstuffs in Focus is brought to you by Elanco Anima...
Nov 26, 2024•11 min•Ep. 268
A number of key strategies exist for managing seasonal variation and herd constraints in a hog operation, all while considering the specific herd capacity limitations and market dynamics. Our Ann Hess sat down with Mark Knauer of North Carolina State University during the Leman Swine Conference in St. Paul to talk about how best to manage seasonal variation and herd capacity constraints in hog operations. This episode is brought to you by Topigs Norsvin, the second-largest swine genetics company...
Nov 21, 2024•9 min•Ep. 267
On November 12, USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) released a long-awaited final decision with reforms to pricing formulas used by the Federal Milk Marketing Order system. The next step is a vote of approval on the ruling by the dairy industry. That is to come in December. What does this reform in milk pricing mean for the dairy industry overall and at the farm level? Joining us today to talk about the recent reforms to milk pricing is Tim Trotter, CEO of Edge. We caught up with Tim at th...
Nov 14, 2024•10 min•Ep. 273
