As one of the most successful and longest-running management programs specifically crafted for farmers, the Purdue Top Farmer Conference is a one-day event for agricultural producers and agribusiness professionals looking to navigate the complexities of today's agricultural landscape. Participants will have the opportunity to network with peers and hear from farm management experts and agricultural economists from Purdue, Farm Credit Services of America, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Acres, a land value data analytics company.
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Livestock
Two important factors determining margins this year are the potential for higher pork exports and thus higher hog prices and the potential for higher feed prices. These are tugging at margins in opposite directions.
Read MoreIn May of 2005, the newly formed Indiana State Department of Agriculture released its first strategic plan titled, Possibilities Unbound: The Plan for 2025. Among seven initiatives outlined, one focused on the opportunity for growth of the state’s pork industry. The report suggested that the size of the Indiana pork industry could double between 2005…
Read MoreToday, tissue test for various genetic markers can generate a surprising amount of information including estimates of feedlot performance for individual cattle. So, the economic question we explored was whether the returns of using the information exceeded the costs of the test.
Read MoreWhat do consumers want? Today they have quick and easy access to information from a wide breadth of sources across many subjects. This change occurred over the past two decades as technological innovations in communications exploded. The internet, smart phones and widespread use of computers revolutionized how and where people gained knowledge and shaped their…
Read MoreCattle prices have had a rough spring. After peaking in late 2014 and early 2015, prices have been adjusting downward from very lofty peaks. High prices and profits at that time provided the incentives to expand beef production.
Read MoreThis article discusses recent trends in feed costs for a dairy cow enterprise. A ration consisting of alfalfa, corn silage, corn, soybean meal, and supplements was used to create the feed cost indices.
Read MoreThe nation’s pork producers have indicated to USDA that they are not expanding the breeding herd and, in fact, intend to reduce farrowings this spring and summer. This means pork supplies will be somewhat less than had been anticipated and that hog prices will be somewhat higher.
Read MoreNothing like record cattle prices and profitability to get an industry excited about expansion. The latest USDA Cattle report shows a rapid expansion is underway with cattle and calf numbers up three percent and beef cow numbers up four percent in the past year.
Read MoreThe outlook for the pork industry has turned somewhat more optimistic in recent weeks. The sources of that optimism include a $2 to $4 increase in spring and summer lean hog futures prices since the first of the year and slightly lower new-crop soybean meal prices. A bit higher hog prices and a little lower cost add to the potential for a profitable year.
Read MorePork producers in 2016 are expected to experience another year of tight margins similar to the year just completed. Pork production is expected to rise by about one percent, but beef production will rise by four percent and poultry by about three percent.
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