Jim Long Pork Commentary: Iowa Pork Congress report

Last week we attended and participated at the Iowa Pork Congress in Des Moines, Iowa.
calendar icon 4 February 2019
clock icon 4 minute read

Our Observations:

  • Iowa Pork Congress is usually the largest state event with Iowa having around 25 percent of all US pig inventory.
  • This year's Congress was well organised and had more exhibits than last year.
  • It appeared to us the attendance would be down due to snow storm and cold weather that created travel issues.
  • Our sense from Congress is that most producers have had enough selling hogs below profit. It’s not been an easy business the last few months. There is optimism but the recent decline in lean hog futures has been disheartening. Now many models are showing no profit farrow to finish before May.
  • The tariffs on US pork imposed by Mexico and China are hurting hog prices without a doubt and in turn profits (or lack of).
  • The lack of profits in turn is leading to less talk about new sow units. The few that are happening are few and far apart.
  • We do not expect any sow herd expansion happening but we wouldn't go as far as to say liquidation is occurring but we wouldn’t be surprised.


Labour, labour, labour...

Not many discussions in the hog industry go very long before there is dialogue on labour, lack there of and quality there of. With the US unemployment at decade’s low, it is a very real challenge to find competent people in farms, trucking, feed mills and slaughter plants. We expect this shortage of competent people will be restricting productivity gains at pig farms. Lots of farms are not fully staffed and that in turn lowers production results. The lack of labour is also a factor for people considering expansion.

A question we got asked several times was "When will Prestage’s new hog plant in Iowa open?" Most producers expect its opening will support hog prices.

We have no special knowledge of the potential opening but March seems to be used a lot in conversations. We were told Prestage’s are being aggressive in offering high percentage of pork cut-out contracts to procure hogs. Capacity of plant 8-10,000 head per shift.

From the expo:

Duroc Sires continue to gain ground in the industry at the expense of synthetic breeds. Growth, livability, and meat quality main drivers. Producers also are looking for prolific females that have the temperament and leg structure for group housing. Some genetic companies’ lines are really challenged and this is leading to high sow mortality and low sow salvage.

China

China National Pig Inventory at end of December 2018 was 366.2082 million, down 38.2581 million from December 2017. The sow inventory at the end of December 2018 was 29.7314 million, dropped by 699,900 head compared to November. The sow inventory 2018 decreased 9.64 percent compared to 2017. Down 4.5 million sows December to December. USDA total swine inventory on the 1st of December was 74.55 million, China has decreased over 50 percent of all the US industry!

Folks we don’t want to be beating a dead horse, but as we repeatedly point out China is having massive beyond comprehension liquidation, with an estimates 699,000 sows going out of production in December alone, the liquidation continues at an unprecedented rate. We expect one of the biggest challenges going forward will be how much how fast containers carrying pork can get to China “when this dog hits the end of the chain!”

Ray Proost is joining Genesus as Production Manager in Canada


Ray joins Genesus after the last ten years in Asia, where he was three years General Manager of HyPig Genetics, Philippines and Japfa/Hypor, Vietnam. Ray was also three years' Operations Manager for Topigs-Norsvin in China, and recently was Swine Production Consultant with Big Dutchman throughout South-East Asia.

Prior to that, Ray was Genetic Nucleus Production Manager in Saskatchewan for Hypor.

Ray, a Canadian citizen, has a degree from University of Minnesota in swine management and nutrition.

We welcome Ray and his knowledge in nucleus and commercial production. His wide range of domestic and international experience compliments Genesus' quest to be the best Global Genetic Company.

Ray Proost Contact Information:
Tel: +204 872 0775
Email: [email protected]

© 2000 - 2024 - Global Ag Media. All Rights Reserved | No part of this site may be reproduced without permission.