During ASF Week 2026, USDA leaders warn of the severe risks African swine fever poses and outline key actions needed to protect U.S. pigs and the pork industry.
Read MoreThe number of farms operating in the United States declined by approximately 15,000 in 2025, continuing a decades-long trend of consolidation across American agriculture. The latest federal data show the total number of farms falling again year over year, reflecting ongoing structural shifts driven by economic pressure, rising input costs, labor challenges, succession concerns, and efficiency gains through technology and scale. A Long-Term Trend, Not a One-Year Event Farm consolidation is not new. The U.S. has seen a steady reduction in farm numbers for decades as: Smaller operations exit the industry Larger operations expand acreage or livestock capacity Efficiency improvements allow more output with fewer operators While total farm numbers have declined, overall production levels across many commodities — including pork — have remained steady or increased due to improvements in genetics, nutrition, housing systems, and management. What This Means for the Swine Industry For pork p
Read MoreChicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) cattle futures turned higher on Tuesday on strong cash cattle prices and a continued tight supply of cattle, Reuters reported, citing analysts. CME April live cattle futures settled 2.175 cents higher to 242.80 cents per pound. March feeder cattle ended 4.825 cents higher to 370.975 cents per pound. Choice cuts of beef were priced at $366.91 per cwt, down 86 cents from Friday, according to US Department of Agriculture (USDA) data. Consumer demand for beef has remained strong, despite record-high beef prices. The closure of the US-Mexico border to Mexican cattle imports due to the northward spread of screwworm has further constricted an already-tight cattle supply. Cattle futures have remained at a discount to cash cattle prices, indicating that futures will continue to move higher, analysts said. CME April hogs settled 1.025 cents higher to 92.3 cents per pound. The market had risen through most of January on winter weather that complicated hog d
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