Dear readers,
Sometimes we are told that we cannot compete with the US on other markets, due to higher pig prices. Well, currently we are relatively close to the US hog prices, and the pig industry of the US has also done other things to support the pig production:
- According to Samitinjaya Dhakal , an assistant professor in the SDSU College of Health and Human Sciences at the South Dakota State University, including red meat in high-quality diets supports nutrient adequacy essential for brain health and microbial diversity, and may support mental health. Red meat in high-quality diets improved nutrient adequacy related to mental health and was associated with favorable changes in gut microbial diversity .
- JBS USA plans to purchase and renovate a former Hy-Vee 17.000 m² production facility in Ankeny, Iowa, to transform it in the company’s largest U.S. plant for ready-to-eat bacon and sausage, according to a release from the company. Operations are expected to begin by mid-2026 and create about 400 jobs once completed, with hiring priority given to former Hy-Vee employees who worked at the facility.
- Perdue Premium Meat Company (PPMC) announced Thursday the official opening of a renovated 21.000 m² case-ready pork plant in Sioux City, Iowa. The $60 million investment will also create more than 100 new jobs.
- The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is distributing grants for programs to develop the state’s meat processing workforce and expand hands-on training statewide. The Train and Retain Grant Program provides $341,690 to three organizations that are building and strengthening the workforce for small- to medium-sized meat and poultry processors in Minnesota; while the Agricultural Growth, Research and Innovation (AGRI) Meat Education and Training Grant program received $222,360 to help schools establish or expand their meat cutting and butchery training programs via equipment purchases, facility upgrades and faculty training.
Events calendar :
- The Anuga FoodTec India is a leading trade fair for the food and beverage industry.The Anuga FoodTec India is held on 3 days from Wednesday, 20.08.2025 to Friday, 22.08.2025 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai.
- The Země živitelka trade fair is the central forum of the Czech agricultural and food industry and serves as a unique showcase for innovative agriculture and regional diversity. The fair takes place on 6 days from Thursday, 21.08.2025 to Tuesday, 26.08.2025 in České Budějovice.
- Agro & Poultry Kenya has evolved into a vital platform that unites a multitude of industries in the fields of agriculture, aquaculture, and livestock under one roof. Held at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, the Agro & Poultry Kenya takes place on 3 days from Thursday, 21.08.2025 to Saturday, 23.08.2025
- The Agra Fair has established itself as an internationally recognized platform for innovation, quality, and sustainability in the agricultural and food industries. Agra takes place on 6 days from Saturday, 23.08.2025 to Thursday, 28.08.2025 at the Pomurski Sejem d.d. in Gornja Radgona exhibition center, located on the Slovenian-Austrian border.
Human
I was approaching the conspiracy theme around the African Swine Fever(ASF) in the Balkans. Recent developments support the extension of the subject.
A large ASF outbreak has been recorded in Latvia at a large pig farm owned by Nygaard International in the Gibuli parish, Talsi district. According to the Food and Veterinary Service, the farm had 4,900 pigs. All pigs on the affected farm will be destroyed.
In another Baltic country, at the Nurme farm in Viljandi, Estonia, 4,500 pigs were scheduled for culling after confirmation of ASF by national and Spanish laboratories. Demonstrations on August 8 and 9, and again last week, brought together local residents, animal welfare advocates, and political groups. The protesters demanded greater transparency in the testing and postponed the slaughter until the results from foreign laboratories were confirmed. Public pressure becomes more important than science.
In the German district of Borken (North Rhine-Westphalia), a hunter found a dead domestic pig in a cornfield in Reken-Hülsten and immediately reported the case to the district administration. The pig weighed around 100 kg and had significant injuries to its loin and abdominal wall. In addition, some of the entrails had leaked out, according to the district. Since there was no ear tag, the farm of origin of the carcass has not yet been determined. According to the Borken district, there were only visible drag and tire marks in the area where the pig was found. According to the Münster State Veterinary Office, the carcass was not infected with ASF. Probably a German farmer got scared about an animal disease on his farm and got rid of the dead pig. They are also humans, after all…
