economics

How Much Is Your Feed? Dr. Joel DeRouchey, Professor and Swine Extension Specialist, Kansas State University, looks at feed efficiency drivers to reduce feed cost, alternative ingredients, and feed processing advancements. His presentation looks at the costs of the various feed options plus seeks to offer means to reduce feed costs. Dr. DeRouchey provides several calculation tables and charts to help farm management teams drive feed efficiency.

What Do Consumers Think? Jarrod Sutton, National Pork Board Assistant Vice President, Foodservice, Retail and Channel Marketing, provides insight on the business side of selling meat. Some of the factors that play into meat pricing is how consumers perceive products and how they feel about animal welfare plus agriculture sustainability efforts. Jarrod also shares some of the conversations he is involved with in and around the food retail companies, trying to understand their efforts to bring reliable and usable information to consumers.

What Are You Buying? Dr. David Kohl, Professor Emeritus, Agricultural Finance and Small Business Management, Virginia Tech, offers a set of key ratios for financial management and planning. Actions that he recommends on a regular basis: Check on your credit score and your spouse's credit score. Dr. Kohl also reviews some of the quick reads and metrics to know as you do your business planning.

It's All About The Rain Dr. Steve Meyer, President of Paragon Economics, on the economics of pork production? Rain, rain, and more rain will be the big question for 2013. When, where, and how much? His snappy statement? If it rains then corn will be $4. If it doesn't rain then it will be $8. Dr. Meyer also covers some longer term concerns and opportunities: consumer incomes and their related spending, farm policy and legislation, and changes in industry approaches to animal welfare.

Where Is Pork Trade Going? How are pork free trade agreements working and what are the opportunities for pork producers? Laurie Hueneke, Director, International Trade Policy, Sanitary and Technical Affairs, National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), provides information about the pork exports and how global policies affect trade. Laurie details specific free trade agreements in place and some of the issues and successes in various parts of the world.