Dennis DiPietre

Jan 7, 2025 | thedailyscoop.com | Chris B. Bennett |Dennis DiPietre |Lance Mulberry |Matthew J. Grassi

Wearing a saccharine grin, Ray Brewer swished fat fingers through a bucket of fertilizer pellets and rattled out the mating call of a con man—the sweet sound of money. In droves, the faithful dumped $8.75 million into his agricultural skin game. Nestled in a basement chop shop beneath the glamor of an infinity pool and a house in the hills, Brewer bilked investors and farmers from 2014-2019, based entirely on cow manure and the lure of biogas, renewable energy, and tax incentives.

Nov 18, 2024 | porkbusiness.com | Dennis DiPietre |Lance Mulberry

From the weather to prices, production to demand, and everywhere in between, this is an industry where certainties are scarce and variation reigns supreme. In essence, pork production is the art and science of stacking the deck that nature and the market deals out. In a variation-dominated world such as this, including probabilities in cost-benefit calculations can be a great way to enhance their quality.

Sep 17, 2024 | porkbusiness.com | Dennis DiPietre |Lance Mulberry

When asked how old your weaned pigs are, you likely respond with a simple answer like 21 days. But are the weaned pigs really 21 days old or is that just the interval from loading into the farrowing room to weaning? While it might be tempting to think this distinction is trivial, this is just one of many aspects of hog production where an overreliance on averages to measure performance has allowed for systematic inefficiency.

Aug 1, 2024 | porkbusiness.com | Dennis DiPietre |Lance Mulberry

It’s no exaggeration to say the very economic heart of the swine industry is the sow farm, because any successes or failures will flow all the way through the production chain to the final consumer. Managing sow health is critically important, especially considering such challenges as PRRS 1-4-4 L1C.

Jun 20, 2024 | porkbusiness.com | Dennis DiPietre |Lance Mulberry

California’s Proposition 12 and the similar laws passed in Massachusetts and New Jersey are one of the most significant domestic challenges our industry has faced in recent history. With 17% of the U.S. population in these states, the pork market has effectively been partitioned. While there has been some hope that this new market will provide additional premiums to producers, it is prudent that any potential short-term gains do not distract from the long-term dilemma these laws present.