Dennis Smith

2 weeks ago | nationalhogfarmer.com | Dennis Smith

Pork is in a solid position to gain market share of the U.S. consumer meat dollar; beef is going to be the big loser. The Trump tariff scheme is driving the U.S. economy and the global economy off a cliff. I’m not sure how anyone can argue that point. The broad-based tariff on all countries is a massive tax increase on every American. Prices on nearly all goods will rise for all consumers.

2 months ago | nationalhogfarmer.com | Dennis Smith

In November the U.S. imported just over 500,000 pigs from Canada. I’ll cut right to the chase. Tariffs against Mexico and Canada will not override the bullish impact of vastly reduced hog numbers. Last week’s kill, at only 2.574 million, was down 4.8% from the same week last year. The year-to-date hog kill is down 7.7%. I recall that the December Quarterly Hog and Pig report projected that butcher hog numbers would be down 1% early in the first quarter.

Nov 4, 2024 | nationalhogfarmer.com | Dennis Smith

My first hint of a bullish supply situation in hogs was in my article dated Sept. 2. By October, I was discussing the missing hogs. Now, in November, there’s no explanation needed, the hogs are simply not available for slaughter as projected by the September Hog and Pig Report. Six weeks of slaughter short fall is enough to call it a trend. The question now; how long will the hog numbers continue to come in below projections? By the end of November numbers should start running below year ago levels.

May 31, 2024 | beefmagazine.com | Dennis Smith

Before the bird flu story hit and sent cattle futures sharply lower the beef fundamentals seemed rather easy; they were bullish. Supplies were tight and demand was good. Everything changed in March and April. The bird flu story fueled panic and triggered aggressive selling which was enhanced by the huge daily range of trade allowed by the CME. Then it was discovered that record heavy cattle weights were also having a bearish impact on the market.

Apr 11, 2024 | emporiaindependentmessenger.com | Dennis Smith

My heart goes out to the families, friends and classmates of the two local student-athletes killed last week in that tragic automobile accident in Emporia. I had a chance to see both of these young people on a big high-school stage over the past few months and both were outstanding representatives from their school. kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmp2=:J29 %9@>2D H2D 2 D6?D2E:@?2= 4966C=6256C 7@C qCF?DH:4< w:89 $49@@= 2?5 H2D H:E9 96C E62>>2E6D 4966C:?8 @? E96 8:C=D’ 32D<6E32== E62> :?