World pork market shows little upside: Rabobank

Feb 01, 2016

Some improvements may come in Q2

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

The global pork market will remain weak through the first quarter of 2016, according to a new report from Rabobank.

Rabobank's Food & Agribusiness Research diviison does predict some improvement in Q2, it suggests that growth will be mostly seasonal.

"Sufficient supply and modest demand development mean the five-nation hog price index will bottom out in the coming months, at the lowest point since 2016," according to the Jan. 28 quarterly report.

The report explains that in the U.S., industry expansion should slow after near-record supply growth in 2015, while packers' margins will remain strong due to limited available capacity.

"Exports are expected to pick up, supported by low prices, COOL repeal and relisting of plants for export to China."

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.