South Dakota Ag Secretary Calls For More Livestock Production

Dec 09, 2015

South Dakota Agriculture Secretary Lucas Lentsch is joining his counterpart in North Dakota in calling for more animal agriculture in the state.

Putting livestock back into cropland farming will diversify farm operations and preserve traditions "before we lose the skills of animal husbandry," Lentsch said this week in an address to an agricultural conference in Pierre, the Capital Journal reports.

The emergence of a global grain trade about 40 years ago made it possible for farmers to quit raising animals and make their living solely by raising crops. But livestock can still be an important part of crop production in today's technological farming world, by doing such things as putting nutrients back in the soil naturally, officials said at the Ag Horizons Conference.

Click here to see more...

Video: CEOs of the Industry: John McIntire, Partner at Pike Pig Systems

CEOs of the Industry, Jim sits down with John McIntire, Partner at Pike Pig Systems, one of the most quietly impressive 26,000-sow operations in the U.S. John shares how he grew from operator to partner, how Pike built a people-first culture with long-tenured managers, and why they’re committed to weaning bigger, stronger pigs at 25+ days.

John breaks down how Pike stays efficient in a tough economic environment, the power of their shareholder-owned farm model, and how their work with PIC and a 240-head boar facility drives genetics and health outcomes. He also opens up about the innovations Pike adopts — and how they decide what’s truly valuable versus industry hype.

From Prop 12 and labor challenges to trade, consumer expectations, and sustainability, John chooses a hot-button issue and shares how Pike is preparing for the future. The episode closes with a rapid-fire “Fast Five” — mindset, leadership, daily habits, and three words that define Pike Pig Systems in 2025.

If you want a look inside a people-driven, purpose-driven, quietly elite pork system, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.