NHF_WEEKLY PREVIEW_ A Penton Media Property May 15, 2009 If you want to view this on the web go to: http://enews.penton.com/enews/nationalhogfarmer/v/394 MARKET PREVIEW --Pork Exports -- A Glimmer of Hope This week's news regarding March pork exports was a bright light among a great deal of recent darkness. Part of that darkness, of course, involves the impact of H1N1 influenza A virus on U.S. exports in late April and May. We should not and cannot overlook the fact that shipments to Russia, Mexico, and at least the direct shipments to China, have been hurt. But we must also recognize that U.S. pork exports have been much more buoyant than most had expected given the world economic climate. Let's celebrate some good news when we can! March pork exports amounted to 369.5 million pounds, carcass weight, which is 2.2% higher than in March 2008. That level of exports not only exceeds the 2004-2007 trend -- a trend line that excludes last year's excellent performance -- but also exceeds the longer-term trend curve that includes 2008 data (see Figure 1). Recall that if 2009 exports just match the '04-'07 trend, we will be roughly 15% below 2008 export levels. Through March, '09 exports had sharply exceeded that level of performance. March exports brought year-to-date shipments to 1.033 billion pounds. That is still 6.6% lower than 2008 shipments, but it represents a marked improvement from the February year-to-date (YTD) figure of -10.8%. To view the full article go to: http://nationalhogfarmer.com/marketpreview/0515-pork-exports-glimmer-of-hope PRODUCTION PREVIEW --Semen Quality's Impact on Farrowing Rate Farrowing rate is one of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used in the Swine Management Services' (SMS) database. It also has one of the flattest KPI bell curves (Chart 1) in the database. There are three main variables that impact the success of a mating/service -- the sow (gilt), semen and the artificial insemination (A.I.) technician. We refer to these variables as the SMS Fertility Triangle. This week we will focus on semen quality. Semen quality can be affected by many variables, such as on-farm collection vs. purchased semen, semen transport method, semen receiving procedures, temperature of semen at delivery, on-farm handling and storage, temperature control of semen storage unit, type of semen extender, age of semen at insemination, volume of semen/dose, individual boar vs. pooled semen, biosecurity, etc. To effectively evaluate the quality of the semen, the following information is needed: * Breeding information records: sow/gilt identification, semen batch code, insemination technician name or number and time of insemination (military time 1-24). To view the full article go to: http://nationalhogfarmer.com/genetics-reproduction/0515-semen-quality-farrowing-rate LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW --Energy Cap-and-Trade Agreement Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, announced various details of an agreement by committee Democrats on provisions of the "American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009." This is the major energy cap-and-trade bill that the House of Representatives plans to consider this summer. According to Congressman Waxman, the agreement provides for a combined 20% renewable energy and energy efficiency standard by 2020. Utilities would be required to obtain 15% of their electricity from renewable energy sources and demonstrate annual electricity savings of 5% from energy efficiency measures by 2020. If the governor determines that utilities in the state cannot meet the 15% renewable requirement, he/she may reduce the renewable requirement to 12% and increase the efficiency requirement by 8%. Under the agreement, the automobile industries will be provided incentives to make electric and advance-technology vehicles. Energy-intensive industries that compete in global markets will be provided incentives to improve their energy efficiency, as well as assistance to address the costs of transitioning to clean energy economy. Negotiations continue among Democrats. Currently, committee Republicans plan to offer dozens of amendments during committee consideration of the bill next week. They also plan to introduce their own energy bill, which will place more emphasis on traditional domestic energy production. Agricultural groups are waiting to see the final details of the bill. To view the full article go to: http://nationalhogfarmer.com/northamericanpreview/0515-energy-cap-and-trade-agreement NEWS FLASH --H1N1 (Swine) Flu Strain is not From Mexican Hog Farm The H1N1 (swine) flu strain that has infected almost 4,300 people in 33 countries did not come from hogs at a Smithfield Foods (http://www.smithfieldfoods.com/) operation in Mexico, according to Mexico's agriculture department. Test results released May 14 by the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture, Ranching, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food confirmed that the H1N1 influenza A virus (http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/) was not found in pigs at the Granjas Carroll de Mexico farm in Veracruz. The pigs also tested negative for other viruses. National Pork Producers Council (http://www.nppc.org/) (NPPC) welcomed the news, but said the damage to the U.S. pork industry by wrongfully labeling the strain "swine" flu has already been done. To view the full article go to: http://nationalhogfarmer.com/health-diseases/news/0515-swine-not-from-mexico-farm PORK INDUSTRY CALENDAR June 2, 2009: Swine Handling & Transport Forum, Des Moines Marriott-Downtown, Des Moines, IA; sponsored by National Hog Farmer, National Pork Producers Council and National Pork Board. For details, go to www.pork.org (http://www.pork.org). June 3-5, 2009 World Pork Expo, Iowa State Fairgrounds, Des Moines, IA. For details go to: www.pork.org (http://www.pork.org). To view the full article go to: http://nationalhogfarmer.com/calendar/ ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER You are subscribed to this newsletter as #email# To subscribe to this newsletter go to: http://subscribe.nationalhogfarmer.com/?tc=NLSUB To unsubscribe from this newsletter go to: http://subscribe.nationalhogfarmer.com/?tc=NLSUB&cid=#message_id#&lid=#list_id#&email=#email# Send Comments & Questions Dale Miller, Editor, National Hog Farmer, mailto:dale.miller@penton.com Penton Media | 249 W. 17th Street | New York, NY 10011 Copyright 2009, Penton Media. All rights reserved. This article is protected by United States copyright and other intellectual property laws and may not be reproduced, rewritten, distributed, re-disseminated, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast, directly or indirectly, in any medium without the prior written permission of Penton Media.