**Cash and futures hog prices have sky rocketed recently and there’s been one driving force.

Agrimarketing.com reports, livestock economist Scott Brown says we certainly are seeing an increase in what we think are the effects of African Swine Fever in China.

Brown says pork producers need to figure out the risk management plan that works best for them and wide swings in the market are inevitable and producers should be prepared to see up and down prices.

 

**USDA-trained detector dogs played a major role in the seizure of roughly 1 million pounds of pork smuggled from China where there’s an outbreak of African swine fever.

As a result, Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue is sharing information about the importance of keeping ASF out of the U.S.

To help people learn more about this disease, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has updated its web content with additional information.

 

**Rumors that China would make a significant corn purchase finally panned out on March 22nd when the USDA announced an export sale of 300,000 metric tons to Chinese buyers.

Chinese corn imports from the U.S. have dropped sharply over the past five years and a purchase this size during the trade war is a very good sign.

The U.S. Grain Council calls the Chinese corn purchase "very welcome news for U.S. agriculture” and “a positive sign for the U.S.-China relationship” as negotiations continue.

 

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