With economic headwinds looming and margin pressure projected into 2027, what should pork producers be doing right now to protect the bottom line without sacrificing herd health? In this quarterly installment of the State of the Pork Industry Report, host Jennifer Shike sits down with industry leaders Dr. Cara Haden, Adam Annegers, Randy Kuker, and Brad Eckberg for an honest, boots-on-the-ground discussion on navigating the upcoming market cycle. From feed-budget tweaks and live-haul biosecurity to the genetic shift toward piglet survivability, our panel shares actionable ideas you can put to work in the barn today.

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People across the globe know Brett Stuart as the go-to mind for global protein trends, famous for his sharp data, honest delivery and on-the-ground market research. But his grounded perspective wasn't born in a high-rise office—it was forged on a cattle ranch out West.

When his father passed away from cancer at age 57, Brett faced a defining crossroads. Armed with a fresh accounting degree, he crunched the numbers and made the agonizing decision to sell the cows. He will never forget what it felt like to stand in their corral as eight semis pulled out of the driveway. That raw, emotional experience gave him an enduring empathy for family farmers making high-stakes decisions when the math gets tough.

From auditing mega-dairies and potato operations to embarking on international trade missions with Nebraska’s governor and launching Global AgriTrends 20 years ago, Brett shares the pivotal moments that shaped his career.

Together, Shike and Stuart tackle the biggest headwinds facing the pork complex today:

• The Margin Crunch: Why the U.S. pork industry is currently producing below break-even despite remarkable, world-class productivity gains over the last 30 years.
• Global Competitors & Trade Flows: How climate and welfare policies are forcing European production into decline, why China and Brazil are wading through liquidation, and where the U.S. holds distinct competitive advantages in Mexico and Japan.
• The Retail Dilemma: Why $3.50/lb. pork loins sit 20 steps away from $18–$20/lb. beef ribeyes—and what outside-the-box innovation the swine sector needs to capture consumer willingness to pay.
• Prop 12 & State Mandates: Why preserving consumer choice is paramount and why legislating production practices across state borders hurts both producers and shoppers.
• Family, Faith & Staying Grounded: Longtime friend and economist Joseph Kerns shares what makes Brett uniquely humble, while Brett opens up about life with his wife Amanda, raising five kids, and why you can never let your family be the rope you let slip.

Whether you’re looking to make sense of the economic runway for the next 12 to 18 months or seeking a reminder of the purpose behind production agriculture, this episode offers an honest, grounded look at the global markets and the people who drive them.

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In modern pork production, market swings, rapid tech shifts and sheer volumes of data can quickly become overwhelming. How do the best leaders cut through the noise, embrace the chaos, and ask the bold questions that move the needle?
In this episode of The PORK Podcast, host Jennifer Shike sits down with Andy Rash, Vice President of U.S. Specialty Ingredients at Alltech. Andy reflects on his journey—from navigating childhood adversity and judging livestock in high school and college to becoming an influential voice across the livestock industry.
In this episode, Jennifer and Andy discuss:

• Finding Clarity in Noise: How to ask the uncomfortable "What if?" questions and turn complex problems into simple, actionable momentum.
• Leading People vs. Managing Things: Why empowering your team and celebrating other people's wins is the ultimate leadership superpower.
• Economics Over Tech: Why pork producers don't buy technology—they buy outcomes—and how to bridge the gap between high-level nutrition science and real-world farm ROI.
• Better Storytelling for Pork: What the pork sector can learn from the broader protein industry when it comes to promoting safe, nutritious food.
• Career Advice for Next-Gen Ag Leaders: Why ditching the rigid life script and leaning into curiosity will take you further than you ever imagined.

Whether you’re a commercial pork producer looking to turn complex nutrition science into bottom-line farm ROI, or an ag professional striving to cut through the industry noise, this episode is packed with actionable insights on farm economics, curiosity-driven innovation and people-first leadership.
Tune in to hear how grit, curiosity and people-first leadership are shaping the future of agriculture.

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