The Food and Agriculture organization (FAO) meat price index has continued to remain firm to date in 2012 as global meat supplies remain reasonably tight, according to Peter Duggan, with Strategic Information Services of Ireland’s Bord Bia. However, some increase is anticipated in global supplies of pork, poultry and lamb/mutton over the remainder of 2012, with little change anticipated for beef.

The future of corn prices and the impact on fed livestock continues to be an unfolding, tumultuous situation, but some degree of clarity should be coming to the story in the next few weeks, according to a Texas AgriLife Extension Service economist.

Low soil potassium (K) levels reduce a plant’s ability to withstand stress from drought, disease, insects and winter damage. In hay and pasture, both grasses and legumes are negatively impacted by potassium deficiency.