Benchmark Magazine Article Archive

Regardless of the organization’s size, whether a small farm or a multi-site corporation, employers have long been concerned about recruiting challenges in the competitive labor market.

Without a doubt, the swine industry plays a crucial role in global food production, providing a significant source of protein for millions of people worldwide. However, this vital sector is facing an increasingly pressing challenge: a severe shortage of workers.

After staggering high unemployment rates in 2020, it dropped in 2021. The vital global agricultural industry experienced strong hiring in 2021, with a 30% increase in jobs posted on AgCareers.com. Globally, job postings in the swine industry on AgCareers.com increased by 6% in the past year. Looking at jobs by country, US swine jobs remained consistent, while Canadian swine jobs increased.

The Bountiful Pig. When you think of pigs, what do you think of? Did you know that everyday pigs provide vital needs for humans? Pork products range from safe high-quality delicious sources of protein, lifesaving medical uses, and many other products that help improve the quality of our lives. No other animal provides such a wide range of products for society as pigs. Through new technologies and innovative research, new by-products from pigs continue to be developed every day.

The Belcampo Farm was started in 2012 and founded with the mission “to deliver meat you can feel good about”. Belcampo meat products are a quality protein source for people; Belcampo certifies humane treatment of its animals; and regenerative agriculture for the environment.

The swine industry has changed greatly over the past few decades. Efficiencies in pork production and the agriculture industry, have changed the way we look at what and where our food comes from. Consumer demand for increased animal welfare and safe pork products has driven the industry to improve production and quality standards.

At the beginning of 2020 most people started the year with a New Year’s resolution -- usually based on hopes of working towards improving their health, business, friendships, or a personal goal. Then COVID-19 hit, resolutions were replaced with other concerns such as business closures, many changes, and uncertainties.

In early March of 2020, what now feels like another lifetime ago, the University of Illinois Meat Science Laboratory was racing through a typical, fast-paced, spring semester. Graduate students were slaughtering and fabricating over 50 pigs over the course of a week to collect data for industry supported projects.

Thousands of miles separate swine producers across the world. As you travel from country to country, you notice differences of geography, languages and customs, but what about swine production practices? We thought it would be interesting to hear from several swine producers pertaining to: What’s a typical day like, setting goals, motivation, etc. Read their stories and hear about “A Day in the Life”.

The United Nations indicated that we’ll need to feed 9.7 billion people by the year 2050. To account for the growing global population, agricultural production will need to increase by 60 per cent, according to World Agriculture Towards 2030/2050.