Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Non-Tech : Farming -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Nancy Haft who wrote (63)	8/5/1999 2:20:00 PM
From: Jon Koplik	Respond to of 4444

I think Mr. Gore is wrong again. Earlier this year, cash hog prices (briefly) hit some absurdly low price like 6 or 8 cents a pound, but have rebounded a fair amount since then. Jon.

To: Nancy Haft who wrote (63)	8/5/1999 4:24:00 PM
From: James M. Belin	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4444

Nancy, In the short run I expect more pain. There will probably be a big shakeout among the producers. Unfortunately, I think that the family farmer is going to suffer. I suspect that the family farmer has far less staying power than a number of corporate producers. I suspect that corporate producers with low debt on their balance sheets will be able to acquire additional assets at cheap prices. I also think that demand for pork worldwide needs to increase. I know that pork is desired in east Asia. However, if countries such as China, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan have economic problems, I do not know when an increase in demand might occur. Overall, I want to find companies that I think have staying power. I have absolutely no idea how long the trough in hog prices might last. Jim

To: Nancy Haft who wrote (63)	8/7/1999 1:05:00 AM
From: John Stichnoth	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4444

I think Alan Greenspan also addressed the hog issue in his recent senate testimony. I was struck first by the fact that it was an issue in that setting. Second was that he seemed to assume that a shakeout of the family farmer will continue, as productivity gains continue to drive prices lower. He specifically stated that farm productivity has outpaced industrial productivity gains, and seemed to think that these gains were due to the increasing presence of the corporate farms.