What's Happening Now - Everything we're up to throughout the year.

LATEST NEWS

February 17, 2012
Environment, Helping Communities

World Water Monitoring Day Breaks the Mold

It is more important than ever to maintain healthy water supplies, as WHO and UNICEF estimate that in the midst of a growing population, more than one in six people worldwide currently do not have access to an adequate amount of safe freshwater. At Smithfield we recognize the increasingly precious nature of water as a natural resource and, in addition to a number of ongoing commitments aimed at improving the efficiency of our water use, we’ve also sponsored World Water Monitoring Day with financial support and employee participation for nearly 10 years. Read More

February 9, 2012
Environment, International Hog Production, Murphy-Brown

Journey to 100% Compliance, 100% of the Time

We are happy to report that Murphy-Brown, Smithfield’s livestock production subsidiary, wrapped up its 2011 calendar year without receiving any Notices of Violation (NOV) at any of its 500-plus hog raising operations in the United States. Smithfield’s international operations followed suit, meaning that every company-owned farm was free of NOVs worldwide. Read More

February 1, 2012
Helping Communities, Helping Hungry Homes, Smithfield Packing

Smithfield Packing Makes 100th Food Donation Under Helping Hungry Homes

Smithfield Packing, one of our independent operating companies, just completed its 100th food donation, totaling 14 million servings of protein donated to local food banks through the Helping Hungry Homes^TMtour.

January 26, 2012

C. Larry Pope, CEO Smithfield Foods, recognized as 2012 Knowlton Award Honoree

C. Larry Pope has been named Meatingplace’s 2012 Knowlton Award honoree for “his outstanding contributions to the industry in the areas of leadership, enterprise and service.” He describes in an interview to the editor the challenges the company has overcome, the industry leadership position they’ve achieved in sustainability, community involvement, growth opportunities, and transforming the company into a “consumer demand-driven packaged meats maker.”

Download the interview (PDF).

January 25, 2012
Helping Communities, Helping Hungry Homes

Primed for Daytona in ‘Petty Blue’

NASCAR excitement continues to mount with Preseason Thunder now in the rearview and Daytona’s 2012 opener quickly approaching.

We’re thrilled for the opportunity to support a team as esteemed and storied as Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM). Richard Petty and the no. 43 bring us back to NASCAR’s roots and represent everything we love about the sport today. Read More

January 20, 2012
Environment, Murphy-Brown

Premium Standard Farms Raises the Bar

Last week, Premium Standard Farms (PSF), a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods, announced that it has successfully completed installation of next generation barn scraper technology at its farms in north Missouri, seven months ahead of schedule. PSF had been working with the state of Missouri and its advisory team since 1999 to develop and implement state-of-the-art environmental technologies. Read More

January 12, 2012
Farmland Foods, Helping Hungry Homes, John Morrell Food Group, Smithfield Packing

Revving Engines with NASCAR’s First Family

Today, we announced a partnership with the legendary Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) team for the upcoming 2012 NASCAR season. As primary sponsor for fifteen NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events, including February’s Daytona 500, this year NASCAR fans will see variety of Smithfield brands adorning the legendary No. 43 Ford Fusion, piloted by Aric Almirola.

January 9, 2012
Environment

Our Very Own Bill Gill Announced 2012 Chair of GEMI

We are honored to report that Bill Gill, Director, Assistant Vice President of Environmental Affairs here at Smithfield Foods has been elected as the 2012 chair of The Global Environmental Management Initiative (GEMI).

“GEMI has a truly exceptional and dedicated Board of Directors and membership, and I am honored to have been elected by them and look forward to serving as GEMI’s Chair in 2012,” stated Gill.

January 5, 2012
Environment, John Morrell Food Group

Patrick Cudahy Receives Recognition From Department of Energy

Our John Morrell Patrick Cudahy facility in Cudahy, WI received an official letter from the Department of Energy commending them on their energy efficiency accomplishments. As a partner of the DOE’s Save Energy Now LEADER initiative, Patrick Cudahy voluntarily committed to reduce energy intensity by 25 percent over 10 years.
Read More

December 25, 2011
Employees

Happy Holidays From Smithfield Foods

Once again it seems like the holiday season is upon us faster than ever. Being that it’s the season of giving, we’d like to slow down and take this opportunity to thank all of our employees for the hard work and commitment they give to our company every day.

Animal Care Committee Meeting

Our animal care committee is comprised of members from across our family of companies with varying areas of expertise related to animal care. They meet quarterly to discuss the care of animals on our farms and at our plants.

Farrowing area

Our animal care committee visited the farrowing area of one of our Midwestern farms. This is where sows give birth and raise piglets until they are 23 days old, when they are weaned. The bar you see here helps to ensure that the sow doesn't accidentally injure her piglets by lying down on them.

"Open Pen" Group Housing

One type of newly-converted gestation housing is called “pen gestation.” In this system, sows are housed in small groups in one communal area. You can see a sow here taking a drink—our sows have access to as much clean water as they choose at all times.

Performing an ultra-sound

Here, a farm worker performs an ultra-sound on a pregnant sow to ensure her piglets are healthy, and that he does not see any developmental issues.

One of our Midwestern farms

This quarter, our animal care committee met near one of our farms in the Midwest, and toured one of our sow farm facilities prior to the meeting.

"Free-Access" Group Housing

One of the neat things the animal care commitee got to see while touring this farm were examples of 2 types of newly-converted gestation group housing. Here you can see “free access” pens. Sows in this housing system have a common area, as well as individual stalls. The sow can move freely between these two areas by backing out of her individual stall.

Students from Morton East High School pause with Cicero town trustees, Victor Garcia and Larry Banks, Saratoga Foods employees and Junior Achievement staff during a job shadow event hosted at Saratoga’s plant in Bolingbrook, IL

On December 9, 2011, students from Morton East High School had an opportunity to acquire some practical on-the-job experience and even sample some interesting spices through a unique partnership between Junior Achievement of Chicago and Saratoga Food Specialties, a unit of John Morrell & Co. and its parent company, Smithfield Foods, Inc. The event was sponsored by Junior Achievement of Chicago and Learners to Leaders, a Smithfield Foods educational initiative.

Morton East High School students take a break before shadowing their second employee of the day at Saratoga Food Specialties in Bolingbrook, IL

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