As we get ready to turn the calendar page to 2017, there are a lot of things on producers’ minds. Foremost producers are cautiously watching the market with eyes on expansion taking place in the industry, and curiosity of what impact new packing plants coming online will have.

Of more immediate concern are the expanded Veterinary Feed Directives that go into effect on Sunday. Producers, veterinarians and feed mill operators have had a few years to prepare for Jan. 1, 2017, when the new VFDs modify the way feed- and water-based antimicrobials are utilized in animal production.

For producers the regulatory change will result in the removal of some antibiotic products or eliminate growth promotion use of the antibiotics. Growth promotion and nutritional efficiency labels on medically important antibiotics will be removed by December 2016.

National Hog Farmer has tried to provide our readers with the most-complete information about the VFDs through our “Weekly Preview” and “Weekly Wrap-Up” newsletters, as well as articles in our print magazine.

We will continue to bring you the best information that you can use to better your operation in 2017. What will change is how we deliver that information. National Hog Farmer magazine will continue to show up monthly in your mailbox. But gone are the “Weekly Preview” and “Weekly Wrap-Up” newsletters, only to be replaced by “National Hog Farmer Daily” that will come into your email Inbox Monday through Friday.

Each of the five daily newsletters will have a specific topic, highlighting subject matter to assist you in having the healthiest, most profitable hog operation moving forward.

A recent visit to NationalHogFarmer.com has also shown that our website has received an overhaul. It is highly integrated and a one-stop shop for the latest news, in-depth research and valuable information for the swine business. Log on, take a look around, and by all means weigh in on your likes and dislikes of the website.

Just as the hog industry continues to evolve, so does National Hog Farmer. Thanks for allowing us along for the ride. Here’s to a happy, healthy and prosperous 2017.