China is in its holiday season; first was the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, on 22 December. Next is the Lunar New Year which begins on 10 February. Both traditionally mark seasonal demand for pork. We know that last year, after extended COVID lockdowns through 2022, the 2023 Lunar New year demand was disappointing compared to what was expected. Consumers were focused on saving money or were staying home still sick with COVID. The next 30-45 days will be interesting to watch to see if holiday pork demand grows. So far, the situation has been bearish. Pork prices ended 2023 at about ¥24.60/kg, which is a 25.5 percent drop for the year. The official November CPI for pork shows a drop of 31.8 percent. The Chinese gov...
A pika (/ˈpaɪkə, ˈpiːkə/ PY-kə, PEE-kə[3][4]) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal native to Asia and North America. With short limbs, a very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative the rabbit, but with short, rounded ears.[5] The large-eared pi...
Lobelia (/loʊˈbiːliə, lə-/[4][5][6]) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Campanulaceae comprising 415 species,[7] with a subcosmopolitan distribution primarily in tropical to warm temperate regions of the world, a few species extending into cooler temperate regions.[8] They are known g...
The Alaska marmot (Marmota broweri), also known as the Brooks Range marmot[3] or the Brower's marmot,[4] is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. Once considered to be the same species as the hoary marmot, it is now known to be unique. Alaska marmots are found in the scree slopes of the...
From WPI Consulting
Like all marmots
An adult Vancouver Island marmot typically measures 65 to 70 centimetres (26 to 28 in) from the tip of its nose to the tip of its tail.