1.   Gallo says a grain diet costs more and it takes longer to raise chickens that are not given antibiotics or animal byproducts as cheap protein.

2.   Higher grain costs will squeeze pork producers, according to the study.

3.   Higher grain costs have gobbled away at profits of many U.S. meat processors.

4.   High grain costs forced some farmers to sell their hogs before the animals reached market weight, rather than shoulder the rising cost of feeding their hog herd.

5.   Lower grain costs also helped earnings.

6.   Lower grain costs allowed farmers to profit from raising hogs, encouraging them to expand their herds after liquidating them last year amid soaring costs.

7.   Other food companies are still struggling, beset with stiff price competition or soaring grain costs.

8.   Ranchers sold many of their animals last year because soaring grain costs made it too expensive to feed them.

9.   Rising grain costs could eat into the bottom line at such agriculture-dependent companies as Tyson Foods Inc. and Archer Daniels Midland Co.

10.   Several food companies offset increased grain costs by raising prices on their products, analysts said.