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| World Pork Expo restores some optimism among U.S. producers |
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By DOUG SCHMITZ
Iowa Correspondent
DES MOINES, Iowa — Despite the H1N1 scare in 2009, and high input costs in 2008, the 2010 World Pork Expo has helped restore optimism among U.S. pork producers, according to one industry official.
“It’s a lot more upbeat at Expo this year,” said Sam Carney, Adair, Iowa, pork producer and president of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) on the opening day of the three-day event, which was held June 9-11 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.
“The last couple of years have been pretty tough in the pork industry,” added Carney, noting that attendance was down last year due in part to the H1N1 outbreak that restricted international travel, which significantly decreased the numbers of attendees last year.
Billed as the world’s largest pork trade show, the 22nd annual World Pork Expo was expected to have drawn an estimated 30,000 pork producers, exhibitors and visitors from across the country and around the globe – although the official tally wasn’t yet available. Carney said at least 25 countries were represented at the event.
With continued updates posted on the social media websites of Facebook, Twitter and Flickr, the 2010 Expo also drew more than 400 exhibitors along with the annual swine show, with more than 1,700 entries this year.
Among the many educational programs and seminars, the Pork Checkoff – housed at the National Pork Board (NPB) in Des Moines – sponsored “Producers Opportunity for Revenue and Knowledge” (PORK) Academy, June 9 and 10.
Designed as a series of seminars to inform pork producers about current industry challenges, the Pork Academy featured a variety of topics, including production issues, finance, worker issues, weather and market outlooks.
“These seminars are a great way to get accurate information in areas that are vital to our operations,” said Jon Hoek, a DeMotte, Ind. producer who chairs the Checkoff’s producer services committee.
Kicking off the Expo the day before was a life-like drill, which simulated emergency response techniques in the likely event of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD), which the Checkoff has conducted for law enforcement, government officials, farm media and representatives from agriculture throughout the country.
“I know every time I participate in an FMD drill, I realize just how devastating an FMD outbreak would be to me as a pork producer, and to all livestock producers in the U.S.,” said Jim Niewold, a Loda, Ill. pork producer who chairs the Checkoff’s Swine Health Committee.
“By practicing how we would respond, I feel like we as an industry are better prepared and have plans in place, should we ever have FMD in this country,” he said.
The NPB also met at the fairgrounds on June 10 to continue implementing its new five-year strategic plan and to elect new officers, where Tim Bierman, Larrabee, Iowa, pork producer and board president completed his six-year service. Gene Nemechek, a Springdale, Ark. swine veterinarian, was elected vice president of the board.
Through the Pork Quality Assurance Plus certification program, which was incorporated in the new strategic plan, 50,000 producers from across the country will be certified by June 30.
Bierman said the program is one of the many ways U.S. pork producers are showing their ongoing commitment to producing high-quality pork.
“PQA Plus helps assure the world we’re producing a safe and wholesome product, and incorporates animal care and well-being principles,” he said. “PQA Plus was introduced three years ago at World Pork Expo.
“It’s quite a remarkable achievement and demonstrates the commitment producers make each day to producing safe food in a responsible way,” he added.
The 2010 Expo also launched the People’s Choice BBQ Contest, sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health, which featured three of Iowa’s top competing Pit Masters.
“World Pork Expo is about reconnecting with people, learning about new technologies and practices related to pork production, and having fun,” said Gary Robertson, Pfizer Animal Health marketing manager. “We are pleased to sponsor this new event, which promises to enhance the Expo experience.”
According to Jim Long, president of Genesus Genetics in Ames, one of the 2010 Expo exhibitors, from August of 2007 until just recently, the industry has sustained the greatest financial downturn in its history.
“There has been an estimated $6 billion U.S. dollars in losses for producers,” he said. “Many producers have gone bankrupt.
The U.S. market hog inventory on March 1st was 4 million less than 2 years ago. This is a grim testament to the sow liquidation that has occurred.
But Long said the upside to herd liquidation and fewer hogs is higher prices.
“H1N1 is gone. U.S. pork exports were up 2 percent last month from a year ago. The U.S. domestic economy is improving,” he said. “The GDP is up 5 percent, manufacturing is up, there are more jobs, etc. This helps pork demand.” |
| 6/16/2010 |
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