Saskatchewan prioritises pork processing capacity

The new chair of the Saskatchewan Pork Development Board says access to processing capacity remains a key issue within the Saskatchewan pork industry.

McGrath noted that producers in Saskatchewan have faced some unique additional challenges.

He observed that hog prices are on their way back up and, while producers are taking a wait and see attitude for 2010, there are fewer animals out there and the next two years should see continued improvement.

In addition, he said that the packing capacity remains a key issue in Saskatchewan and figuring out a way of securing packing services to reduce transportation costs remains a priority.

McGrath, the general manager of a 2,500-sow farrow-to-finish operation at Leroy, was elected chair of the Saskatchewan Pork Development Board last month.