March 2, 2006

US pork producers to discuss industry issues at forum

Pork producers from across the US will meet at the National Pork Industry Forum to discuss such varied issues as how to protect their herds from diseases, revised environmental standards and the status of mandatory price reporting.

The forum will be held Thursday through Saturday (Mar 2-4) in Kansas City.

Among the diseases that are likely to be discussed are postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), and the circo virus.

Reports of increased cases of PMWS in some of the key hog-producing states have raised concerns among swine producers across the country. An Iowa producer said "we're looking for answers about circo virus" and want to hear more about the research being done on that disease.

Industry sources planning to attend the forum also said they hope to find out more about animal welfare issues and progress being made on the national swine identification system.

US Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns is scheduled to speak at the forum Saturday and is expected to discuss the world markets, the importance of trade agreements to US agriculture, food safety, and food and environmental security.

Other invited speakers include Stephen Johnson, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator; and Claytonne Yeutter, former USDA Secretary and US Trade Representative.

In addition, elected delegates attending the event will review the pork checkoff rate and determine how much of the funding will be returned to the individual states. The current checkoff rate is 40 cents per US$100 in value of hogs marketed. The checkoff budget for 2006, which was approved along with the strategic plan by the National Pork Board in November, was set at US$48.8 million.