March 17, 2011

American hog farmers face tight feed grain market

Hog producers' groups from various parts of America, namely Canada, Mexico and the US want their governments to deal with short and long term availability of feed grain as they experience a tight feed grain market.

In a joint statement on Monday (Mar 14) from Mexico, representatives from the Canadian Pork Council, Confederacion de Porcicultores Mexicanos, and US National Pork Producers Council called on their countries' Agriculture Ministers to meet and address the issue in a responsible manner.

Hog producers are vigorously competing for a resource that is in high demand and shows no signs of dropping, the groups said.

Their anxiety was only heightened by recent USDA grain supply and production reports suggesting this spring's seeding and normal yields would provide only a modest easing of tight feed supplies.

"The lack of a stable supply of feed grains for livestock and poultry industry will significantly increase the cost of production, and consequently, the retail price of our products, and make it all the more difficult for families to make healthy choices," the groups said.

"If the availability of feed is not addressed in a responsible manner, the ability of hundreds of millions of people to consume pork and other meat and poultry products will be jeopardised," the three groups said in their signed statement to their governments.

The Canadian, US, and Mexican groups were represented by their presidents, Jurgen Preugschas, Doug Wolf, and Rigoberto Espinoza respectively.