USDA Proposes Less Restriction on Mexican Pork Exports

Dan Exports/Imports, Industry News Release, Pork

The Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to recognize Mexico as free of classical swine fever. The proposal replaces a previous proposal by APHIS that would have recognized Mexico as a low-risk classical swine fever region. Since USDA’s original proposal, Mexico has asked for enhanced evaluations by USDA. With results from the most recent site …

June Results Confirm Strong First Half for U.S. Red Meat Exports

Dan Beef, Exports/Imports, Industry News Release, Pork

U.S. pork and beef exports continued to trend above year-ago levels in June, capping a very strong first half of the year. According to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), exports also achieved higher values on a per-head-slaughtered basis and accounted for a steady-to-higher percentage of total production. June beef exports were the …

KSU Researchers Looking for New Ways to Preserve Bacon

Dan Industry News Release, Pork

Kansas State University researchers are looking into the question of whether or not an antioxidant could increase the sizzle in America’s love affair with bacon. Meat scientists have known for a long time that meat doesn’t taste as good the longer it sits, even if it’s in the refrigerator. KSU Meat Scientist Terry Houser says the fat in the meat …

NPPC Supports Legislation To Stop States From Dictating Production Practices In Other States

Dan Industry News Release, Pork

Stating that “pork producers, not animal-right activists, lawmakers or regulators, should make the decisions about what production practices are best for their animals and for producing safe food,” Neil Dierks, CEO of the National Pork Producers Council, in congressional testimony pledged the organization’s support for legislation that would prohibit a state from imposing tax or regulatory burdens on businesses, including pork operations, …

Vaccine Bank Needed To Protect Food, National Security

Dan Industry News Release, Pork

Citing economic and food and national security concerns, an ad hoc coalition of more than 100 agricultural organizations and allied industries groups urged Congress to include in the next Farm Bill language establishing and funding a Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine bank. FMD is an infectious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, pigs, and sheep; it is not a food safety or human …

Red Meat Export Momentum Continues

Dan Beef, Exports/Imports, Pork

U.S. red meat (beef and pork) exports had a strong month of May, increasing significantly from April as well as from 2016 levels. USDA statistics compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation show pork exports reached more than 222,000 metric tons. That’s an 11 percent year-over-year increase and the fourth largest monthly volume on record. Pork exports were valued at …

Swine Veterinarian Fly-In

Dan Farm Bill, Pork

The National Pork Producers Council and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians are hosting their Washington, D.C. legislative fly-in today and tomorrow, July 11-12.  Swine veterinarians from across the country will visit congressional lawmakers, discussing their priority issues. The veterinarians are expected to urge members of Congress to include in the 2018 Farm Bill language establishing a vaccine bank to …

NPPC Testimony Details Benefits of NAFTA

Dan Legislative, Pork, Trade

Last week, the National Pork Producers Council submitted to the House Ways and Means Committee testimony on the importance of trade to the U.S. pork industry. The organization focused on the benefits of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), stressing the vital role the agreement has played in U.S. economic and agricultural expansion. According to the NPPC, in 2016 U.S. …

41 PEDV Sites Confirmed in Manitoba

Dan Industry News Release, Pork

The Manitoba Pork Council confirms 41 sites in the province have tested positive in a Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus outbreak. The southeast part of the province is where the outbreak is centered. A National Hog Farmer Dot Com article says officials have confirmed PEDV on 18 operations representing over 54,000 sows. It’s also been confirmed on seven nurseries representing over …