Forseth New NPPC Director of Animal Health

The National Pork Producers Council has hired Dr. Anna Forseth for the newly created position of director of animal health. She will focus on foreign animal disease prevention and preparedness, as well as antibiotic use and resistance issues.

“We welcome Dr. Forseth to the NPPC team,” said NPPC CEO Bryan Humphreys. “She has a wealth of knowledge about hogs and swine diseases and a great background in swine research. We know she will be a great asset to and resource for the U.S. pork industry.”

A Montana native who grew...

SHIC Receives Pork Checkoff Funding for Program Extension to 2027

The National Pork Board of directors has approved an additional $15 million investment of Pork Checkoff funds in the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) extending funding through 2027.

Launched with Checkoff funds in 2015, SHIC works to protect and enhance the health of the U.S. swine herd. This is done through coordinated global disease monitoring, targeted research investments that minimize the impact of future disease threats and analysis of swine health data.

The investment brings direct value back to producers through SHIC’s animal health research priorities...

ASI and NCBA Awarded USDA/APHIS Grant to Develop Guidance for Livestock Grazing

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is providing more than $200,000 dollars in Farm Bill funding to support the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) in developing movement decision criteria for sheep and cattle grazing public land allotments during a potential foreign animal disease (FAD) outbreak. There are several agencies involved in issuing public land grazing permits in 14 states for 22,000 ranchers. These are not the same agencies responsible for FAD response. This funding will allow collaboration among...

Poultry Markets Bullish on Demand Recovery and Challenging Supply

Global poultry markets are expected to be strong in 2022, on the back of reopening economies, increasing vaccination levels, and stronger economic conditions. This improving global market context will be a bumpy road, though, with ups and downs following Covid-19 developments. The industry will need to be ready to adjust sales channels in response to government measures. The operational side will also see challenges, as feed and other input costs, like freight and energy, are expected to stay high. The availability and cost of labor has become a big issue...

Pork Producers Lobby Lawmakers on Issues

Preventing foreign animal diseases, addressing a shortage of agricultural workers and reauthorizing a livestock price reporting law are the primary issues on which pork producers will lobby their congressional lawmakers over the next two days, during the fall Capitol Hill fly-in of the National Pork Producers Council. More than 100 producers from across the country are expected to participate virtually in NPPC’s Legislative Action Conference.

“These are critical but by no means the only issues of concern to U.S. pork producers,” said NPPC President Jen Sorenson, communications director for Iowa Select Farms in...

NCBA Urges Vilsack to Halt Brazilian Beef Imports

Today, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) called on Secretary Vilsack to immediately suspend all imports of fresh beef from Brazil to the United States.

In the letter to USDA, NCBA asked for a suspension until the agency conducts a thorough risk assessment and review of the processes that Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply (MAPA) uses to detect disease and other threats to consumers. NCBA also urged USDA to review Brazil's veterinary diagnostic laboratory system.

"It's time to keep Brazilian fresh beef out of this country until USDA can..."

Pork Checkoff: Understanding PRRS 1-4-4

The swine industry is battling a tough strain of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus – PRRS 1-4-4 Lineage 1C. It is an unusual strain because infections peak in spring/summer, as well as fall/winter months, compared to other strains that typically only peak in fall/winter months. However, pork producers have the prevention tools to combat the pathogen and prevent spread, including biosecurity and research.

For the October Pork Checkoff producer webinar, animal health experts presented guidance, biosecurity considerations and recent research on PRRS. Speakers included:

- Pat Bane, Illinois pork producer...

USDA Commits $500 Million For ASF Prevention

The National Pork Producers Council today commended Agriculture Secretary Vilsack for dedicating $500 million in USDA Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds for prevention of and preparation for African swine fever (ASF), a pig-only disease that would be devastating for the U.S. pork industry.

The CCC, a wholly owned government corporation created in 1933, implements specific agricultural programs established by Congress and carries out activities under the CCC Charter Act.

“NPPC thanks Sec. Vilsack for providing additional funding for federal efforts to protect America’s 60,000-plus pork producers from this..."

NPPC Commends House Lawmakers For African Swine Fever Funding Request

The National Pork Producers Council commended seven House members for requesting funding to protect the U.S. swine herd from African swine fever (ASF).

In a letter, the lawmakers urged House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to prioritize funding for USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to address a potential outbreak in the United States of ASF, which recently was detected in the Dominican Republic, the first time in 40 years the disease has been in the Western Hemisphere. Funds are necessary “to ensure that pork producers in our districts and across the country do not suffer the severe consequences of a potential ASF outbreak in the United States...

Traders Assess Suspension of Brazilian Beef Exports to China Due to BSE

Over the weekend, the agriculture ministry reported that Brazil has suspended beef exports to China after confirming two cases of “atypical” bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in two domestic meat plants. BSE, also referred to as mad cow disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease of cattle that is transmitted through contaminated feed. The two cases recently confirmed in Brazil were “atypical” since the disease appeared “spontaneously and sporadically, unrelated to the ingestion of contaminated food”, according to the agriculture ministry. 

It is not yet certain when Brazilian beef exports to China will resume. The ministry stated there was no risk to animal or human health.

BSE was first diagnosed in 1986 in the United Kingdom and has since been detected in other countries. The first known case of BSE in the United States occurred in 2003 and resulted in the loss of most of the United States’ beef exports in 2004. 

Brazil was the world's largest beef exporter in 2020. The indefinite suspension of Brazilian beef exports to China could be supportive of U.S. beef exports if the ban is not resolved quickly...

CBP Seizes Over 300 Pounds of Pork Bologna and Turkey Ham at the Paso Del Norte Border Crossing

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Specialists assigned to the Paso Del Norte Border Crossing seized 320 pounds of pork bologna and 30 pounds of turkey ham Thursday.

The discovery was made shortly after 6:00 a.m., when a 20-year-old United States citizen, resident of El Paso, Texas, presented himself for inspection. A CBP officer observed what appeared to be meat products hidden in the back seat of a 2012 Honda Odyssey driven by the individual.

A negative declaration for...

ANALYSIS: The Impact of Labor Issues on Hams

Ever since the first COVID-19 shutdowns, labor-related conversion issues have plagued the US ham market. As more and more bone-in hams couldn’t be...

NPPC Thanks USDA For Imported Dog Rules

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced a federal order establishing additional requirements for dogs imported into the United States for resale from African swine fever (ASF)-positive countries. Ensuring ASF and other foreign animal diseases don’t enter the country is one of the National Pork Producers Council’s (NPPC) top priorities. Earlier this year, NPPC sounded the alarm on the potential for imported rescue dogs to serve as disease carriers from their bedding, crates or coats, becoming a lead issue during our spring Legislative Action Conference (LAC).

The United States remains free of ASF – an animal disease affecting only pigs with no human health implications.

As USDA explained, effective immediately, importers of dogs into the United States for resale from a region in which ASF exists or is reasonably believed to exist, must submit written documentation verifying completion of the following requirements...

ANALYSIS: Cash Hog Prices Decline from Summer Peak But Remain Well Above Year Ago Levels

The summer peak for negotiated cash hog prices on a national basis was achieved on June 22 at $128.04/cwt. Since peaking, spot prices have since declined by around...

USDA Statement on Confirmation of African Swine Fever in the Dominican Republic

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory has confirmed African swine fever (ASF) in samples collected from pigs in the Dominican Republic through an existing cooperative surveillance program.

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has numerous interlocking safeguards in place to prevent ASF from entering the United States. Pork and pork products from the Dominican Republic are currently prohibited entry as a result of existing classical swine fever restrictions. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is increasing inspections...

Pork Quarterly Q3 2021: Looking for Growth Amid Uncertainties

Great volatility in Chinese hog and pork prices is rippling through the global market. China’s slaughter rates were unexpectedly high in Q2, pushing pork production up 35.9% YOY in 1H, according to official data. The sudden supply increase resulted in a sharp price decline and negative results in both farming and trading in 1H, pointing to low pork imports into China in Q3. While we expect hog and pork prices to rebound in Q3, the estimated high frozen pork inventory will impose a lot of downward pressure on prices. We expect the slowdown of imports in the coming months will reduce full year imports from 2020’s record levels by 10% to 20%. This will lead to a redistribution of pork trade in the global market and could place downward pressure on pork prices in exporting regions.

USAPEEC: Latest Update On the South Korea HPAI Egg Situation

Since the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) broke out, the consumer price of the egg has been soaring. However, at some point, the egg price is expected to fall from mid-year 2021. According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), on June 11th, the domestic price of an egg tray, which is formed of 30 shell eggs, rose 46 percent to 7,557 KRW (6.69 USD), from 5,179 KRW (4.59 USD) the average year.

The HPAI has died down, but the price has not yet come down with it. With the prolongation of COVID-19, consumers tend to stay indoors and avoid eating out. The change in consumer behavior caused an increase in the demand for the egg. According to the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI), the average purchase of eggs per household in the first quarter of 2021 was...