National Pork Producers Council President-elect John Weber referred to the Trans-Pacific Partnership(TPP) as “the biggest commercial opportunity ever for U.S. pork producers,” during a press conference this week on the recently concluded free trade deal. “America’s pork producers strongly and unequivocally support the TPP, and we urge Congress to quickly pass it,” said Weber, a pork producer from Dysart, Iowa. … Read More
White House Pulls South Africa’s AGOA Benefits
The White House has announced that beginning Jan. 1 South Africa will lose its privilege to ship to the United States agricultural products through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) at a zero-tariff rate. The National Pork Producers Council supports this and has been urging the administration to withdraw or limit trade benefits for South Africa because of that … Read More
September US Meat Export Numbers
The USDA has released export statistics on U.S. meat products and U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) has compiled a summary. U.S. pork exports showed modest improvement in September while beef exports endured the most difficult month in some time. September pork export volume was up 6 percent from a year ago to 172,012 metric tons (mt). Export value was $456.1 … Read More
Pork Strongly Supports TPP
After reviewing the text of the recently concluded Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, the National Pork Producers Council have expressed unequivocal support for the TPP deal and called on the U.S. Congress to expeditiously pass the agreement. Initiated in late 2008, TPP is a regional trade deal that includes the United States, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New … Read More
JBS Concludes Cargill Pork Acquisition
JBS S.A., in accordance to the announcement made in the Material Fact of July 1st, 2015, announces that its subsidiary JBS USA concluded, on this date, the purchase of certain assets, properties, rights and liabilities, operations and the right of Cargill Meats ownership into Cargill Pork LLC (“Cargill Pork”). The completed acquisition includes: – Two pork processing facilities in Ottumwa, … Read More
Swine Health Series Focuses on Influenza
The latest At The Meeting (ATM) audio program with moderator Bob Morrison, DVM, PhD, provides listeners with a review and discussion of the influenza virus, an ever-evolving threat facing swine producers. The Swinecast series includes information on how the virus is identified, effective sampling and vaccination protocols used to protect against it, and also features disease, research and practical producers … Read More
Pork Checkoff Prioritizes Antibiotic Research
The National Pork Board has announced the seven members of its new third-party panel on antibiotic stewardship. The list includes experts working independently from National Pork Board practices, with specific experience and knowledge in antibiotic practices or consumer marketing. The panel has been asked to objectively review the status of antibiotic use in the pork industry, advise National Pork Board … Read More
K-State Research Fires Back at PEDv
Kansas State University researchers are jumping full force into studies of the deadly Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus(PEDv), which is said to have a 100 percent mortality rate in piglets less than 7 days old, and is estimated to have killed 8 million pigs in 2014. While European farmers have been dealing with PEDv since the 1970s, the disease first exploded … Read More
Science Doesn't Support IARC Opinion on Meat & Cancer
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) was assigned to review all of the available evidence on red meat and cancer risk, yet were divided on their opinion whether to label red meat a “probable” cause of cancer, according to the Beef Checkoff nutrition scientist and registered dietitian who observed the controversial process. After seven days of deliberation in … Read More
Pork News Update
Despite a change in the political party leading the nation, National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) believes there are indications Canada will move forward with retaliation against the United States over its Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) law. Justin Trudeau, head of Canada’s Liberal Party, defeated Prime Minister Stephen Harper of the Conservative Party after a heated election. In response to a pre-election … Read More