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March 26,
2010 - Volume 30 - No 6
Topics This
Issue:
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Adding measurable value to Pork
Hy-Vee Sells More Than One Million
Pork Tenderloins
While the Midwestern-based retailer Hy-Vee has created
"millions" of unique promotions like the "million stem
rose sale," it turned its attention to pork recently with the
successful "One Million Pork Tenderloins Sale."
"It was all positive, and we had a lot of fun with
it," says Greg Frampton, assistant vice president of foodservice
for Hy-Vee, which worked with the National Pork Board, Hormel Foods and
the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) on the Pork
Checkoff-supported promotion. "We surpassed our goal of selling
one million tenderloins."
Hy-Vee, which has more than 220 retail stores in the
Midwest, sold pork tenderloins throughout January at all of its stores'
delis and meat cases. To give consumers an extra incentive to purchase
the tenderloins, Hy-Vee donated a portion of the proceeds to support
the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Custom point-of-sale materials and advertisements drew
attention to the inaugural One Million Pork Tenderloin Sale, which
generated a lot of positive feedback for Hy-Vee.
"Hy-Vee has become a great partner for the National
Pork Board, the IPPA and our producers," says Rob Kirchofer,
retail marketing manager, central division, for the Pork Checkoff.
"Their continued support of pork producers is recognized and
appreciated."
There's a lot of potential for future partnerships between
the pork industry and Hy-Vee's foodservice division, Frampton adds.
"We're glad to help out pork producers, and we look forward to
doing more promotions with the pork industry, especially for October
Pork Month."
For more information, contact Rob Kirchofer, RKirchofer@pork.org,
515-987-5034.
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Promoting teamwork within the pork industry
Researchers Look into Pit Fires and
Explosions
Last fall's
record rain-delayed corn and soybean harvest caused major delays in
manure pump-out and application, setting in motion a potentially
dangerous situation on some pork operations.
"Unfortunately, several Midwestern swine facilities
suffered flash fires and explosions related to liquid manure agitation
and pumping from deep pit concrete storage," said Allan Stokes,
the Pork Checkoff's director of environmental programs.
Due to the rash of incidents, the Checkoff's Environmental
Committee contracted with Iowa State University researchers to review
literature on the known science related to the causes and possible
factors and sources for explosions and flash fires.
The
findings include:
• Explosions and flash fires related to deep-pit manure storage
have been noted as early as 1969.
• Gases resulting from anaerobic decomposition of manure (methane,
hydrogen sulfide and phosphine) are the likely source of most fires.
• Methane is the most likely source of barn fires since the lower
explosive limits for both hydrogen sulfide are far above the toxic
level for swine and humans. Animal death would likely occur before
either reached combustible levels.
• Foaming may occur in anaerobic systems. This increases the
potential hazard by trapping methane in the foam and releasing it in
concentrations above the lower broken or disturbed, such as during
manure agitation.
To view the full literature review, as well as the Checkoff's Safe
Manure Removal Policies Fact Sheet, go to the Pork Science page on
the Checkoff's Web page at pork.org.
For
more information, contact Allan Stokes, AStokes@pork.org,
515-223-3447.
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Addressing consumer demands for socially responsible pork
production
Oklahoma
Pork Supports Extreme Makeover Home Edition
With
only four days to renovate a deserving Oklahoma family's home, hundreds
of crew members and volunteers who worked around the clock recently at
the "Extreme Makeover Home Edition" site near Lexington,
Okla., were able to recharge with a free pork dinner, thanks to
Oklahoma Pork Council (OPC).
"The amount of food it takes to feed everyone
involved in a project like this is out of this world, and we were glad
to help," says Roy Lee Lindsey, executive director of the OPC,
which served 471 smoked pork loin sandwiches from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. one
evening.
This fits with a guiding principle of the pork industry's
We Care program, which encourages producers to contribute to a better
quality of life in our communities, Lindsey says. "Also, it was a
privilege for us to assist a worthy Oklahoma family who has been
involved in agriculture for a long time."
The We Care responsible pork initiative is a joint effort
of the Pork Checkoff through the National Pork Board, and the National
Pork Producers Council, to help demonstrate that producers are
accountable to established ethical principles and animal well-being
practices. We Care defines the industry's core values and offers a way
to build trust with consumers.
In addition to serving free pork sandwiches at a VIP tent
in front of the house, the OPC was recognized as a project sponsor with
Ideal Homes of Oklahoma, which played a key role in the renovation
project. The extreme home makeover benefited Brian and Audra Skaggs,
whose infant son required a heart transplant recently.
"This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it
couldn't have happened to a better family," says Mark McGinnis,
OPC's community outreach specialist.
Unfortunately, the renovation project was complicated by a
severe winter storm that hit the area shortly before the work
commenced. Then a rainstorm turned the Skaggs' property into a muddy
quagmire as the organized chaos of the extreme makeover process began.
"While it was raining the whole time we were serving
the pork sandwiches, the electricians, plumbers, carpenters and other
volunteers never quit working," McGinnis says. "Although this
was a very trying time for the crew, everyone was very appreciative of
Oklahoma pork producers' contribution."
For more information, contact Roy Lee Lindsey, rllindsey@okpork.org,
888-729-7675.
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Spotlight
Article
January Exports
Show Mixed Results
The
pace of U.S. pork exports cooled somewhat in January, according to
statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export
Federation (USMEF). Pork plus pork variety meat exports were 8 percent
lower in both volume and value than in January 2009, but variety meat
also weighed heavily on these results. Muscle cuts fell only 4 percent
in volume and 5 percent in value, while variety meat exports declined
18 percent in both categories.
January
pork plus pork variety meat exports totaled 144,180 metric tons or
317.9 million pounds, valued at just over $333 million. Exports were 8
percent lower in both volume and value than in January 2009, but were
impacted heavily by a nearly 20 percent decline in variety meat
exports. For muscle cuts only, exports were down 4 percent in volume
and 5 percent in value. Exports accounted for 22 percent of total
pork/pork variety meat production (consistent with 2009), while export
value per head slaughtered amounted to $37.37 - up about $.80 per head
over a year ago.
The
most significant jolt to January's results was the nearly one-third
decline in exports to Japan, which is by far the largest value market
for U.S. pork. Exports to Japan totaled 27,936 metric tons or 61.6
million pounds, valued at $108 million. While these are still strong
results, exports were down 34 percent in volume and 27 percent in value
from the torrid pace of January 2009.
Mexico solidified
its position as the largest volume market for U.S. pork/pork variety
meat, setting a new monthly record of 54,458 metric tons or 120.1
million pounds, valued at $93.5 million. This was an increase of 12
percent in volume and 27 percent in value over January 2009, and
surpassed the previous record (from December 2009) by 5 percent in
volume and 4 percent in value.
Other
markets performing extremely well compared to January 2009 included:
• Hong
Kong - 17,615 metric tons or 38.8 million pounds, valued at $23
million, an increase of 36 percent in volume and 19 percent in value.
• Canada - 13,135 metric tons or 29 million pounds, valued at
$41.9 million, an increase of 2 percent in volume and 11 percent in
value.
• Central/South America - 4,542 metric tons or 10 million pounds,
valued at $10.5 million, an increase of 39 percent in volume and 47
percent in value.
• Philippines - 4,454 metric tons or 9.8 million pounds, valued at
$8.4 million, an increase of 32 percent in volume and 50 percent in
value.
• Taiwan - 4,252 metric tons or 9.4 million pounds, valued at $7.5
million, an increase of 54 percent in volume and 87 percent in value.
• Dominican Republic - 1,682 metric tons or 3.7 million pounds,
valued at $3.1 million, an increase of 76 percent in volume and 59
percent in value
For more information, contact John Hinners, JHinners@usmef.org , 303-623-6328.
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Pork
Checkoff. Your Investment. Your Future.
Pork Checkoff Service Center . 800-456-PORK
Reprinting of the Pork Leader is encouraged
Produced by: National Pork Board
Pork Leader . 1776 NW 114th St . Des Moines, Iowa 50306
515-223-2600
If
you want to be removed from this e-mail newsletter distribution or if
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