by Carrie Webster More than a million pigs are transported every day on U.S. roads to packing plants or to the next stage of production. Behind the wheel are hundreds of drivers trained to do the job right, thanks to their training in the Pork Checkoff’s Transport Quality Assurance® (TQA) program. “The program recently was […]
Latest Productivity Report Card Shows Progress, Hiccups
by Mike King The adage that “you can’t get anywhere unless you know where you are” certainly rings true in pork production. Simply put, you can’t make progress at the farm level unless you know where your herd’s productivity stands. “Continuous progress is a hallmark of U.S. pork production,” said Chris Hostetler, director of animal […]
Annual PRRS Costs Fall $83.3 Million – Productivity gains blunt the impact of PRRS on the U.S. herd
by Marlys Miller Producers and veterinarians are making progress in the battle against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). Based on a five-year moving average, annual productivity losses due to PRRSV fell $83.3 million from October 2010 ($663.91 million) to October 2016 ($580.62 million) in a recent interim report. An ongoing Pork Checkoff PRRS […]
Prepare Now for Possible FAD Later: Secure Pork Supply plan to protect business continuity in an FAD outbreak
by Darcy Maulsby Imagine if a foreign animal disease (FAD) outbreak occurred near your farm. Movement of susceptible livestock would cease immediately, and you couldn’t transport hogs to market or receive new pigs without permission from state officials. Consumer confidence would falter, and export markets would close immediately, slashing demand for U.S. pork. The upshot? […]
EuroTier Highlights Innovations
by Mike King American visitors to EuroTier, like this group from Minnesota, took advantage of learning about new stall and pen technologies.[/caption]While not totally pig-centric like World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa, EuroTier provides a look at the high-tech world of pork production. The massive fair, held every two years in Hanover, Germany, is […]
Swinging the Barn Doors Wide Open: National media visit sow farm to learn first hand about pork production
The opportunity to show a journalist from the Washington Post around a sow farm is rare, but imagine if that reporter also was in the company of staff from CNN, USA Today, National Public Radio, the Huffington Post and a host of regional press. “I appreciate the help and plan on following up with some […]
Walking the Walk: U.S. pork industry leads conversation on responsible antibiotic use
by Kevin Waetke Consumer interest in how food is produced has never been higher, leading the National Pork Board to continue its outreach to affirm the pork industry’s commitment to antibiotic stewardship. In the first half of the year, the Pork Checkoff staged three unique events to underscore the real change occurring on pig farms […]
Promoting Pork in a Digital World
by Angela Anderson From hailing an Uber ride, ordering movie tickets or finding a new recipe, today’s consumers are turning more and more to smartphones, laptops, and tablets. To capitalize on the growing digital world, the Pork Checkoff is tapping new ways and places to promote pork’s great flavor and convenience.“We have connected with consumers […]
Quality Initiative Builds Momentum
by Mike King There will be a major momentum shift this year in how pork quality is classified if USDA’s revision of its voluntary pork quality standards is approved. After more than 30 years, the federal government is moving forward with its internal process to revise the voluntary standards – an action likely to affect […]
Exports 101: How Your Pork Checkoff Dollars Pay Off
by Bill Even When I led South Dakota’s Office of Economic Development, I learned five tried-and-true success principles. First, retain the business you have. Second, expand your existing businesses. Third, find ways to attract new businesses to your area. Fourth, it is twice as hard to win back a customer that you lose. Fifth, economic […]