It’s a much more upbeat attitude at this year’s World Pork Expo in at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.

National Pork Producers Council President Sam Carney, a pork producer from Adair, Iowa, welcomed members of the media this morning and says they are expecting much bigger crowds than they’ve seen in the last couple of years because of the economy and concerns over H1N1.

“We’re expecting about 15,000 people, we have over 400 exhibitors, 1700 pigs in the open show, and between 23-27 countries coming.”

Carney also had a couple of quick comments about the 2012 Farm Bill and the NPPC’s stand of just making sure nothing is in there that will hinder producers.

“We do not want our producers to be tied down. We want them to have the freedom to sell their pigs.”

Carney points out that over the last three years, the pork industry has gone through some of the worst times in its history, and NPPC wants to make sure the Farm Bill will help them recover.

You can hear Sam’s remarks in the player below.

Check out our World Pork Expo 2010 Photo Album.

AgWired coverage of the World Pork Expo 2010 is sponsored by: