I met Neil Dierks, CEO, National Pork Producers Council, in New Orleans and got to talk with him about issues facing swine producers this year. A big one has to do with food security. He says, “The world is shrinking. Globalization is real which means pathogens can cross borders very rapidly which can raise questions on health in the herds.” …
WTO Announces $1.01 Billion in COOL Retaliation
We anticipated this and now it’s here. The World Trade Organization (WTO) announced $1.01 billion retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods authorized in the country-of-origin labeling (COOL) with Canada and Mexico. The WTO has upheld multiple times our neighboring country’s claim that the label creates an unfair advantage to U.S. products. U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee …
TPP Big Topic for Ag Groups at #NAFB15
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is no doubt the biggest issue for ag groups at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention in Kansas City this week. Representatives from six national farm groups joined USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Phil Karsting in Kansas City Wednesday for a press event to discuss the TPP. The event featured farmer leaders from the American …
BIVI Seminar Highlights FAD Preparedness
Pork industry preparedness for FAD was the first topic on the schedule at the Boehringer Ingelheim North Carolina swine seminar this year – and no, FAD does not mean the latest social trend. “FADs are foreign animal diseases,” said Dr. Lisa Becton with the National Pork Board. “Those are diseases that currently don’t exist in the United States and diseases …
Huckabee Gets His #Pork On at Iowa State Fair
Iowa Ag Secretary Bill Northey is encouraging everyone, including presidential candidates, to #GetYourAgOn at the Iowa State Fair. Well Presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas and 2008 winner of the Iowa Republican Caucuses, is definitely getting his #GetYourAgOn with his love of pork. He kicked off his Des Moines Register Presidential Soapbox speech saying, “Porkchop on a stick. …
Iowa State Fairgoers Revved up by Prez George Washington
When George Washington was a young boy, he had dreams of the seas, not dreams of the farm. But today, he said, nothing gives him greater pleasure than the fruits of his farm. While in Iowa, he visited a farm where they raised sheep and pork and noted that until he came to Iowa, he had never heard of soybeans. …
3rd Annual Ozark Bacon Festival
The 3rd annual Ozark Bacon Fest– a tribute to Bacon, Bourbon & Beer will be held Saturday, October 10, 2015 at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds E-Plex. Guests can experience the Ozark’s best chefs’ creative bacon snacks, shop for bacon and bacon inspired products, and view displays from National brands. Mixologists and brewers will supply bacon-inspired cocktails, beer and wine. The …
House Passes COOL Repeal for Meat
By a vote of 300 to 131, the House of Representatives passed legislation late Wednesday to repeal Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for beef, pork and chicken. “I am thankful for the support of my colleagues today in passing this common-sense, bipartisan bill that is a necessary targeted response to avoid retaliation from Canada and Mexico,” said House Agriculture Committee …
Our Barn Door is Open
“If we don’t tell our farmer story then someone else will,” said Erin Brennemen, Iowa pork producer during the panel discussion “Our Barn Door is Open,” that took place during the 2015 World Pork Expo (#WPX15). The #RealPigFarming panel was hosted by the National Pork Board (NPB) and moderated by outgoing vice president Brad Greenway, a South Dakota pork producer. …
Branstad, Vetter Keynote #WPX15 Luncheon
Iowa Governor Terry Branstad along with Iowa Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds spent some time at the Iowa Fairgrounds during World Pork Expo 2015 held is Des Moines, Iowa. While onsite, they spoke to dozens of Iowa pork producers as well as address a crowd during the SIP luncheon hosted by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). Branstad noted that Iowa …