Several leaders from both the National Farm Bureau Federation and state farm bureaus met U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack last Friday to discuss the ongoing problems facing the pork industry.The U.S. pork industry is struggling in many ways. Currently the industry faces high feed and fuel costs, trade barriers, a flu virus associated with pork, as well as product market that is more than inundated. The industry hasn't been shy in asking for help. Earlier this year governors from nine pork producing states sent a letter to the USDA asking for assistance. The governors also wrote the administration asking the government to purchase excess pork products. On September 4, 2009, Secretary Vilsack reversed a previous decission not to buy pork products because the department was running out of money, and, instead told the industry that the USDA would spend $30 million to buy pork later this year. According to Vilsack, the government spends $151 million on pork per year.
Now, according to Ken Anderson's article for Brownfield's Ag News, the Secretary is looking, at the behest of the farm bureaus, at ways in which the department can help the industry by removing regulatory financing barriers with local banks and Farm Credit. Vilsack also told the farm bureaus that he is working with China to ease trade barriers so pork could again be shipped to the country with the world's largest population.
Vilsack also indicated that the USDA is putting forward a new initiative "asking the media to use the correct terminology," when it comes to the H1N1 virus and not call it "swine flu."
To read the Brownfield article click here.
Posted: 09/08/09
