Earlier this year US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack told various interest groups in the agricultural industry that the USDA would not be able to purchase any more excess pork products to help the industry because there simply wasn’t the money in the USDA coffers.Then came September, and faced with the continued struggles from the industry, Vilsack went back on his earlier statements and purchased $30 million worth of excess pork products. The struggles have been heightened this year because the H1N1 continues to be called by the misnomer “swine flu” by the media, thus flaming consumer fear that you can contract the disease from eating pork products. Again, for the record, this is not true and is why Secretary Vilsack has repeatedly asked the media to refer to the influenza by the actual, accurate name of H1N1.
Anyway, the $30 million approved in September is still not enough, according to the USDA, for the industry that has been struggling for two years now. So, Secretary Vilsack told farm broadcasters in Kansas City this week that the USDA will purchase $50 million worth of pork products that will be used for the various federal food programs.
The National Pork Producers Council (NPCC) was happy with the announcement, and NPCC president Don Butler stated to Hoosier Ag Today scribe Gary Truitt, “NPPC is extremely grateful to Secretary Vilsack for recognizing the plight of our producers and for taking action to help them. The pork purchase is an important step the USDA announced in September that will help our industry bring pork supply and demand back into balance and allow producers to continue providing consumers worldwide with economical, nutritious pork products.”
We shall see if these additional purchases will be enough to keep the industry afloat while consumers regain confidence that pork products are indeed safe for human consumption.
To read Gary Truitt’s story click here.
Posted: 11/13/09
