More Calls for Government Help in Pork Sector

Three pork producer marketing groups think it is time for a government run a sow purchase program. Producers Livestock Marketing Association, National Farmers Organization and Allied Producers Cooperative, who represent pork producers across the country, are asking USDA to evaluate the pork market impact of a $200 million federally-funded sow buy-out program. The groups see pork producers losing nearly $54 per head this fall.

The marketers say they also support the National Pork Producers Council's request for three separate $50 million pork purchases, and usage of $100 million of H1N1 program funds. They also support Secretary Vilsack's request for Farm Service Agency lenders to help pork producers work through financial difficulties. And they encourage U.S. Trade Representative efforts to reopen China's market to U.S. pork

Rick Keith, president of Producers Livestock, says U.S. pork producers have been increasing production in recent years as they responded to growing export demand. But this year they've been financially clobbered when H1N1 was wrongly labeled swine flu.