National Pork Board Aims to Grow International Consumer Demand 

The National Pork Board has announced a study that will explore alternatives for promoting pork's quality and sustainability benefits with international consumers. The study, to be conducted by SIAM Professionals, LLC, will evaluate existing marketing strategies and partners to identify methods for improving pork's position as the global meat of choice.


Funded through America's Pork Checkoff, this project will evaluate the effectiveness of current global marketing efforts and identify potential partnerships and marketing tools for promoting U.S. pork. SIAM specializes in evaluating and developing international market opportunities for the food and agribusiness industry.   


"Throughout the world, pork is the single most consumed meat. The popularity of U.S. pork is driven by its taste, versatility as a recipe and menu item, and affordable cost," said Chris Novak, chief executive officer of the National Pork Board. "For many years, pork has been marketed globally with all other meats, and it's our intention to determine the ideal way to market U.S. pork on an international basis. It is part of our ongoing commitment to examine all of our Pork Checkoff programs to ensure continuous improvement."


According to Euromonitor International's latest estimates, global pork sales are expected to grow by 12 percent in the 2013-2018 forecast period, adding 10.6 million metric tons in sales volume by 2018. Most of this increase will be seen in emerging markets, such as Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America where populations and incomes continue to grow. In the first six months of 2014, exports increased 9 percent from the same time period a year ago, according to current data from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. Most of the gains are due to growth in Mexico and continued demand in Asia. 


Click here to read how the National Pork Board will address trade barrier issues.

Sanders Praises Restoration of Surplus Fire Equipment Program 

State Rep. Mike Sanders is please with the announcement that came at the end of this past week from the Department of Defense's Defense Logistics Agency to fully and permanently restore the surplus equipment programs that benefit Oklahoma counties, school districts and rural fire departments.


"This is great news for our rural firefighters who do so much to protect our communities from wildfires and severe weather," said Sanders, R-Kingfisher. "I knew that when the idea of ending the programs was thrown out, it would be disastrous for our volunteer fire departments. Now that Sen. Inhofe and others have brought the Department of Defense to its senses, fire departments will no longer be in such a bind."


On July 2, the DOD announced that it would suspend the programs that allowed for the transfer of federal surplus equipment to state and local agencies because the equipment did not meet current emissions regulations set by the EPA. On July 9, the DOD and EPA reached an agreement that would allow local fire and law enforcement agencies to continue receiving the equipment but would require the DOD to retain title of the equipment.


On Wednesday, the DOD announced that it would fully and permanently restore the programs and allow for the state and local agencies to obtain and maintain the titles for the equipment.

Click here to read how this program has helped rural Fire Departments in Oklahoma. 

Study Finds Animal Feed Carrying Deadly Pig Virus

Researchers think they are one step closer in finding what has caused of a deadly pig virus to kill more than eight million pigs in the US. Reuters reports that infected feed may be to blame. In a study, feed was collected by researchers at three different hogs farms in Iowa and Minnesota that had outbreaks of the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv) and had received feed from the same source. The feed was fed to five piglets in a experiment at South Dakota State University and all piglets became infected with the virus. Piglets that were not fed the feed did not become infected.


The lead author of the study and Director of Research for Pipestone Veterinary Clinic in Minnesota Scott Dee told Reuters that this study validated that the virus was in the feed. But the study didn't find how feed became infected with PEDv. There are many speculations that the virus have come from feed ingredients contaminated with the virus or it became contaminated in other ways.


With this latest information researchers continue to look for ways to control outbreaks. National Swine Board Vice President of Science and Technology Paul Sundberg said this latest development shows that farmers ask feed suppliers about their bio-security practices being used to prevent contamination. The next step in the investigative process will be a thorough review of the feed handling system from how feed is handled, mixed, and delivered. Click Here to read more as the battle against PEDv continues.  

New Website Showcases Soil Renaissance Work of Noble Foundation and Others

Stakeholders interested in being part of the Soil Renaissance can now do so electronically via a new website by clicking here.


"The new website is a tool for people involved in the Soil Renaissance to stay up-to-date on the work of our four focus groups, as well as a great way for people new to this vital effort to learn what we're all about," says Project Coordinator Brook Gaskamp.


Launched on World Soil Day 2013, the Soil Renaissance brings attention to the critical role of healthy soils in vibrant natural resources systems. The project is a collaboration of Farm Foundation, NFP and the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation.


The Soil Renaissance Strategic Plan, which is available on the new website, defines objectives and strategies for work in four areas: measurement of soil health; the economics of soil health; research needs and priorities; and education. Updated information will be posted on the new website as the focus groups work in their respective areas, or as events are scheduled.

To learn more about the Soil Renaissance collaboration and website, click here.  

USMEF Hosts Congressional Delegation from Mexico

This past week the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) hosted a congressional delegation from Mexico for a firsthand look at U.S. meat production. The three visiting legislators are members of the lower house of the Mexican Congress, where all three serve on the Livestock Committee - including the committee's president, Salvador Barajas, who is from the state of Jalisco. Other Congressmen attending were Dario Badillo of Hidalgo and Raudel López of Aguascalientes.


A top official from Mexico's Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA), Coordinator of Livestock Development Francisco Gurria, was also included in the delegation. USMEF staff members accompanying the group were Chad Russell, regional director for Mexico, Central America and the Dominican Republic, Dr. Nelson Huerta, director of technical services for USMEF-Mexico, and Cheyenne Dixon, manager of technical services in Denver.


"USMEF was pleased to have the opportunity to host such an influential group," said Russell. "At both a legislative and regulatory level, these are people directly involved in shaping livestock policy in Mexico."

During their time in Colorado the trade delegation team from Mexico toured several facilities, click here to read more about their tour.  

Beef Demand Index Up Substantially Despite High Prices

Tight supplies of cattle in the US has given the industry high cattle prices, but also record high retail beef prices. Despite the higher cost, the consumer appetite for US beef remains remarkably strong. Kansas State University Extension Livestock Market Economist Dr. Glynn Tonsor has released his latest beef demand quarterly index. The latest report for April - June show the numbers would suggest that high prices have not kept consumers away from beef with the beef demand index up six to seven percent depending on the category.


"The all fresh beef demand, which is the broadest, was up six point seven percent compared to the second quarter of 2013," Tonsor said. "That is the largest year over year increase we have had since the end of 2004."


That year was in the midst of the Atkins diet craze that pushed more Americans to eat more protein. Tonsor said this time he doesn't think the Atkins diet or any other fad is driving the current demand strength.


"In general we know we have fewer pounds being offered to the consumer, that's because we are producing less," Tonsor said. "...but what's underneath that large year over year increase in demand...is that the price that the public has been willing to pay for those fewer pounds has exceeded most of our expectations." 

Click Here to read or to listen to Friday's Beef Buzz with Tonsor with his outlook for the beef industry.  

Pro Farmer Midwest Crop Tour Underway Today- Leslie Smith Reporting from Western Leg of Tour 

Our own Leslie Smith is participating again in the Pro Farmer Midwest Crop Tour for 2014- she has been on the tour in previous years while working for the Rural Radio Group in Nebraska as the official representative for the National Association of Farm Broadcasting on the western leg.

Smith has a preview of the 2014 tour for us this morning- we have featured that in a story found on our website as our Top Ag Story of the morning.  

She features comments with Chip Floury of Pro Farmer who says he never tries to prejudge what crop scouts may see- but still it's hard not to this year with the USDA predicting this past week a 14 billion bushel corn crop that actually was a number considered too low by most crop analysts.  

Tap here for her opening report that comes from the starting line of the western leg of the tour in South Dakota.  And- you can follow her comments throughout the day on Twitter- her handle is RuralLeslie.