05/07/08 IPPA looking to build its membership

The Idaho Pork Producers Association isn't a large group and it's an industry that is small compared to Idaho's other commodities. THORNTON "There's a few people producing commercially raising pigs for some packers and then there's a smaller industry of the show pig, fair pig type of producers that are doing that mostly for kids that are showing their pigs at the fair." Idaho will never be on the pork production levels of Iowa or North Carolina but that hasn't stopped farmers like Ada County's Brad Thornton from joining the association. THORNTON "Certainly like to grow it and looking for all types of operations whether they're just a small back yard operation or whether they're a little bigger." The pork industry in Idaho brought in five million dollars in cash receipts in 2006. Thornton says dues to join the Idaho Pork Producers Association are only ten dollars per year. THORNTON "There's a lot of education materials that are available not only through our association but from the national organization. So they can get information on how to raise pigs and different opportunities and that and if they have questions, they can promotions and things that we do." Any pork producers interested in joining the Idaho association can call the office in Kuna at 898-0454 for more information. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott