ASF Hot Topic at National Pork Industry Forum

This past week, hog producers from across the nation were in Kansas City, Missouri, for the National Pork Industry Forum.

And one of those in attendance was John Rouzer, a hog producer from Toston, Montana, who said a big issue up for discussion this year was African Swine Fever or ASF.

"Yes, African swine fever is probably the most prevalent right now" said Rouser. "A year ago, we were working on a vaccine bank for foot and mouth disease. We got that pushed through Congress. So, we're working on that. But African Swine Fever is probably the most prevalent right at the present. And just making sure that we get our export markets back in place. The trade agreements that have been negotiated through, we just have to make sure that we get pork into the countries that we need to."

The U.S. pork industry is doing exactly that with U.S. pork exports post a new volume as well as value records last year reaching nearly $7 billion.

In fact, last year, exports were actually 10 percent more than 2018 in terms of volume and 9 percent higher in terms of value.