031017 Pork Month Celebrates Iowa's Contribution

October is Pork Month and in Iowa the industry "brings home the bacon" for more than 86,000 people.

Curtis Meier, Clarinda resident and Iowa Pork Producers Association President said the rural areas of the state are especially affected.

He said in addition to hog production, thousands of Iowans are employed in other pork-related jobs: transportation, veterinarians, pork processors, researchers and consultants among them.

"Iowa's first farmers realized the value of raising livestock in the state," Meier said, noting the agricultural climate provides ready access to feed.

The state accounts for 25% of U.S. pork, with about 25 million hogs marketed annually.

In addition to providing an income for Iowa families, hog production also brings some of that "bacon" to local communities. According to Iowa State University researchers, for every pig produced, $2.75 in local taxes is generated from revenues associated with raising it.

In addition to the pork industry's impact on the United States, exports are also on the upswing. Over 727,000 metric tons of pork products were sent to foreign countries last year, up 3.4% from 2001. Adair resident Sam Carney, chairman of the Pork Producers foreign market development committee said it was the 11th consecutive year export volumes increased.

Meier said packaging processes and good pork plant hygiene have allowed Iowa pork to remain competitively priced in foreign markets. "Pork from Iowa can be shipped as fresh chilled pork by ocean freight to Japan," he said. "Chilled pork has a shelf life that allows it to be served as fresh pork on the dinner tables of Japanese consumers," Meier added, noting that Japan is our #1 foreign market.

According to the U.S. Meat Export Federation, products from one of every 12 hogs are exported.

Iowans and Iowa pork producers have a special reason to celebrate Pork Month. Whether you are munching mushu pork in Clarinda or sweet and sour pork in Tokyo, chances are that hog was raised right here.

RETURN TO HOME PAGE

E-mail: sflanagan@sprintmail.com