050411 Pork Industry Seeing A Big Jump In Profits

Hog producers in Kansas and across the country are seeing a big jump in profits amid a rise in overseas sales.

University of Missouri agricultural economist Glenn Grimes says the industry sold 20.5 billion pounds of pork last year -- a record.

Exports jumped nearly 30% by weight and 35% by value.

Pork Producers Council consultant Steve Meyer says the reason for overseas gains is two-fold.

First, many countries have banned US beef over mad cow disease concerns and are looking to pork instead.

And second, the weak American dollar has made domestic pork cheaper than that sold by Canada and Europe.

That's all very good news for hog producers, including Shawnee Mission's Seaboard Corporation, which reported large jumps in sales and profits last year.

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