Pork Producers Point No Fingers
Posted: June 9, 2008
With feed costs representing 70 percent of the price of raising hogs, there is no doubt that pork producers are feeling the pinch of high grain prices. But, producers are recognizing the fact that it is more than just ethanol production driving up the prices.
“This is not specifically an ethanol problem,” said National Pork Producers Council president Bryan Black. “The world demand for grain, the total energy price crisis and shortages of grain across the world have led to this situation and we are not pointing the finger at any one particular one.”
The NPPC has created a brand new task force to look at new feed alternatives to help them deal with the rising cost of corn and soybean meal, which have been the primary source of feed for hogs. In addition, USDA’s move to free up some Conservation Reserve Program acreage to haying and grazing should help by increasing the amount of feed available to the livestock industry.