Robert Pore's Ag Blog

Friday, May 2, 2008

USDA purchases surplus pork

“The American Farm Bureau Federation is pleased with the Agriculture Department’s announcement this week that it will purchase up to $50 million of pork products for child nutrition and other domestic food assistance programs," said Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

AFBF, along with the National Pork Producers Council, requested this action last month in response to continued low prices for pork and live hogs, which have resulted in financial distress to many producers.

“Prices for live market hogs have plunged to levels not seen in nearly a decade. Experts have predicted that 2008 will likely be the worst financial year for pork producers in modern history. USDA’s help could not come at a more critical time," Stallman said.

“This procurement program offers two important benefits: it helps farmers facing record-low pork prices, while at the same time providing healthy, nutritious protein to their fellow citizens who are in need. It's a win-win for producers and the public.”

Earlier this month, Gov. Dave Heineman sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer requesting assistance for Nebraska’s livestock and poultry industries, which have been severely impacted by the growing cost of feed grains.

In his letter the Governor wrote, “Due mainly to the large increase in feed grain prices, our pork producers currently are losing from $40 to $50 a head, and our beef, turkey and processed egg products sectors are faced with similar circumstances. Many are losing equity and some are having difficulty securing operating financing.”

The Governor requested that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) consider making funding known as Section 32 funds available for the purchase of pork, beef and turkey meat, as well as processed egg products. Section 32 funds have been used in the past to purchase surplus commodities from the marketplace to help align supply and demand.

“We recognize the difficult circumstances livestock and poultry producers are facing in the current market," said Nebraska Agriculture Director Greg Ibach. "Good prices for corn, soybeans and wheat are very exciting for farmers with grain operations. They’re experiencing unprecedented market opportunities. However, rising prices have created very real problems for our animal agriculture sector. We hope USDA will respond positively to our request.”

Heineman said that we know that some loss cannot be avoided, "But we hope that if approved, these Section 32 purchases would influence the marketplace and give producers time to adjust their business plans to account for the changing cost of feed.”

posted by Robert Pore  # 5/02/2008

Archives

Jun 15, 2006   Jun 19, 2006   Jun 20, 2006   Jun 22, 2006   Jun 23, 2006   Jul 7, 2006   Jul 10, 2006   Jul 12, 2006   Jul 14, 2006   Jul 17, 2006   Jul 21, 2006   Jul 25, 2006   Jul 26, 2006   Jul 27, 2006   Jul 28, 2006   Jul 31, 2006   Aug 2, 2006   Aug 3, 2006   Aug 7, 2006   Aug 9, 2006   Aug 10, 2006   Aug 15, 2006   Aug 21, 2006   Aug 22, 2006   Aug 25, 2006   Aug 28, 2006   Aug 29, 2006   Aug 30, 2006   Aug 31, 2006   Sep 1, 2006   Sep 5, 2006   Sep 6, 2006   Sep 7, 2006   Sep 13, 2006   Sep 20, 2006   Sep 22, 2006   Sep 25, 2006   Sep 26, 2006   Oct 2, 2006   Oct 3, 2006   Oct 4, 2006   Oct 5, 2006   Oct 12, 2006   Oct 16, 2006   Oct 18, 2006   Oct 19, 2006   Oct 20, 2006   Oct 24, 2006   Oct 25, 2006   Oct 27, 2006   Oct 30, 2006   Oct 31, 2006   Nov 1, 2006   Nov 2, 2006   Nov 7, 2006   Nov 8, 2006   Nov 9, 2006   Nov 10, 2006   Nov 13, 2006   Nov 14, 2006   Nov 16, 2006   Nov 17, 2006   Nov 20, 2006   Nov 24, 2006   Nov 28, 2006   Nov 29, 2006   Dec 1, 2006   Dec 6, 2006   Dec 7, 2006   Dec 8, 2006   Dec 11, 2006   Dec 12, 2006   Dec 20, 2006   Dec 21, 2006   Dec 22, 2006   Jan 3, 2007   Jan 8, 2007   Jan 9, 2007   Jan 10, 2007   Jan 11, 2007   Jan 16, 2007   Jan 17, 2007   Jan 18, 2007   Jan 19, 2007   Jan 23, 2007   Jan 24, 2007   Jan 25, 2007   Jan 29, 2007   Jan 30, 2007   Feb 2, 2007   Feb 6, 2007   Feb 7, 2007   Feb 8, 2007   Feb 9, 2007   Feb 12, 2007   Feb 14, 2007   Feb 21, 2007   Feb 27, 2007   Mar 3, 2007   Mar 5, 2007   Mar 6, 2007   Mar 7, 2007   Mar 8, 2007   Mar 12, 2007   Mar 13, 2007   Mar 15, 2007   Mar 16, 2007   Mar 19, 2007   Mar 20, 2007   Mar 21, 2007   Mar 22, 2007   Mar 23, 2007   Apr 3, 2007   Apr 4, 2007   Apr 5, 2007   Apr 6, 2007   Apr 9, 2007   Apr 10, 2007   Apr 11, 2007   Apr 12, 2007   Apr 13, 2007   Apr 16, 2007   Apr 17, 2007   Apr 18, 2007   Apr 19, 2007   Apr 20, 2007   Apr 23, 2007   Apr 24, 2007   Apr 26, 2007   Apr 27, 2007   Apr 30, 2007   May 1, 2007   May 2, 2007   May 3, 2007   May 4, 2007   May 7, 2007   May 8, 2007   May 10, 2007   May 11, 2007   May 14, 2007   May 15, 2007   May 17, 2007   May 21, 2007   May 22, 2007   May 23, 2007   May 24, 2007   May 25, 2007   May 29, 2007   May 30, 2007   May 31, 2007   Jun 1, 2007   Jun 4, 2007   Jun 5, 2007   Jun 6, 2007   Jun 7, 2007   Jun 8, 2007   Jun 11, 2007   Jun 13, 2007   Jun 14, 2007   Jun 17, 2007   Jun 18, 2007   Jun 19, 2007   Jun 20, 2007   Jun 21, 2007   Jun 22, 2007   Jun 25, 2007   Jun 26, 2007   Jun 27, 2007   Jun 28, 2007   Jun 29, 2007   Jun 30, 2007   Jul 1, 2007   Jul 2, 2007   Jul 3, 2007   Jul 5, 2007   Jul 6, 2007   Jul 9, 2007   Jul 10, 2007   Jul 12, 2007   Jul 13, 2007   Jul 16, 2007   Jul 17, 2007   Jul 18, 2007   Jul 19, 2007   Jul 20, 2007   Jul 23, 2007   Jul 24, 2007   Jul 25, 2007   Jul 26, 2007   Jul 30, 2007   Jul 31, 2007   Aug 1, 2007   Aug 2, 2007   Aug 3, 2007   Aug 6, 2007   Aug 7, 2007   Aug 8, 2007   Aug 9, 2007   Aug 10, 2007   Aug 13, 2007   Aug 14, 2007   Aug 15, 2007   Aug 16, 2007   Aug 17, 2007   Aug 20, 2007   Aug 21, 2007   Aug 22, 2007   Aug 23, 2007   Aug 24, 2007   Aug 27, 2007   Aug 28, 2007   Aug 29, 2007   Aug 30, 2007   Aug 31, 2007   Sep 3, 2007   Sep 4, 2007   Sep 5, 2007   Sep 6, 2007   Sep 10, 2007   Sep 11, 2007   Sep 12, 2007   Sep 13, 2007   Sep 16, 2007   Sep 17, 2007   Sep 18, 2007   Sep 19, 2007   Sep 20, 2007   Sep 21, 2007   Oct 2, 2007   Oct 3, 2007   Oct 4, 2007   Oct 5, 2007   Oct 8, 2007   Oct 9, 2007   Oct 10, 2007   Oct 11, 2007   Oct 12, 2007   Oct 15, 2007   Oct 17, 2007   Oct 18, 2007   Oct 20, 2007   Oct 21, 2007   Oct 22, 2007   Oct 23, 2007   Oct 24, 2007   Oct 25, 2007   Oct 26, 2007   Oct 27, 2007   Oct 28, 2007   Oct 29, 2007   Oct 30, 2007   Oct 31, 2007   Nov 1, 2007   Nov 2, 2007   Nov 5, 2007   Nov 6, 2007   Nov 7, 2007   Nov 8, 2007   Nov 9, 2007   Nov 12, 2007   Nov 13, 2007   Nov 14, 2007   Nov 15, 2007   Nov 16, 2007   Nov 17, 2007   Nov 18, 2007   Nov 19, 2007   Nov 20, 2007   Nov 21, 2007   Nov 23, 2007   Nov 26, 2007   Nov 27, 2007   Nov 28, 2007   Nov 29, 2007   Nov 30, 2007   Dec 2, 2007   Dec 3, 2007   Dec 4, 2007   Dec 5, 2007   Dec 6, 2007   Dec 7, 2007   Dec 11, 2007   Dec 13, 2007   Dec 16, 2007   Dec 19, 2007   Dec 26, 2007   Dec 31, 2007   Jan 2, 2008   Jan 3, 2008   Jan 4, 2008   Jan 7, 2008   Jan 8, 2008   Jan 14, 2008   Jan 15, 2008   Jan 16, 2008   Jan 17, 2008   Jan 18, 2008   Jan 19, 2008   Jan 21, 2008   Jan 22, 2008   Jan 23, 2008   Jan 24, 2008   Jan 25, 2008   Jan 27, 2008   Jan 28, 2008   Jan 29, 2008   Jan 30, 2008   Jan 31, 2008   Feb 2, 2008   Feb 4, 2008   Feb 5, 2008   Feb 6, 2008   Feb 7, 2008   Feb 8, 2008   Feb 10, 2008   Feb 12, 2008   Feb 13, 2008   Feb 14, 2008   Feb 15, 2008   Feb 17, 2008   Feb 18, 2008   Feb 19, 2008   Feb 20, 2008   Feb 21, 2008   Feb 22, 2008   Feb 25, 2008   Feb 26, 2008   Feb 27, 2008   Feb 28, 2008   Feb 29, 2008   Mar 3, 2008   Mar 4, 2008   Mar 6, 2008   Mar 10, 2008   Mar 11, 2008   Mar 13, 2008   Mar 14, 2008   Mar 15, 2008   Mar 17, 2008   Mar 18, 2008   Mar 19, 2008   Mar 20, 2008   Mar 24, 2008   Mar 25, 2008   Mar 26, 2008   Mar 27, 2008   Mar 28, 2008   Mar 31, 2008   Apr 1, 2008   Apr 2, 2008   Apr 3, 2008   Apr 8, 2008   Apr 9, 2008   Apr 10, 2008   Apr 11, 2008   Apr 12, 2008   Apr 14, 2008   Apr 15, 2008   Apr 16, 2008   Apr 17, 2008   Apr 18, 2008   Apr 21, 2008   Apr 22, 2008   Apr 23, 2008   Apr 24, 2008   Apr 25, 2008   Apr 28, 2008   Apr 29, 2008   Apr 30, 2008   May 1, 2008   May 2, 2008   May 5, 2008   May 6, 2008   May 7, 2008   May 8, 2008  

Subscribe to Posts [Atom]