Direct Line Keeping Our Members Informed kpa@kspork.org • www.kspork.org
Volume XXVIII
2601 Farm Bureau Road • Manhattan, KS 66502 • (785) 776-0442
Public Notice by Kansas Pork Producers Council and the National Pork Board The election of pork producer delegate candidates for the 2010 National Pork Producers (Pork Act) Delegate Body will take place at 1:00 p.m., Monday, July 13, 2009, in conjunction with a Board of Directors meeting of the Kansas Pork Producers Council at the Wendell Moyer Office Building, 2601 Farm Bureau Road, Manhattan, KS 66502. All Kansas pork producers are invited to attend. Any producer, who is a resident of the state and has paid all assessments due may be considered as a delegate candidate and/ or participate in the election. All eligible producers are encouraged to bring with them a sales receipt proving that hogs were sold in their name and the checkoff deducted. For more information, contact Kansas Pork Producers Council, 2601 Farm Bureau Road, Manhattan, KS, telephone 785/776-0442.
Annual Swine Operator Certification Training
Kansas law requires each operator of swine facilities with an animal unit capacity of 1,000 or more to obtain a Swine Facility Operator Certificate. Certificates are issued for a period of 5 years. Operators whose certificates have expired or will expire in 2009 will need to attend the training. Each non-certified operator of a swine facility with 1,000 animal units or more must contact KDHE within 30 days of assuming responsibility of an existing swine facility or upon initial start-up of a new swine facility. The non-certified operator will be designated as an “Operator in Training.” The “Operator in Training” will become certified within one year of notifying KDHE. Three operator certification classes are being offered for 2009: 1. Tuesday, August 4, from 8:30 to 3:30 at the Clarion Inn, 1911 E Kansas Ave., Garden City 2. Wednesday, August 5, from 8:30 to 3:30 at the Sternberg Museum, 3000 Sternberg Dr., Hays 3. Tuesday, August 11 from 8:30 to 3:30 at the KS Army National Guard Armory, 721 Levee Dr., Manhattan For an application or for questions about the training contact Robert Gavin at 785-296-5557.
June 2009
Sow Retirement Program
A new program announced at World Pork Expo will attempt to reduce the U.S. sow herd. The program was developed by a group of U.S. pork producers and has been named the Producer Retirement Program (PRP). The program is a voluntary, self-funded program for producers who own sow herds. The program will supplement the cull price that the participants would otherwise receive for the sows to be retired. To participate, a producer would have to pay into the PRP in the amount of $20 per sow. The PRP will use those “membership” payments to create a fund that will be used to help compensate producers for sows that they commit to cull. Under the program, producers would have to submit bids outlining their herd retirement proposal, which must include leaving the sow facilities empty for two years. Once a bid is accepted, there will be an on-farm assessment. The selected producers would receive 70 percent of their payment upon liquidation of the sows, they would receive 15 percent of the value one year later, and the last 15 percent at the end of the second year. The group hopes to raise $50 million for the program and would like to see 5 percent of the U.S. sow herd retire.
Regional Exercise to Improve States’ Preparedness for Disaster and Terrorism Response
The states of Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska (FEMA Region VII) are participating in an exercise this month involving disasters and terrorist attacks in the Midwest including the introduction of a foreign animal disease in Kansas and Iowa as well as various emergency response situations in both states. Tim Stroda, President/CEO of Kansas Pork Association will be representing the Kansas pork producers. The exercise, called Vigilant Guard 09, is a National Guard exercise, which involves local, state and federal emergency response partners. The portion of the exercise involving the simulated introduction of foreign animal disease (FAD) occurs in Iowa the week of June 8. Then on June 18, the State Emergency Operation Center (SEOC) in Topeka will activate to address FAD as the exercise scenario moves the disease into Kansas. Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, Director of Kansas Division of Emergency Management and Kansas Adjutant General, said the exercise will provide the state an opportunity to test planned response to foreign animal disease and a variety of disasters. “The threat
Direct Line Keeping Our Members Informed
of foreign animal disease and the possibility of multiple, simultaneous large-scale disasters in the Midwest, whether natural or man made, are an unfortunate part of our world today.”
2009 Pork Industry Survey
Help your producer boards make decisions on projects for 2010 by filling out a short on-line survey. The boards will utilize the direction you provide as they create the KPA and KPPC budgets for next year. All segments of the industry are encouraged to participate, but please take the survey before Monday, July 6. If you would rather fill out a paper survey, please contact the KPA office at 888-776-0442. Participants who provide their name and address will receive a $15 gift card to buy pork at their local retailer as a thank you. Your name will not be linked to your answers on the survey.
Pork Advertising Heard Statewide
Radio listeners across the state heard pork advertising during the last 2 weeks. The 30- second spot aired a total of 1115 times on 41 stations. The message encouraged consumers to eat pork because it is a versatile and high quality product.