Direct Line Keeping Our Members Informed kpa@kspork.org • www.kspork.org
Volume XXVIII
2601 Farm Bureau Road • Manhattan, KS 66502 • (785) 776-0442
Pork Producers Disagree with USDA Assistance for Ethanol Plants At a recent press conference, US Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schaffer, said that USDA is planning on making loan guarantees available to struggling ethanol plants who had locked in high prices for corn this past summer. NPPC, KPA and many individual pork producers provided comments to the Secretary condemning any effort to protect ethanol producers from their own business decisions. Comments from the groups point out that livestock producers have had to compete in the same marketplace for corn without governmental protection for their business decisions.
KPA Supports effort against Proposition 2 in California The KPA Executive Board recently voted to financially support the efforts of Californians for SAFE Food, a coalition of public health and food safety experts, labor unions, consumers, family farmers and veterinarians, who are leading the charge against Proposition 2, a ballot measure that places mandates on how egg-laying hens are housed. The measure also includes provisions affecting housing requirements for veal calves and pregnant pigs. The group recently unveiled its second television ad urging Californians to vote “NO” on Proposition 2, the ‘Standards for Confining Farm Animals Initiative.’ In recent days, 25 leading Californial newspapers have come out against Proposition 2.
Midwest Living Pork Promotion The Pork Checkoff is teaming up with state pork organizations across the Heartland this fall to showcase pork in Midwest Living magazine. Partnerships with Kansas, Iowa,, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and South Dakota are investing in a “Pork and Jeans” print advertisement in the November/December 2008 issue of Midwest Living magazine, which covers 12 states and boasts a circulation of 950,000. Also, throughout October the Pork Checkoff received a paid Web site sponsorship on the bottom of the Midwest Living homepage. An online slideshow featuring a variety of pork dishes will link to TheOtherWhiteMeat.com, where consumers can found pork recipes, cooking tips and more. Additionally, a Midwest Living e-newsletter sponsorship will promote pork to the 50,000 subscribers who opt-in to the service.
Pork and Soybean Producers working The Pork and Soybean Checkoff Image Campaign is providing positive messages about the pork and soybean industries to audiences in the target areas of Brown, Nemaha, Washington, Clay, Montgomery, Mitchell, Geary and Norton counties. The campaign will cover the counties during the month of October and November with the theme, “Together, we raise the community’s standard of living.” Newspaper, billboards and radio ads are promoting consumer and producer awareness about the positive impact of pork and soybean producers in their cities.
November 2008
Regional
seminar to explore new lending solutions for pork producers
The Kansas Pork Association, the Missouri Pork Association, the Nebraska Pork Producers Association, the Iowa Pork Producers Association, the National Pork Board and National Pork Producers Council are teaming up to host a one-day education seminar for agriculture lenders December 11, in St. Joseph, Mo. The goal of this conference is to give lenders an overview of the current situation in the pork industry and educate them on how they can better serve their pork producing clients. Several industry experts have been enlisted to present at the seminar. The speakers include Mike Laughery of the National Pork Board, Economist Steve Meyer of Paragon Economics , The National Pork Board’s John Green, Tom Clark of CME Group and National Pork Producer Council representative Dallas Hockman. For more information or to register, you can contact Sharlotte Peterson at the National Pork Board at (800) 456-PORK or at speterson@pork. org. The conference will be Thursday, December 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Stoney Creek Inn at 1201 Woodbine Road, St. Joseph, MO 64506.
K
- State
Swine Day
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m Technology Trade Show
MORNING PROGRAM – Master of Ceremonies – Pat Murphy, Assistant Director of Extension
9:45 a.m. Welcome – Dr. Ken Odde, Department Head, Animal Sciences and Industry 10:00 a.m. Update on Current K-State Swine Research to Help Improve Net Return of a Swine Business- K-State Swine Team will discuss practical application of the latest production research and present breakthroughs in some novel new areas. 11:00 a.m. Feed vs Fuel – What Will Be the New Trends for Corn and Soybean Meal Pricing? Dr. Ron Plain, University of Missouri 12:00 noon LUNCH - With Trade Show
AFTERNOON PROGRAM - Master of Ceremonies – Pat Murphy, Assistant Director of Extension
1:30 p.m. Update on Current K-State Swine Research to Help Improve Net Return of a Swine Business- Continued by K-State Swine Team 2:00 p.m. What Can We Expect for Pork Prices for 2009 and Beyond Dr. Ron Plain, University of Missouri 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. Open House for the New K-State Finishing Facility and Pork Tailgate Party-View the new finishing facility at the KSU Swine Teaching and Research Center and enjoy some K-State hospitality Join us on Thursday, November 15, 2007a the KSU Alumni Center Pre-registation $15 per participant by November 10, 2008; $25 per participant at the door. No charge for students if pre-registered
Direct Line Keeping Our Members Informed