Ag Secretary Vilsack provided our nations pork producers with some much needed good news when he announced that the USDA would purchases up to $30 million dollars of pork products which will be used for various food programs. The Ag Secretary also said he is encouraging other federal agencies to look at pork as a first option in its food needs. The Secretary added that his agency is aggressively seeking out new markets for U.S. Pork products , while working to increase our market share in countries like China.

U.S. pork producers had requested the secretary purchase an additional $50
million dollars in pork products to help bolster their faltering markets. And although the secretary actions did not reach that goal they all voiced satisfaction that some action was taken. Since the fall of 2007 very few pork producers have been working in the black, since for the past 23 months U.S. pork producers have been losing on average $21 on each hog they market.