Pork producers across the nation are proud to be producing more pork than ever before with less inputs. Swine production uses 25% less water than 20 years ago.
AV Roth, Wisconsin Pork Producer shares more about what pork producers are working through and trends in the industry, but first he talks about his farm development.
Almost four years in the making, Roth now has all of the permits needed to expand his herd with a new facility. This new building, located in Crawford County, would hold 5,000 sows, doubling his total herd. While this facility will improve his operation, it doesn’t come easily. The expansion has added more than twenty percent inflation from when he started working on the plan for it.
Roth takes many precautions to remain environmentally friendly. He tracks every gallon of manure that leaves his farm, where it goes, when it was sprayed, what the weather was like, field conditions and much more. He also works with the DNR to ensure he is paying attention to slope runoff and being a good steward of the land.
When it comes to pork producers across the country, Roth says that the National Pork Producers Council is working hard to support farmers.
“The council is looking at the borders and trying to get workers here on visas,” says Roth. “Out of the 40,000 people that come over on visas, half of them go to dairy farms.”
Along with improving the labor force, another issue pork producers are facing is trade. The National Pork Producers Council is working to eliminate tariffs and non tariff barriers so that producers aren’t having to rely on only the larger markets and can take advantage of the smaller markets as well.
“Proposition 12 out of California is also something that is affecting us pork producers here in Wisconsin. Prop 12 is allowing California to decide how I raise my animals, the type of pen I use, and any decision making I need to make,” explains Roth.
The proposition is headed to the Supreme Court this fall and Roth along with many other pork producers are watching closely as it is affecting how they have to raise their animals in order to be able to sell in California.
“I’m hoping that this allows us to go back to where there is free trade among our states period. There should not be one state telling another state this is how you have to raise your animals,” adds Roth.
These are just a few of the topics that the National Pork Producers council and Wisconsin pork producers have on their mind right now. You can learn more about the work they’re doing on these issues here.
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