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Diversifying export markets adds value to US pork
The National Pork Board continues to invest checkoff dollars in diversifying US pork export markets and producers are seeing the benefits.
Courtney Knupp, vice president of international market development, says exports added more than $60 per head last year. “We’ve been able to penetrate in markets outside of China,” she says. “That’s critically important so we’re not reliant on one single market, even though the Chinese market continues to be successful and fruitful for US pork.”
Knupp says the National Pork Board worked to differentiate US pork in six key markets, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Canada, China and Hong Kong, and sustainability, communication, and quality consistency were areas where US pork stood out among its competitors.
Bill Luckey, a pork producer from Nebraska says with 25 to 30 percent of US pork being exported, it’s crucial to take steps to differentiate their product. He tells Brownfield producers can do that by requesting a free on-farm sustainability report.
“Producers can have a report done on their operation to show how sustainable they are and how they’ve been making improvements over the years,” he says. “This is very important, not only for our local markets but also for our export market. Our export partners also want to see that we’re sustainable and doing the right thing.”
Lucky says AgView is another tool for producers to use, it’s a free opt-in technology solution that makes disease traceback and pig movement data available to animal health officials. He says AgView can assist in rapidly containing or regionalizing a foreign animal disease outbreak, helping protect and maintain export markets.
US pork exports have grown significantly since 2010, and have risen more than 50% in volume and 60% in value.
AUDIO: Courtney Knupp and Bill Luckey
