US pork producers prepare to tackle 2013 National Pork Board Budget

Plans in the budget include a “refresh” and “reposition” of pork’s image, which the NPB hopes will increase both domestic and international consumer demand. Plans will also work towards ways to enable US pork producers to remain highly competitive on a long-term global basis.

Revenue projections from Pork Checkoff – the NPB’s official website – will allow the board to establish a budget target of $67m, which the NPB said is around 5% below this year’s budget. Forecasts of revenue for 2013 are predicted to be lower in 2013 because hog price projections are lower than they were this year.

NPB president Conley Nelson said that the drought will have a big effect on the budget. He said: “We expect to see relatively good market prices for our pigs, but the drought has significantly depleted the corn and soybean crops that are the foundation of hog diets. As a result, we’re going to have feed and other costs that will make it difficult for most producers to be profitable in 2013.”