ohio’s hog farms suffering from misnaming of H1N1 virus
Last month, the World Health the harm that has been done to the pork ardy and many farms may be forced into all pork consumption has fallen since the
Organization (WHO) raised its alert level industry from the poor initial and contin- bankruptcy if this crisis continues.” virus was found, Isler said.
for H1N1 influenza to Phase 6, declaring ued naming of the virus as “swine flu.” The virus has not been found in any “Hog farmers are suffering huge
the first influenza pandemic of the 21st “The negative effect of the incorrect U.S. pigs, and groups like the CDC and financial losses, which increase every
century, as the virus continued to spread association of the influenza virus to hog U.S. Department of Homeland Security time the virus is incorrectly called the
around the globe. It is the first flu pandem- farms has been devastating to our industry have called for the virus to be named by its ‘swine flu,’” he said. “Since the virus was
ic declared by WHO since 1968, when a in terms of sales, exports and overall pork strain, H1N1. Despite the fact that health found, average industry losses have
strain known as Hong Kong flu broke out. consumption,” said Dick Isler, executive and food experts alike have definitively increased by $10 per hog due to the mis-
The WHO declaration met with concern vice president, Ohio Pork Producers stated that people cannot be exposed to understanding about the relationship
among Ohio’s pork producers because of Council. “Ohio’s hog farmers are in jeop- this virus from eating pork products, over- between pork and the virus.”
A report from the Congressional
Research Service has found that misnaming
the H1N1 influenza outbreak could cost the
U.S. pork industry up to $400 million in the
next few months. The National Pork
Producers Council has predicted that the
potential doubling of financial losses from
the effect of the virus could cause enough
hog farmers to go out of business to reduce
the overall pork population by 5%.
“Ohio’s 4,100 hog farmers remain com-
mitted to producing safe, wholesome,
high-quality pork for customers and being
vigilant in protecting the health and well-
being of our herds,” Isler said.
Trade bans triggered by viruses and dis-
eases such as H1N1 will continue to
impede cash flow that U.S. protein proces-
sors would otherwise enjoy from export
markets, possibly impairing their credit
profiles, according to a report released by
Fitch Ratings. Lagging international
demand for U.S. proteins is causing inven-
tory surpluses and a significant reduction
in pricing, the report noted.
This caused Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa),
chairman of the Senate Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, to call
on U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk,
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to
take more assertive action to lift unfound-
ed and damaging trade barriers. 
“With all the hardship facing U.S. pork
producers, it is high time to ratchet up our
case pressing nations that are unjustifiably
refusing U.S. pork imports, especially
China and Russia. If they persist in these
bans, we must move to apply more formal
diplomatic or trade sanctions against
them,” Harkin said.
As of mid June, 15 countries were still
blocking U.S. pork products.
To offset some of the lost demand, a
Farmersville, Ohio Kirtland, OhioApple Creek, Ohio
Maysville elevator Brubaker Grain kirtland Feed co., inc.
group of U.S. pork producers had pro-
& chemical
posed a Producer Retirement Program to
440-256-1891330-695-4413
cull excess sows from the industry, similar
800-328-6564 to the dairy industry’s Cooperatives
Minford, OhioBreman, Ohio
Rushcreek Feed & supply co,
Working Together effort. However, initial
Ft. Recovery, Ohio scioto valley Farm supply
inc. Big k Feed Mills, inc
plans failed due to a lack of participation.
. 740-820-8601
According to Chuck Wirtz of
Whittemore, Iowa, chairman of the board419-375-4578740-569-4105
Nova, Ohio
of directors of the Producer Retirement
Greenville, Ohio Nova Farmers supply, inc.Bucyrus, Ohio
Program, “Market conditions have
West side Feed service, inc. keller Grain & Feed 419-652-3200
changed dramatically for the worse for
www
the pork industry in the past few
.kellergrain.com419-562-6806
Seaman, Ohio
months. Unfortunately, since this group
Harrod, Ohio W.c. Milling LLcCaldwell, Ohio
of pork producers began work designing
Jones Feed county Line Ag service 937-386-2282 the PRP, most producers with sows are
no longer in a financial position to sup-
419-648-3277740-732-4135
Shelby, Ohio
port the program.”
Houston, Ohio Walnut Hills FeedsCedarville, Ohio
The Producer Retirement Program was
kent’s Feed Barn the Farmers elevator co 419-342-2942 designed to supplement the cull price that
members would otherwise receive for their
937-295-2369937-766-5570
Westville, Ohio
sows if they decided to exit all or a portion
Jackson, Ohio Westville Grain companyDresden, Ohio
of their production for a two-year period.
Dresden Feed & supply circle M Farms Feed & supply
The retirement program was dependent on937-653-4224
a sufficient number of pork producers with
740-988-3455740-754-2391
sows signing up and paying a $20 per sow
subscription.
28 Livestock • Ohio’s Country Journal • July 2009
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