World Pork Expo

Chances are anyone who has attended a swine show at the Illinois State Fair and other Midwest shows in the last five decades has seen a Miller family member showing their entries.

The date is stamped indelibly on many pork producers’ minds now: May 11, 2023. In a 5-4 decision on that day, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to uphold California’s Proposition 12 ballot initiative.

What the hot topic of conversation will be is obvious — the May 11 Supreme Court decision upholding the 2018 California ballot initiative, Proposition 12.

Maintaining and enhancing current export markets and working to open a few more are among the top items on the “to-do” list for Maria Zieba, vice president of international affairs for the National Pork Producers Council.

If one sentence proved the need to listen to Liz Wagstrom, it was the matter-of-fact statement from Dermot Hayes, just an hour earlier and a few buildings away from where Wagstrom spoke.

How do you challenge a state law that could have major impacts to the U.S. pork industry as a whole? A case — or a court — at a time, according to the general counsel for the National Pork Producers Council.

Pork exports are a point of concern for the U.S. pork industry, according to an industry analyst. “We’ve temporarily lost our competitive position in world pork markets. Fewer pigs are coming to the markets and there’s less available,” said Dermot Hayes, professor of economics.

From foreign animal disease outbreaks to carbon markets and sustainability, speakers at the 2022 World Pork Expo will address all the tough topics facing the global pork industry.

As he retires from the job of CEO of the National Pork Producers Council, Neil Dierks is looking forward to the next chapter.

In less than a month, pork producers from around the globe will gather, along with swine industry experts, product vendors and others, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds for the 2021 World Pork Expo.