The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) deserves praise for tackling the high-profile pork smuggling saga, but broader government action is still needed to solve the overall issue.

Barbecued pork loin with Sriracha sauce, brown rice with dill and amaranth, leaf lettuce and tomato salad with homemade salad dressing.

Farmscape for November 1, 2024

The Communications and Marketing Coordinator with Sask Pork says the 47th edition of Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium will provide an opportunity for pork producers to learn the latest in research and technology development, to interact with government officials and industry leaders and to network.
The Saskatchewan Pork Development Board's Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium 2024 is scheduled for Saskatoon Tuesday and Wednesday.
Sask Pork Communications and Marketing Coordinator Steve Seto says the symposium focusses on fostering an environment that supports sustainability, efficiency and profitability.

Quote-Steve Seto-Saskatchewan Pork Development Board:
The symposium is our annual event where many of our producers come to Saskatoon for two days.
It does give our producers a great opportunity to talk with industry leaders.
Water quality is probably going to be a big one, just making sure that the water quality up to par.
The changes to the Code of practice with the Canadian pork Council will probably be discussed.
Funding and government grants, I assume will be a big talking point between producers and some of the government officials that will be there.
Always trying to make things more sustainable and efficient and helping our producers be profitable is kind of our main goal every year, making sure the industry is very strong going forward.
Those are going to be some of the key highlights but it's also a great opportunity to just talk and network not only with other producers but industry leaders.
We've been doing it now for 47 years and it's a really good opportunity for people to come together.

Anyone interested in learning more about or registering for Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium 2024 can do so through the Sask Pork website at saskpork.com.
For more visit Farmscape.Ca.
Bruce Cochrane.

       *Farmscape is produced on behalf of North America’s pork producers

Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium Audio Special for November 7, 2024

Ken Engele, the Manager of Knowledge Transfer with the Prairie Swine Centre, discusses “Taking Care of Basics-Measuring On-Farm Best Management Practices.”
Runs 6:31
https://fsaudio.farmscape.com/2024/11/engele-241105.mp3

Dr. Temple Grandin, an Animal Science Professor with Colorado State University, facilitates “A Discussion on Pig Handling and Welfare.”
Runs 13:08
https://fsaudio.farmscape.com/2024/11/grandin-241105.mp3

Dr. Martyna Lagoda, a Post Doctoral Fellow with the University of Saskatchewan, discusses “Advancing swine welfare practices to empower your industry: Outcomes and future directions from the NSERC Chair in Swine Welfare.”
Runs 8:00
https://fsaudio.farmscape.com/2024/11/lagoda-241105.mp3

Dr. Raj Sharma, a Post Doctoral Research Fellow with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln “Enhancing the future of pork production with new technology.”
Runs 10:25
https://fsaudio.farmscape.com/2024/11/sharma-241105.mp3

Dr. Brad Chappell, the Director of Veterinary Services with Topigs Norsvin Canada, discusses “Biosecurity-Back to Basics.”
Runs 5:01
https://fsaudio.farmscape.com/2024/11/chappell-241105.mp3

Dr. Bobbie Lundquist, the Emergency Preparedness Director with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, discusses “ASF Preparedness,, Zoning and Zoning Arrangements.”
Runs 9:08
https://fsaudio.farmscape.com/2024/11/lundquist-241105.mp3

Stephen Heckbert, the Executive Director of the Canadian Pork Council, discusses “Changes to Canada’s Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs.”
Runs 9:54
https://fsaudio.farmscape.com/2024/11/heckbert-241106.mp3

Kevin Grier, with Kevin Grier Marketing and Consulting, discusses “the Competitive Status of the Canadian Pork Industry.”
Runs 5:07
https://fsaudio.farmscape.com/2024/11/grier-241106.mp3

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, a professor with Dalhousie University, discusses “Navigating the Maze: Agri-Food Trends and their Impact on the Pork Industry.”
Runs 9:14
https://fsaudio.farmscape.com/2024/11/charlebois-241106.mp3

       *Farmscape is produced on behalf of North America’s pork producers

Farmscape for November 8, 2024

The Swine Health Information Center is inviting pork sector stakeholders to provide their input into its annual plan or work planning process.
Each year, as part of its mission to protect and enhance the health of the U.S. swine herd by minimising the impact of emerging disease threats, the Swine Health Information Center reevaluates its activities and research priorities.
SHIC Executive Director Dr. Megan Niederwerder says stakeholders are invited to provide their input to help identify the greatest needs, the greatest emerging disease risks and where activities should be focussed in 2025.

Quote-Dr. Megan Niederwerder-Swine Health Information Center:
Our five strategic priorities are to improve swine health information, to monitor and mitigate risk to swine health, to respond to emerging diseases, to conduct surveillance and discovery of emerging diseases and then to prioritise swine disease risk through our disease matrices.
We look at those five strategic priorities, we start to look at allocation of budget and resources then we have a series of stakeholder meetings that occur throughout the fall.
This includes pork producers, veterinary diagnosticians, swine health researchers, pork producer state organizations, swine veterinarians and other industry stakeholders that can help us to identify those emerging disease risks and priorities that should be included on the 2025 plan.
After the conclusion of the stakeholder listening sessions, we take those research priorities and ideas that have been generated to the two Swine Health Information Center working groups.
This working groups assist us in helping to prioritise each of the research topics with regards to how they help us to build a SHIC mission.
We then take those prioritised ideas and research objectives to the SHIC Board of Directors who help review and revise and ultimately approve the plan of work for the upcoming year.

Dr. Niederwerder says the goal is publish the plan by the end of the year to inform stakeholders of upcoming activities and outline research priorities to enable researchers to submit proposals to address those priorities.
To provide feedback visit swinehealth.org.
For more visit Farmscape.Ca.
Bruce Cochrane.

       *Farmscape is produced on behalf of North America’s pork producers

Farmscape for November 12, 2024

A Guelph based hog market analyst is forecasting a modest increase in Canadian pork production in 2025 and higher prices.
“The Competitive Status of the Canadian Pork Industry,” was the topic of a keynote address last week at Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium 2024 in Saskatoon.
Kevin Grier, with Kevin Grier Market Analysis and Consulting, says Canada is the sixth largest pork producer in the world but the fourth largest exporter so, as the old saying goes, it punches above its weight.

Quote-Kevin Grier-Kevin Grier Market Analysis and Consulting:
In terms of the outlook for 2025 I'm expecting, based on the last Hogs and Pigs Report, to have a modest increase in production in 2025.
We have less beef because of where we are at in the cattle cycle and we're going to have less beef next year and the year after that so pork should be able to make competitive gains in the meat case or on the menu at restaurants so, in some respects, the pork industry is probably hoping that pork can gain market share at the expense of beef.
We still will be aggressive exporters and I'm hoping to see, for the sake of the industry, improved demand in 2025 because of the beef situation so we should have more production.
But, probably and hopefully for the sake of producers, we should see an increased price in 2025 compared to 2024.
Again, part of our keys is the fact that we are a low-cost producer at the farm level.
According to data from InterPIG, Canada is always among the lowest cost producers in the world, a little bit higher cost than Brazil or the United States, but always right there among the most competitive in terms of producer production costs.
We may not be a low-cost producer at the packer level but we compete in other ways, through increased quality specifications, service, that sort of thing so from the farm to the packer we are competitive industry and that's how we compete, on costs but also on service and quality.

Grier invites any interested to contact him at kevingrier.com to request a three-month trial subscription to his Canadian Pork Market Report.
For more visit Farmscape.Ca.
Bruce Cochrane.

       *Farmscape is produced on behalf of North America’s pork producers

San Diego — A U.S. Department of Agriculture proposal to remove maximum line speeds in pork-processing plants “will translate into even more illness and injury” among workers, according to the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health.

Washington — The U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General is investigating the effectiveness and integrity of USDA’s procedures to develop and advance a controversial proposed rule that would remove maximum line speeds in pork-processing plants, according to a letter obtained by multiple media outlets.

Washington — More than 3 out of 5 Americans are against a U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed rule to remove maximum line speeds in pork-processing plants, according to the results of a recent survey.

Washington — A controversial U.S. Department of Agriculture final rule unveiled Sept. 17 removes maximum line speeds in pork-processing plants and transfers certain inspection responsibilities to plant workers.

Minneapolis — A coalition consisting of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, three local affiliate unions and watchdog group Public Citizen is suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture over a controversial final rule that removes maximum line speeds in pork-processing plants and transfers certain inspection responsibilities to plant workers.

Washington — The U.S. Department of Agriculture “did not take adequate steps to determine whether the worker safety data it used … were reliable” when proposing a controversial rule that removes line speeds in pork-processing plants and transfers certain inspection responsibilities to plant workers, the USDA Office of Inspector General concludes in a report released June 25.

Minneapolis — The U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota upheld a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture on March 31, ruling that a controversial final rule that removes line speeds in pork-processing plants and transfers certain inspection responsibilities to plant workers compromises worker health and consumer welfare.

Washington — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has indicated it will accept a March ruling of the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota that prohibits the removal of maximum line speeds in pork-processing plants.

Washington — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service, in collaboration with OSHA, will allow select pork-processing facilities – on a trial basis – to operate at increased line speeds for up to one year while gathering data that “measures the impact of line speed on workers.”

Washington — A trial that allows select pork-processing facilities to operate at increased line speeds will continue, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service says.

Washington — The U.S. Department of Agriculture used flawed worker injury data to advance its controversial proposal to remove maximum line speeds in pork-processing plants, according to the National Employment Law Project, an advocacy group.

Washington — The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it’s extending a trial of faster line speeds at select pork-processing facilities so it can design a study to assess worker safety.

Washington — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has again extended a trial of faster line speeds at select pork-processing facilities, saying it’s continuing to study the effect on worker safety.

The inspiration for the recipe came courtesy of team member Feng Walkup, an international account manager of the fresh meat category at Hormel Foods and a 24-year veteran of the company. Walkup has been preparing and enjoying sweet garlic ginger pork for years, as the recipe has long been a family staple. 

In addition to an already robust portfolio of cuts and flavors, including the recently added Nashville Hot pork loin filet, the new Hatch Chile tenderloin underscores Prairie Fresh’s commitment to quality, innovation and providing consumers with the best taste and flavor profiles possible.  

Producing more than 1.4 billion pounds of pork and turkey annually, the Prestage Farms family of companies employs more than 2,700 associates and is affiliated with more than 470 farm families across the U.S.

Southern Recipe Small Batch is rereleasing its Cranberry Jalapeno and Apple Cinnamon pork rind flavors for the holidays.

Pork rinds are probably the most misunderstood item in the snack category. This is surprising, because people have been eating pork rinds—also called pork skins—as long as they have been eating pigs. One of the world’s first snack foods created thousands of years ago, and favored in the southern states, pork rinds are a simple combination of fried pork skins and salt.

We made this a few nights ago and it kicked ass.

Special guest Anil Dash joins the show. Topics include the 25th anniversary of Windows 95, and the parallels between the cyber era of computing and today’s App Store controversies.

Lomo saltado: Esta receta está llena de exquisitos sabores y texturas que le harán la boca agua a toda la familia. Ingredientes: lomo de cerdo picado en tiras, saltado con papas blancas, pimiento amarillo, pimiento Cubanelle y tomates.

Holiday Pork Loin: Nothing says Christmas like a traditional recipe that brings the family closer with a flavor-filled celebration of aromas, textures, ingredients and, of course, pork. Ingredients: pork loin roast, oranges, garlic, chipotle chilies...

Inspirate a Dar

When a restaurant owner from Chennai made space in her suitcase for Khasi delicacies, smoked meats, and some local liquor

Vehicles sit in a near empty parking lot outside the Tyson Foods plant in Waterloo, Iowa, on May 1.; Credit: Charlie Neibergall/AP

A meat-packing plant in Waterloo, Iowa, where a coronavirus outbreak exploded a few weeks ago, resumed operations on Thursday after a two-week closure.

The reopening of Tyson Foods' largest U.S. pork plant came the same day that health officials in Black Hawk County, where the plant is located, announced that 1,031 of the plant's estimated 2,800 employees have tested positive for the virus. That's higher than previous estimates by state officials.

Tony Thompson, sheriff of Black Hawk County, was among the public officials who called for the Waterloo facility to shut down temporarily. His call to close the plant came after he first toured the facility on April 10.

Thompson says that when he toured the plant then, he "fully expected" to see barriers, masks and other personal protective equipment in place. That wasn't the case.

"What I saw when we went into that plant was an absolute free-for-all," he says. "Some people were wearing bandannas. Some people were wearing surgical masks. .... Most people weren't wearing anything. People working on the line were working elbow to elbow, sometimes reaching over each other, processing the meat that was coming down the line.

"There was absolutely no opportunity for social distancing," he says. "We left the plant thinking, 'oh, my gosh, we've got a huge problem here.'"

Health officials say 90% of the cases of coronavirus in the county are linked to the Tyson facility.

During the closure, Tyson installed clear plastic mats to divide workstations and hand sanitizing stations. The plant has also instituted temperature checks and provides workers with surgical masks when they arrive and when they leave.

After touring the facility last week, Thompson is in cautious support of the reopening, saying he feels "reserved encouragement" after seeing the new safety measures.

If, however, the outbreak continues at this facility, Thompson says he would support a second shutdown.

Thompson's primary focus is on the safety and security of the roughly 131,000 citizens of Black Hawk County — and he says he feels especially responsible for the Tyson workers.

"We like our bacon, but we don't want to think about how it's actually done. When you got a carcass hanging there, bleeding on the floor, you don't want to think about that ... a byproduct of that is the people that actually do that work," he says.

"Unfortunately, these are oftentimes marginalized citizens because they are refugees, because they don't speak English, because they do a job that not many people want to do," he continues. "So there's something inherent there that was not right that I hope that they have corrected. And I'll hold my breath and pray that that is true. If it's not, we'll back up, regroup and go at this again."

Listen to the full interview with NPR's Ailsa Chang at the audio link above.

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Moose lasagna, a hot seller at European stores operated by the world-dominating purveyor of flat-pack furnishings, is found to contain trace amounts of pork.

Cajun spices and a vinegar-based coleslaw put a little zing in this pulled pork recipe that's delicious with or without barbecue sauce.

A meat-packing plant in Waterloo, Iowa, where a coronavirus outbreak exploded a few weeks ago, resumed operations on Thursday after a two-week closure. The reopening of Tyson Foods' largest U.S. pork plant came the same day that health officials in Black Hawk County, where the plant is located, announced that 1,031 of the plant's estimated 2,800 employees have tested positive for the virus. That's higher than previous estimates by state officials. Tony Thompson, sheriff of Black Hawk County, was among the public officials who called for the Waterloo facility to shut down temporarily. His call to close the plant came after he first toured the facility on April 10. Thompson says that when he toured the plant then, he "fully expected" to see barriers, masks and other personal protective equipment in place. That wasn't the case. "What I saw when we went into that plant was an absolute free-for-all," he says. "Some people were wearing bandannas. Some people were wearing surgical masks. ....

A meat-packing plant in Waterloo, Iowa, where a coronavirus outbreak exploded a few weeks ago, resumed operations on Thursday after a two-week closure. The reopening of Tyson Foods' largest U.S. pork plant came the same day that health officials in Black Hawk County, where the plant is located, announced that 1,031 of the plant's estimated 2,800 employees have tested positive for the virus. That's higher than previous estimates by state officials. Tony Thompson, sheriff of Black Hawk County, was among the public officials who called for the Waterloo facility to shut down temporarily. His call to close the plant came after he first toured the facility on April 10. Thompson says that when he toured the plant then, he "fully expected" to see barriers, masks and other personal protective equipment in place. That wasn't the case. "What I saw when we went into that plant was an absolute free-for-all," he says. "Some people were wearing bandannas. Some people were wearing surgical masks. ....

A meat-packing plant in Waterloo, Iowa, where a coronavirus outbreak exploded a few weeks ago, resumed operations on Thursday after a two-week closure. The reopening of Tyson Foods' largest U.S. pork plant came the same day that health officials in Black Hawk County, where the plant is located, announced that 1,031 of the plant's estimated 2,800 employees have tested positive for the virus. That's higher than previous estimates by state officials. Tony Thompson, sheriff of Black Hawk County, was among the public officials who called for the Waterloo facility to shut down temporarily. His call to close the plant came after he first toured the facility on April 10. Thompson says that when he toured the plant then, he "fully expected" to see barriers, masks and other personal protective equipment in place. That wasn't the case. "What I saw when we went into that plant was an absolute free-for-all," he says. "Some people were wearing bandannas. Some people were wearing surgical masks. ....

Sara Porkalob, Seattle-based playwright, director, activist and more, is off to Broadway — but before she goes, she shared what she’s been reading and rereading lately.

Sara Porkalob, Seattle-based playwright, director, activist and more, is off to Broadway — but before she goes, she shared what she’s been reading and rereading lately.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Tyson Foods suspended operations Wednesday at an Iowa plant that is critical to the nation’s pork supply but was blamed for fueling a massive coronavirus outbreak in the region. The Arkansas-based company said the closure of the plant in Waterloo would deny a vital market to hog farmers and further […]

The Tyson Foods plant in Waterloo, Iowa, reopened Thursday after a coronavirus outbreak there. Black Hawk County Sheriff Tony Thompson says he'd support a second shutdown if the changes aren't enough.

The green hills of south-west Victoria couldn't be further from the latest outbreak of the highly contagious viral disease African swine fever (ASF) in Timor-Leste, but pork producer Xavier Meade isn't taking any chances.

Far north Queensland's largest and oldest piggery is closing after 49 years, impacted by drought, cheap imports, and rising costs as the agricultural profile of the area changes.

Pig producers in New South Wales battle a combination of factors that have seen up to 80 per cent of them selling all their pigs and leaving the industry.

As the United States faces meat shortages in the wake of the coronavirus, exports of pork and other proteins to China have soared.

Our air fryer pork stuffing meatballs are the perfect holiday main course or appetizer. Juicy ground pork and stuffing seasonings come together to create these absolutely scrumptious air fryer meatballs! I’d like to thank The Ohio Pork Council for sponsoring this recipe. Air Fryer Pork Stuffing Meatballs Recipe Friends, do I have a holiday-blockbuster recipe […]

The post Air Fryer Pork Stuffing Meatballs appeared first on Dear Crissy.

The Tyson Foods plant in Waterloo, Iowa, reopened Thursday after a coronavirus outbreak there. Black Hawk County Sheriff Tony Thompson says he'd support a second shutdown if the changes aren't enough.

oscon: RT @mmmpork: If you're going to #oscon and you're into #perl check out my talk on contributing http://t.co/HEJaPF5JbY

This recipe was featured on Foodie Tuesday, a weekly segment with Raf Epstein on Drive, 774 ABC Melbourne, 3:30 PM, courtesy of Neil Perry. Neil's new book is "Spice Temple."