National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) President Jon Caspers says
the release of Australia’s final risk assessment on pork imports
moves the NPPC very close to supporting the recently approved
U.S.-Australian Free Trade Agreement.
“Unfortunately, the Australian government is recommending that
U.S. pork imports be restricted because of concerns about the
transmissibility of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome
(PRRS) and postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) through
imported pork to Australian hogs,” says Caspers. “The risk
assessment limits the U.S. to the Australian market for processed pork
or unprocessed pork for further processing in Australia. We are not
being permitted to sell unprocessed U.S. pork to the Australian
consumer.”
The U.S. should have complete access to the Australian market
because there is no significant risk of spread of PRRS and PMWS from
imported pork to domestic livestock.
There was a lot to be positive about in the pork industry the last week of October. I realize it is difficult to be optimistic when you are still losing $25 to $30/head. I also realize that positive news at this point could be as dangerous as it is welcome. But facts are facts, and we must recognize them.
...
As I begin this week's column, I"m reminded of two different "flip side" statements that may help characterize the topic at hand. The first is the old Archie Campbell schtick - "That's good - no that’s bad," which I have used before. The second reflects President Truman's frustration with economists' incessant use of the qualifier - "on the other hand" - to introduce the contrary opinion on a given topic. President Truman once demanded in his usual colorful language: "Will someone please find me a *!&%$*?>
