The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) board of directors took a proactive, precautionary stance to help protect U.S. livestock herds from any threat of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) by canceling World Pork Expo.
The industry's largest single event, slated for June 7-9 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, was expected to draw 40,000 pork producers and consumers plus about 2,000 international visitors from 60 countries.
“We have seen tremendous devastation in countries around the world from foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks,” commented NPPC President Barb Determan. “The U.S. has been free of FMD since 1929 and we don't want to take any risk of a possible outbreak potentially spread through the hosting of World Pork Expo.”
Producers have several options to gather new product information and educational materials.
For details about seminars, products and services normally featured at World Pork Expo, check NPPC's Web site, www.nppc.org. Proceedings for P.O.R.K. Academy, traditionally held the day before World Pork Expo, will be available on CD-ROM. Contact NPPC at (800) 456-7675 or see its Web site.
National Hog Farmer also has developed two opportunities for World Pork Expo exhibitors to introduce their products in the absence of the event.
Our June issue will feature a special insert, the National Hog Farmer Product Showcase, where exhibitors can feature the products and services they intended to display. Producers can request additional information about products by using a special Circle Reply Card number assigned to each company. And, the Product Showcase listings will be placed on our Web site, www.nationalhogfarmer.com, where the online trade show will allow producers to take a virtual, electronic tour of exhibitors' products and services. Clicking the hyperlink on the company listing will transport producers directly to the company Web site for additional product information.
And, National Hog Farmer editors will convene a panel of industry experts to screen and critically review the new products and services introduced this past year. Our panel will gather at a central location to make their final selections of the “Most Promising New Products,” and their choices will be featured in the July 15 issue.