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PEDV still threatens pork producers

It’s a tough time for some in the pork business as disease threats continue to take their toll.

Dale Norton, past president of the National Pork Board, farms in a partnership with his brother, son and nephew on the Michigan/Indiana boarder. He says two outbreaks of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus have them on high alert this spring.  “For us, unfortunately, we have been PED two times—both in March in the two previous years—and right now we’re on pins and needs, we don’t know how we got it and we’re just trying to be excessively careful.”

He says during that time he had contracted to protect his bottom-line and missed some opportunity.  “We were always concerned about protecting the bottom of the price instead of allowing for the top to go higher and so the last two years have been pretty tough for us in the pig business.”

Norton spoke with Brownfield during the recent Michigan Pork Symposium.

AUDIO: Interview with Dale Norton