News

Top priorities for pork producers

Market availability, vaccination of packing plant workers and ASF prevention are top of mind for pork producers this year.

Newly elected President of the Illinois Pork Producers Association Alan Kollmann tells Brownfield market availability was a big discussion topic at their recent expo and annual meeting considering disruptions from the pandemic.

“It makes sense that we needed to revisit that whiles it is fresh in our mind so we can take the necessary steps in the future and if it ever happens again, we know what to do.”

He says they are also working to ensure packing plant workers have the opportunity to be vaccinated as soon as possible.

“They are a very viral piece of the equation of our industry. Those people need to feel comfortable and safe when they attend their positions on the packing floors.”

Kollmann says they are not stepping back on African Swine Fever prevention either.

“We need to make sure our federal government keeps the right people in the right places to ensure we have our borders protected. That goes all the way to the airports and through customs.”

And he tells Brownfield at the state level, he is excited to help continue and expand the Pork Power donation program for 2021.

“That has been a very influential program for our association. We have donated over 922,000 pounds of pork to local food banks ranging all the way from Chicago to St. Louis. It just tells the story of how generous pork producers are.”

Kollmann and his family run a 1,000 head feeder to finish farm in Altamont, the south central region of Illinois. These topics were discussed at the recent virtual Illinois Pork Expo.