The President of the Nebraska Pork Producers Association says producers today are facing worse market conditions than they did even in 1998.
“2023 has been financially (challenging) for most pork producers,” said Mark Wright, President of the Nebraska Pork Producers Association. “We had market conditions well below breakeven…People always talk about 1998 and how bad it was. Unfortunately, 2023 has been worse.
Wright tells the Rural Radio Network that Nebraska pork producers are now looking into different inputs to make operations more profitable. Pork organizations are also working to increase demand.
The challenges over the past year, according to Wright included demand, ballot initiatives, and a large pig herd.
The ballot initiatives most notable included Proposition 12 in California. In May, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that California could proceed with an initiative that prohibits the strict confinement of breeding pigs.
By the start of 2024, all breeding swine farms will need a certification for buyers and pork distributors to sell pork to the California market.
California represents 15% of the U.S. pork market and must import a majority of its pork products.
Asked if Nebraska pork producers are working to comply with the California rules, Wright says it is a business decision that farmers are having to make.
