U.S. pork industry cancels convention over African swine fever fears

[April 11, 2019]  By Tom Polansek

CHICAGO (Reuters) - The U.S. pork industry canceled its annual convention on Wednesday over concerns that international attendees could bring in an incurable hog disease at a time when American farmers are already suffering from trade wars.

The decision to scrap the World Pork Expo, held by the National Pork Producers Council in Des Moines each June, signals growing fears about the spread of African swine fever in Asia. The event usually attracts about 20,000 people over three days, including visitors from China and other countries that have experienced outbreaks of the disease, according to the group.

China, home to the world's largest hog herd, has reported more than 110 cases of African swine fever since it was first detected in the country in August 2018. There is no cure and no vaccine for the disease, which does not affect humans but is highly contagious and fatal to pigs.

The Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health said on Wednesday that South Africa detected an outbreak of African swine fever, which has also been found in Vietnam and Europe.

American farmers, meat companies and government officials want to keep the disease out of the United States because cases would likely shut off export markets.

"The health of the U.S. swine herd is paramount," said David Herring, president of the National Pork Producers Council and a farmer from Lillington, North Carolina. "The livelihoods of our producers depend on it."

The U.S. government has increased screenings for illegal pork products at airports and sea ports and cracked down on smuggling in an effort to keep out African swine fever.

U.S. pork producers are asking Congress to appropriate funding for another 600 U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture inspectors, according to the National Pork Producers Council.

American hog farmers have been under pressure over the past year from U.S. President Donald Trump's trade disputes with China and Mexico, two top U.S. pork export markets.

U.S. pork faces retaliatory duties of 62 percent in China and up to 20 percent in Mexico, reducing demand and contributing to a mountain of unsold meat in cold storage.

The tariffs influenced the National Pork Producers Council's decision to cancel the annual convention, sometimes referred to as the "big pig gig," according to the group.

"U.S. pork producers are already operating in very challenging financial conditions," Herring said.

(Reporting by Tom Polansek; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

[© 2019 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2019 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.