Ballots for the Saskatchewan Pork Development Board's 2007 board of directors elections are now on their way to the province's pork producers.

Nine candidates, including four current directors, are running for six seats.

Sask Pork general manager Neil Ketilson says the industry faces several key challenges including record hog numbers going though U.S. plants pushing prices lower, increased transportation costs due to the loss of processing capacity within the province and high feed costs.

Neil Ketilson-Saskatchewan Pork Development Board

We're very fortunate this year in having nine producers that have put their name forward for six positions on the board so there's a great deal of interest in actually seeking a spot on the board.

We think that's a very positive thing.

I think the industry as well as the producers out there, even though they're going through very difficult times, know and understand that to be involved and to put their thoughts forward and help us plan for the long term and be part of the development of a slaughter facility here in Saskatchewan is critical to the long term health of the industry here, as well as all the other critical issues that are going on in terms of the on farm food safety programs, the traceability system that's being developed, the animal welfare kinds of issues.

All those kinds of things are important to people and obviously there's a number of our producers that want to be involved in the industry and want to be involved in our organization to help it move forward.

Producers have until November 2 to return their ballots and election results will be announced publicly in mid-November during Saskatchewan Pork Symposium 2007.