The board earlier this year identified five critical issues it will address during 2010 with resources from the Pork Checkoff. Those issues are: increasing consumer expenditures for pork; improving the trust and image of the production pork industry; developing human capital; safeguarding export opportunities; improving the competitiveness of the US pork industry.

On Thursday, the board will identify some specific objectives it expects to achieve during the year to address the critical issues. Once the objectives are identified, producer-led committees will meet during the summer to create tactics and plans to achieve the specific objectives. The tactics will be part of a 2010 budget that the board will approve in November.

Also Thursday, the board will review the industry's response to the recent H1N1 flu outbreak and discuss next steps.