Following the welcome address by Rich Daegener, Executive Director of Iowa Pork Producers, an update on current US export activities and markets was given by Becca Hendricks, AVP of International Marketing for the US National Pork Board.

She said that last year, the US overtook the European Union to become the top exporter of pig meat in the world. Exports accounted for 27 per cent of total production.

Export volume in 2012 was up slightly at 4.987 billion pounds but the value was up 3.5 per cent from 2011 at $6.3 billion.

First quarter exports have been adversely impacted by trade disputes and were down 11 per cent in value and 12 per cent in volume from the same period last year.

Laurie Hueneke, Director of International Trade Policy at the National Pork Producers Council, gave a review of market access and policy issues, including scientific barriers to trade, and the session was rounded off with a report on the utilisation of pork variety meats and by-products in foreign markets by Professor Dermot Hayes of Iowa State University.