Indiana

Indiana Pork Makes Headlines with Two Outreach Programs

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 15:38:00 GMT

Indiana Pork Announces Taste of Elegance Winners

Indianapolis chef Collin Hilton of Chef de Cuisine at Cunningham Restaurant Group took home the top award at the Taste of Elegance held on Feb. 4 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis. The premier chef’s competition, hosted by Indiana Pork, is a culinary event designed to inspire innovative and exciting ways to serve pork.

“Each year, the Taste of Elegance competition brings talented chefs together to compete in the prestigious event created to encourage chefs to use pork more frequently in creative, non-traditional ways. The event attracts over 400 pig farmers, lawmakers, ag industry leaders, and dignitaries to downtown Indianapolis for an evening of elegance and celebration,” Indiana Pork said in a release.

Chef Hilton’s winning dish featured a buckwheat dumpling stuffed with braised pork, anchovy and charred cabbage, and served with a bacon fat chili crisp. He was honored with a check for $1,000 from Indiana Pork and an automatic entry into the 2025 World Food Championships.

“Chef Hilton is no stranger to food competitions,” Jeanette Merritt, director of communications of Indiana Pork, said in a release. “Chef has a great understanding of how to make pork taste delicious and design a plate that is appealing to the judges. His dish was an outstanding example of well-prepared pork!”

The 2025 Indiana Taste of Elegance featured some of the state’s top chefs, including:

Chef Michael Gomez — Gomez Catering and Events, Indianapolis
Chef Darrelle Soper, Executive Chef, Holy Family Shelter, Indianapolis
Chef Chefski Laskowski, personal chef
Chef Ross Katz, RHB Enterprises, Indianapolis
Chef Dave White – Great White Smoke, Solsberry
Chef Scott Cramer - Crystal Signature Events @ Indiana Roof Ballroom
Chef Ian Stricklin - Stricklin Catering & Productions, Indianapolis
Chef Steven Amore, personal chef, Indianapolis
Chef Collin Hilton – Cunningham Restaurant Group, Indianapolis
Chef Marcus Daniel – Bridgeport, Fort Wayne
Chef Cole Padgett, Taxman Brewing, Fortville
Chef Alex Robertson, private chef, Fort Wayne
Chef Daniel Keiner, The Hulman at Hotel Indy, Indianapolis

Other winning chefs from the night include:

Superior Chef Award (2nd place): Marcus Daniel
Premium Chef Award (3rd place): Dave White
Wine Pairing Award: Daniel Kiener
People’s Choice Award — Favorite Entrée: Cole Padgett
People’s Choice Award — Favorite Display: Cole Padgett
People’s Choice Award — Favorite Wine: Acres Away Winery

Million Meals Program Rebrands to Hoosier Hogs to Homes
The Million Meals program, a long-standing partnership between Feeding Indiana’s Hungry and Indiana Pork, has provided invaluable support to communities across Indiana by combating food insecurity. Indiana Pork announced the program is undergoing a transformation. Effective immediately, the initiative will be rebranded as Hoosier Hogs to Homes, signaling a renewed focus and expanded mission to put more ground pork in food pantries across the state, Indiana Pork said in a release.

Indiana pig farmers have donated more than 1.6 million ground pork meals to Hoosiers through this partnership since 2009.

“One of our We Care Principles, the standards that guide our pig farmers in their day-to-day operation, is to serve our community in meaningful ways,” Merritt said in a release. “By transitioning to Hoosier Hogs to Homes, we’re continuing our commitment to providing ground pork to food pantries across the state.”

Farmers, community members, and businesses are encouraged to join the Hoosier Hogs to Homes effort through monetary donations or donations of ground pork to your favorite food pantry. Visit this link for more information.

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Porkstars USA Brings Vietnamese Cuisine and U.S. Farmers Together

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 20:32:58 GMT

It’s one thing to read about it, but it’s another thing to travel across the ocean and experience it for yourself. That’s why Jackie Ponder, an Indiana farmer who raises pigs, corn and soybeans, decided to join the Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Corn Marketing Council’s trade mission to Vietnam in September which focused on the benefits of U.S. pork and high oleic soybean cooking oil.

“I think it’s important for producers to be involved in these trade missions,” Ponder says. “There’s no doubt we hear a lot of great presentations from the National Pork Producers Council and National Pork Board about international markets. But it’s another thing to go over and see what the competition is like. How is our pork being presented? How important is pork to this country?”

Understanding how important pork is to Vietnam and to their diets opened her eyes to the value her investments have on export opportunities. Ponder, a member of the NPPC Strategic Investment Program (SIP) and Long-Range Strategic Planning Committee, is interested in helping legislators and producers understand key pork issues.

“We all know the dollars and cents benefit of exports – it’s a big chunk of the money we get per pig,” Ponder says. “I know the National Pork Board has been doing a really good job and working very hard on increasing domestic consumer demand. But there’s only so many people in the U.S. and even if we increase consumption, we’re not going to match what we could get with increased exports. I see investment not just in the National Pork Board, but also in the National Pork Producers Council critically important for me as a producer because it matters how much I can sell my pigs for.”

Al Wulfekuhle shows U.S. products on display in Vietnam’s Porkstars showcase.

(National Pork Board)

While in Vietnam on a USDA trade mission, the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) brought together representatives from the National Pork Board as well as the Indiana Soybean Alliance and Corn Marketing Council delegation to continue building relationships in the Vietnamese market.

Over the past several years, Vietnam’s domestic pork industry has been hampered by outbreaks of African swine fever, which have created new opportunities for imported pork demand.

“This is a great case where it’s important to be present, to be brand ambassadors for U.S. pork and our other commodities,” says Courtney Knupp, National Pork Board vice president of international market development. “It was one of the largest trade missions for the USDA. We’re talking all commodities, which shows a full court press of U.S. agriculture, the interest in the region and in Vietnam, especially a country where we have such historical ties, which has led to relationship building for decades.”

Why Vietnam?
Vietnam is a growing country with a growing middle class, explains Al Wulfekuhle, an Iowa pig farmer and president of the National Pork Board. Both the change in culture and modernization of the country are important factors to consider now, he adds.

“We’re in this for the long game, but there are some major hurdles to increasing short-term demand because of the culture shift,” he says.

They met with Vietnam’s chief veterinarian officer who shared that in the peak of African swine fever, they lost 6 million pigs in 2019 and the number to date in 2024 is 64,000 pigs.

“Between biosecurity and the vaccine working very well, their production is coming roaring back,” Wulfekuhle says. “Their reliability in exports isn’t as much as it was even a year or two ago. But I believe the U.S. needs to be in Vietnam, building trust and developing long-term relationships. I think there’s a huge opportunity for long-term demand.”

Knupp says there are many opportunities for value-added and premium product placement in Vietnam. For example, the U.S. is successfully exporting pork spareribs. They are also seeing some really unique partnerships in food service with Korean barbecue using U.S. pork hearts.

“It’s a great way to continue to maximize our carcass. We want to make sure we’re selling every part of the pig at the highest value every day,” Knupp says.

As an Indiana soybean grower, Chris Eck says Vietnam is an important country to be in now. He says most of the soybeans produced in Indiana are run through livestock so when exports increase, the demand for Indiana soybeans and corn increases. That’s why their state has stepped up to the plate to help promote pork in Vietnam through their Porkstars USA showcase, now in its third year.

Porkstars USA brings together three well-known chefs in Vietnam with three young social media influencers who each have close to a million or more followers.

(Amie Simpson)

Porkstars USA brought together three well-known chefs in Vietnam with three young social media influencers who each have close to a million or more followers. The teams included the Northern Team with influencer Vu Gia Bao and chef Le Xuan Tam . The Central Team included influencer Phan Ngan Ha and chef Dinh Son Truc . The Southern Team was made up of influencer Ong Chu Nguoi Bong and chef Cam Thien Lon .

“The younger generation in Vietnam is very focused on healthy eating and these influencers represented that segment,” Ponder says. “The cooking pairs were given U.S. pork spareribs and asked to come up with an appetizer and a main dish in a live cooking competition.”

Ponder, Eck, Knupp and Wulfekuhle served as four of the judges in the showcase.

“They just outdid themselves, showing how versatile pork is,” Ponder adds. “They did things I had not seen done before in the U.S. It was delicious, but the presentation was just over the top. Plus, they talked to the camera the whole time. And, of course, we can’t forget the dancing pig mascot. It was a ton of fun.”

The influencers will then take the video shot during the showcase and use it on a regular basis in the future to promote cooking with U.S. pork and high oleic soybean oil.

Chris Eck farms near Boggstown, Ind.

(Amie Simpson)

Eck, an Indiana Soybean Alliance board member, grows high oleic soybeans on his operation in Boggstown, Ind.

“In Indiana, we produce a significant amount of the high oleic soybean oil,” Eck says. “Everything in Porkstars is cooked in that and people can see the value of not only U.S. pork, but also the cooking oils that we provide.”

Indiana farmers are the leaders in growing high oleic soybeans, planting nearly 850,000 acres in 2023. Farmers receive a premium for growing high oleic soybeans. Increased demand for high oleic soybean oil benefits those growers and consumers.

Why the U.S.?
USMEF is doing great work to promote U.S. red meat in key export countries. But the reality is they can’t do their job as well without farmer input and support. The farmer’s voice matters most and this younger generation in Vietnam sees U.S. pork as the “end-all, be-all,” Ponder adds.

“They know U.S. pork is nutritious, it’s reliable, and they are cooking with it. Each one of those social media influencers share and make recipes online, and they teach others about the importance of being healthy and cooking with reliable meat,” she says.

What is reliable meat? Ponder says it’s when you can rely on taste and quality.

One of the items prepared in Porkstars USA.

(National Pork Board)

“That’s not always something you can rely on from our partners in other countries. We have a reputation for being high quality good protein, whole nutrition that you don’t get on a consistent basis from our competition,” she says.

The biggest hurdle for U.S. pork in Vietnam remains tariffs. Not having a free trade agreement with Vietnam poses severe challenges.

“I know NPPC does a great job getting into the markets and talking with in-country representatives, but we really need the support of the government behind us,” Ponder says. “While we can work to bring down non-trade barriers, it’s hard without the support of our representatives to bring down the tariffs. We’re always going to have to be better, and we are. And while I know U.S. pork is better than the competition, sometimes money matters.”

That’s why the investments into building these export markets helps, Wulfekuhle says.

At Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Corn Marketing Council, market development is a big part of their strategic plan, Eck says. They work with partners to accelerate demand for Indiana soybeans and corn in all forms through those exports.

“Our yields have gotten high enough that exports are vital. When you have competition like Brazil, who has seemingly unlimited acreage, making these relationships overseas is absolutely crucial,” Eck says. “The senior director of market development for ISA and ICMC says, ‘It’s that face-to-face meeting that makes the difference. You may lose on price here, you may win on price there, but it’s building relationships face-to-face that enables you to win the ties when the price is the same between the U.S. and another competitor.’ That face-to-face means we win the ties; we sell the beans.”

Why You?
And at the end of the day, farmers want to know where their investment dollars go. That’s why Eck makes it a point to help bridge the gap between U.S. farmers and international market opportunities.

“It’s exactly like any other job you hire for or invest in. If you hire the co-op or another company to spray your crop, you don’t just assume that it was done right, walk away and never go look at it,” Eck says. “You go look at the product. You see what kind of job they did, and make sure that, yes, this is what we’ve invested in, and we are getting our money’s worth.”

Showing up matters, Eck says. When you don’t show up live, you can’t really understand how it’s going.

“You can get feedback from collaborators and consultants, but you don’t see exactly what is happening,” Eck says. “When you show up, or send board members or employees to look, you can find out exactly what’s happening and be part of figuring out what improvements need made.”

For Wulfekuhle, it’s about shaking hands, smiling and truly connecting with other people who want some of the same things you do – to be able to safely and affordably feed their families.

By the end of the mission, he hopes people realize that U.S. farmers are good people and good business partners.

Ponder says there’s nothing like producers coming back and telling other producers face to face about their experiences.

“People want to see people – boots on the ground – and know their money is being well spent. Farmers are well known for being very conservative when it comes to fiscal decisions. They don’t want to spend money on things that are frivolous,” Ponder says. “I can attest to the fact that our money, given all that I’ve seen, is well spent.”

Watch the Porkstars livestream here.

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Derecho Packs Punch of 100 MPH Winds, Flattens Cornfields and Crushes Grain Bins Across the Midwest

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 21:00:54 GMT

Hurricane-force winds swept through northern Missouri and Iowa and all the way east to Illinois and Indiana on Thursday. The derecho brought wind gusts up to 100 mph in places, flattening cornfields. The storm system also brought crucial rains. While it might not be enough to cure the drought, the rains could help rescue some of the drought-ravaged crops.

According to Accuweather, a derecho is a storm that brings a punch of at least 58 mph winds over the span of at least 400 miles. The storm on Thursday barreled across the Midwest, with some of hardest-hit states being Iowa, Illinois and Indiana. The storm then turned and went south, hitting Tennessee.

Yesterday, @NOAA's #GOESEast 🛰️ tracked a destructive #derecho as it raced across the Midwest, causing widespread damage across several states. This visible imagery shows the bubbling clouds, and the satellite's Geostationary Lightning Mapper allowed us to see the frequent… pic.twitter.com/SvYbnuf5em
— NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) June 30, 2023

Ken Ferrie , owner of Crop-Tech Consulting, was in the middle of the storm. He spoke to AgWeb’s Rhonda Brooks about potential damage, estimating the derecho crossed at least two-thirds of Illinois.

“It’s pretty widespread,” says Ferrie who lives in Heyworth, Ill., just south of Bloomington. “It hit between 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. yesterday.”

The storm also brought more than an inch of much-needed rain, which may have saved many of the Illinois corn and soybean crops. Ferrie says there is quite a bit of cleanup that will need to take place with down trees and other damage, and he’s still trying to assess the impact on the crops.

“I have not seen any corn snapped like the derecho in Iowa where crops were just snapped and flat, but there’s a lot of corn laying over,” says Ferrie.

(Farm Journal)

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says the storm was widespread, impacting an area from the Central Great Plains and northern Missouri, all the way to the Tennessee River Valley.

“The derecho on June 29th was oddly reminiscent of the massive derecho that struck the Midwest on August 10, 2020,” he says. “Now the aerial extent was not quite as large as the August 2020 events and the winds were not quite as high. But nevertheless, we did see widespread 60 to 100 mph winds emerging early in the day on the 29th.”

Brad Rippey discusses the scope and possible scale of damage caused by the derecho this week.

Rippey says the timing of the storm could also be a key factor in determining how much damage it caused to crops.

“We’re not expecting to see the large scale impact that we saw compared to August 2020, partly because it’s earlier in the growing season crops are not as high and susceptible to damage,” says Rippey. “And also just the fact that winds weren’t quite as high and the areal extent wasn’t as great. Still, though, another blow for producers already reeling from drought now contending with the effects of a significant windstorm that blew through the area on June 29th.”

Earlier Planted Corn Hit the Hardest

Ferrie drove across parts of Illinois and into Iowa on Friday, and says he thinks the earlier planted corn is what will be impacted the most from the powerful storm this week.

“April-planted corn is pushing tassels and trying to pollinate, so unfortunately, it’ll get hit the hardest because it’s hard for tasseled corn to stand back up; it’ll just curve at the top,” says Ferrie. “And that down corn creates pollination problems. So, from a yield problem that’ll be the tough spot, and that’ll be the tougher stuff to harvest because it just won’t stand back up.”

First time in my life I’ve pulled up to my parents place and not seen the grain leg standing. The storm hit hard today, but it’s wild in that the corn didn’t get mangled any worse than it did. No one got hurt which is the main thing. pic.twitter.com/Kg0hVyKi5V
— Matthew Bennett (@chief321) June 29, 2023

He says the May-planted corn will still have time to stand back up and recover, but he also points out the later planted corn is seeing more impacts from the drought in Illinois. The corn that farmers planted later didn’t establish good roots as it has seen little to no rain since planting. That made the corn more vulnerable to wind damage.

“We have a lot of acres that are getting what I call restless corn syndrome and struggling to get crown roots made. And that stuff isn’t pollinating. It’s the later planted crop that’s probably some of the worst,” says Ferrie.

Storm damage in Illinois from today. Any damage to your farm? pic.twitter.com/RWOHDjPQ2U
— IL Corn (@ilcorn) June 29, 2023

While the wind may impact yields and create harvest issues for some of the crops, the water came at a crucial time, especially in Illinois.

“That inch of water, many farmers would probably take the wind in the corn to get the water, because it looked like we weren’t going to get any of it, and suddenly our forecast has rain for the next five out of six days,” says Ferrie. “So, it kind of broke that bubble that was holding us in the drought.”

(Farm Journal)

Soybeans weren’t spared from damage either, but Ferrie says the drink of water will also be a boost for those fields. He reports there are even soybean fields laid over from the derecho winds on Thursday.

Indiana also reported high winds, with gusts reaching 70 mph at Indianapolis International Airport. Indiana farm fields were dealt with derecho damage this week, too. Photos show corn blown over by the wind, with the later planted corn holding up better than what was planted earlier in the season this year.

Photo Courtesy: Joelle Orem, Russiaville, Indiana

Crop Comments: How do crops look in your area? Post a comment or photo in Crop Comments.

Pork and Root Beer: A Winning Combination at Indiana Taste of Elegance Competition

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 15:49:27 GMT

Giving tribute to a summer trip he and his wife’s family take to a favorite root beer spot, Chef Dean Sample from The Burgess Restaurant Group in Indianapolis took home top honors at this year’s Indiana Pork’s Taste of Elegance event held in Indianapolis.

Each year, the Taste of Elegance program brings together talented chefs, encouraging the use of pork more frequently and in creative, non-traditional ways, the Indiana Pork release explains. The event attracts over 400 pork farmers, lawmakers, ag industry leaders and dignitaries to the downtown Indianapolis area for an event of elegance and celebration.

Chef Sample’s featured dish included Indiana Tenderloin with fries and root beer, specifically a Tenderloin Wellington with Pickle Duxelles, Root Beer Glazed Pork Belly, Bacon Fat Fried Potatoes, Frisée Salad w/ Bacon Vinaigrette, Pork Rind Crumble and a Mustard Aioli.

“Chef Sample is a great competitor at Taste of Elegance,” says Jeanette Merritt, director of communications of Indiana Pork. “Chef Sample grew up on a corn and soybean farm and understands the importance of Indiana agriculture. He is a great advocate for Indiana pork and features it in many different ways on his menus.”

While Chef Sample took home the top honors and $1,000 in prize money, a number of other chefs earned notable awards, including:

• Superior Chef Award (2nd place): Steven Hackney — Indianapolis
• Premium Chef Award (3rd place): Erin Oeschle — Chef “E” Suppler Club, Indianapolis
• Wine Pairing Award: Steven Hackney — Indianapolis
• People’s Choice Award — Favorite Entrée: Dean Sample, Burgess Restaurant Group, Indianapolis
• People’s Choice Award — Favorite Display: Cole Padgett - Taxman, Fortville
• People’s Choice Award — Favorite Wine: Ash & Elm Cider, Indianapolis

The roster of featured chefs in the 2023 competition included:
• Chef Michael Gomez — Gomez BBQ, Indianapolis
• Chef Kathy Jones — Big Woods Restaurant Group, Nashville
• Chef Cole Padgett - Taxman, Fortville
• Chef Erin Oeschle — Chef “E” Supper Club, Indianapolis
• Chef Dean Sample — Burgess Restaurant Group, Indianapolis
• Chef Scott Cramer — Crystal Signature Events, Indianapolis
• Chef Steven Hackney - Indianapolis
• Chef Ross Katz - RHB Resources, Indianapolis
• Chef Tracey Couillard - Ash & Elm Cider, Indianapolis

New Feed Manufacturing and Swine Management Company Announced

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 16:03:47 GMT

A new feed manufacturing and swine management company, Legacy Feed, LLC, formed in partnership with Indiana-based agricultural and energy cooperative Co-Alliance Cooperative, Inc., and Signature Farms, LP, announced its plan to deliver an integrated swine production service to farm families in eastern Indiana.

The company plans to build a state-of-the-art feed mill in Millville, Ind., which will include 1.5 million bushels of grain storage and the capacity to produce 300,000 tons of pelleted hog feed, says a Co-Alliance press release .

“Legacy Feed brings together two strong businesses with a successful history in swine production,” says Kevin Still, president and CEO of Co-Alliance Cooperative. “This new business will allow Co-Alliance to provide a more diversified offering in our eastern geography. I anticipate this strong combination will provide synergies and help us create more value in the swine production space.”

Eric Freeman, operations manager of Signature Farms echoes the excitement of this partnership, “Combining Signature Farms’ strong legacy of swine management services with Co-Alliance’s proven success record in swine feed manufacturing will allow our teams to provide a leading swine production company in which our customers and employees thrive and provide opportunity for growth.

Legacy Feed is officially operational and will be headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind.

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Pork News: State Association Food Bank Donations

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 21:57:27 GMT

Here’s a look at recent pork association announcements.

“Give-a-Ham” Challenge Leads to 400 Hams for Gleaners Food Bank by Indiana Pork

Indiana Pork joins the National Pork Producers Council’s “Give-a-Ham” challenge, which is a national social media campaign encouraging pig farmers and others in the pork industry to donate pork in service to the food insecure.

Proudly donating nearly 400 large hams, Indiana Pork delivered the hams to Gleaners Food Bank and immediately were distributed to their mobile pantry.

“With so many Americans still struggling with the effect of COVID and financial challenges, this year’s ‘Give-A-Ham’ challenge takes on special meaning,” says Brian Martin, president of the Indiana Pork board of directors, in a release “Giving back to our communities is a core value of hog farmers nationwide. It’s gratifying to come together as an industry this time of year to serve those in need.”

Other donation stories can be followed on social media through #GiveAHam and #Poundsofham.

Pig Farmers Care for Local Community with 40,000-Pound Donations

Minnesota, Indiana and Ohio pig farmers, through their respective state associations, National Pork Board, and Farmland, a brand of Smithfield Foods, are partnering with country music superstar Luke Bryan’s fall Farm Tour to donate more than 160,000 servings of protein to Second Harvest Heartland and Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio. The donation will help fill the protein gap often faced by food banks and help nourish the food insecure throughout the area, the association said in a release.

With Farm Tour stops across Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota, Second Harvest Heartland and Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio are two of six organizations that will be receiving donations to aid communities in need. The six-location donation will total an estimated 210,000-pounds of pork, which is more than 1 million servings of protein provided to those in need.

Iowa Pig Farmers Address Food Insecurity

For five years, Iowa pig farmers and those in the pork industry have joined pork producers across the country in a “Give-A-Ham” challenge that typically starts around Thanksgiving and runs through Christmas. Over that time, the challenge has reached 6.3 million people across the U.S. with more than 36 million pounds of ham and other pork products being donated to food banks, food pantries, churches, and other food programs.

President of the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA), Kevin Rasmussen of Goldfield, challenged others to make donations when he kicked off the Iowa portion of this national giving effort. Rasmussen and his wife Lisa donated 10 4-lb. hams to Upper Des Moines Opportunity, which is a local food bank in Humboldt, IPPA said in a release. Upper Des Moines Opportunity is a network providing food pantries and other services to people in a 12-county area of north-central and northwest Iowa.

Tyson Foods Unit to Add 350 Jobs in Council Bluffs

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:47:44 GMT

Tyson Foods plans to invest $27 million in one of its plants in western Iowa and hire another 350 works.

Tyson says its Tyson Fresh Meats plant in Council Bluffs will employ more than 1,400 people after the 55,000-square-foot addition is complete. The plant makes retail-ready beef and pork products.

Bob Mundt, president of the Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce, says this is great news for the area’s economy.

The plant expansion is scheduled to be completed in July 2017.

In addition to the plant being expanded, Tyson has a pepperoni plant in Council Bluffs and a bacon plant across the river in Omaha, Nebraska. The three plants already employ more than 2,000 people.

Bill Would Block Local Limits on Large Livestock Facilities

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:50:49 GMT

Local governments would be prohibited from placing restrictions on large livestock facilities in most rural areas of the state under a bill being considered in the Indiana Senate.

The bill would prevent county or other local officials from adopting any rules that go beyond what is required by state law regarding the construction of livestock structures in areas zoned for agricultural use.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Jean Leising, R-Oldenburg, said she submitted her bill in response to steps taken by various counties to keep out large facilities that can house thousands of hogs or cows.

“Animal agriculture has been a big part of Indiana, and so the state needs to at least know this is going on,” Leising told The Indianapolis Star . “As far as I know, there hasn’t been any discussion on the state level about the fact these counties are doing this.”

Some environmentalists and local government leaders say the proposal would wrongly strip away local authority.

Kim Ferraro, the Hoosier Environmental Council’s water and agriculture policy director, said the bill could block any local oversight of what she calls factory farms.

Residents in some counties have fought the construction of large animal operations, citing concerns such as declining property values, additional odors and possible health problems from increased water and air pollution.

The agriculture committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the bill Monday.

In rural eastern Indiana’s Jay County, officials discussed blocking the construction of such facilities but decided last fall not to do so, said former county commissioner Milo Miller Jr., who stepped down Jan. 1 after 24 years on the board.

Miller said he disagreed with Leising’s bill.

“They say they want the counties to have local control, but it’s ‘Do it our way,’” Miller said. “What kind of local control is that? Who knows what’s best in the county? The state legislature or county officials?”

Tyson Expands Iowa Pork Plant

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 03:30:59 GMT

Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. is planning $28 million expansion of its Waterloo pork processing plant after approval by Iowa’s Economic Development Authority on Friday.

The project includes construction of a new 56,400-sq.-ft. warehouse and renovation of another 18,250 sq. ft. of existing space to add production lines. It will add 245 new jobs at the plant, all paying more than $17.29 hourly through the state’s High Quality Jobs Incentive program.

The company now has nearly 2,900 workers and is Waterloo’s second-largest manufacturing employer, making it one of the largest locations in Tyson’s fresh meats group.

“The expansion of our Waterloo pork complex is great news for our plant, our community and our customers,” said Shane Miller, senior vice president of the pork division for Tyson Fresh Meats. “We are committed to the Waterloo community and look forward to adding more jobs while also supporting the independent pork producers in this region.”

IBP Inc. spent about $40 million in 1990 building the Waterloo plant. IBP was acquired by Tyson Foods in 2001. Tyson also had been considering locations in Nebraska and Indiana for the project.

Construction Delays Postpone Sioux City Pork Plant Opening

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 03:30:48 GMT

Projected opening of the new Seaboard Triumph Foods pork plant in Sioux City, Iowa, will be delayed as the company needs more time to install equipment and finish the commissioning process, said Chief Operating Officer Mark Porter. He estimates the opening day will be pushed back by at least a month, with potential start-up dates now being Aug. 28 or Sept. 5.

Development of the state-of-the-art facility has been underway since September 2015, when Seaboard Triumph Foods, a joint venture between Seaboard Foods and Triumph Foods, originally broke ground. Upon completion, the $300 million facility will have the capacity to slaughter 21,000 hogs per day. Production will include a full line of fresh pork products for retail, further processing, foodservice and even international markets.

According to Seaboard Triumph Foods, the facility will initially create approximately 1,100 jobs , with 900 hourly positions and 200 salaried positions across operations, food safety and quality assurance, human resources, maintenance and other departments. The company plans to add a second shift in May 2018 as production continues to increase, eventually employing around 2,000 workers .

The unemployment rate in Sioux City has been steadily declining over the past six years , according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In April, it dropped to 2.9%, which is the lowest it’s been in 16 years. With the unemployment rate already so low compared to the current national average of 4.3%, Seaboard Triumph Foods hopes to draw even more workers to the area after the facility is established, employing refugees and Vietnamese immigrants in addition to local citizens in the future. These additional workers could also benefit other Sioux City employers seeking to expand their businesses, spurring economic growth for the entire city.

For more pork coverage, visit Farm Journal’s PORK.

Truck Carrying More Than 150 Pigs Rolls Over in Western Iowa

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 03:30:16 GMT

Authorities say a truck carrying more than 150 pigs tipped over after jumping a curb in western Iowa.

The Sioux City Journal reports more than two dozen of the pigs were dumped out of the truck in the accident around 9 p.m. Thursday in Sioux City.

Authorities contained the pigs to a grassy area, where they grazed until animal control officials arrived with an empty livestock trailer and gates to corral them. More than 100 pigs were still trapped inside the trailer. Sioux City Police Sgt. Jim Cunningham says he suspects that many of those inside were not going to survive the crash.

The driver was uninjured. The pigs were from Ireton, Iowa, and were being taken to Missouri.

New $240 Million Hog Processing Plant to Be Built in Wright County

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 03:29:53 GMT

Prestage Farms will build new $240 million hog processing plant in Wright County after an earlier plan to build in Mason City failed.

The company said Tuesday the new hog plant will create 900 new jobs in north-central Iowa -- about an hour southeast of the original proposed site.

The Des Moines Register reports construction could begin this fall with the plant opening in 2018.

Earlier this year, Mason City officials failed to approve an agreement with Clinton, North Carolina, based Prestage. The project faced local opposition.

Wright County Economic Development Director Bryce Davis says numerous businesses and organizations support the project.

Iowa had previously approved nearly $11.5 million in tax incentives for the project, but Prestage will have to reapply for incentives at the new location.

Iowa Officials Hope Pork Plant will Keep Town Vibrant

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 05:03:34 GMT

Eagle Grove City Administrator George McGuire said the planned Prestage hog processing plant in Wright County, Iowa is an example of how an industry can breathe new life into rural areas.

“We’re re-inventing ourselves,” he told the Globe Gazette . “Out with the old, in with the new.”

The $250 million plant is being built about 5 miles south of Eagle Grove.

McGuire acknowledged there’s a certain faction of the community that does not know what to expect when the plant, which is expected to employ about 1,000 people, begins operation in about 18 months.

That’s a big deal for the people in a town of about 3,600 residents and in a county with a population of about 13,200.

But McGuire said a big industry in a small town is exactly what rural areas need all over Iowa.

“Agriculture is a big part of Iowa’s history. People settled here because of agriculture,” said McGuire, who has been on the job in Eagle Grove for less than a year.

“Towns sprung up because of needs. A lot of towns are now ghost towns because they did not fill a need. If towns like Eagle Grove want to stay vibrant, there has to be a need,” he said. “That’s why Prestage is right for Wright County. People understand how important agriculture is to our area. We’re fulfilling a need.”

Construction is expected to be complete in November 2018.

Bryce Davis, director of Wright County Economic Development, said the area is already experiencing benefits.

“Since day one of construction, we have seen the economic engine begin to move,” said Davis.

“There are many contractors on-site that are renting available properties around the region, filling up hotels and visiting local restaurants throughout the day,” he said.

Davis said many nearby communities will also benefit from the expanding employment base and job growth that will come from ancillary businesses that crop up.

Also, Davis said he is expecting significant capital investment for business development and new residential projects throughout the county, all as a result of Prestage.

Jere Null, chief operating officer of Prestage, said many Iowa contractors are working at the site, including Yohn Co. of Clear Lake. Other contractors hired by Prestage are from Des Moines, Fort Dodge and Eldora, he said.

Last year, Prestage had plans to build a plant in Mason City that was to employ close to 2,000 workers over a four-year period.

Its announcement drew a lot of fanfare that included an appearance by then-Gov. Terry Branstad and an audience that included city, county and EDC officials and many civic leaders.

Several public meetings held after the announcement grew contentious as residents complained that city officials were rushing the process through without answering crucial questions. They also expressed health and safety concerns because of the environmental impact the plant would have.

Organized peaceful protests were held prior to two City Council meetings. Each meeting lasted seven hours because of the amount of public comment received.

On May 3, by a 3-3 vote, the council rejected a development agreement with Prestage, striking down the project.

The company then sought other locations for its plant. The Wright County Board of Supervisors gave Prestage the go-ahead in August 2016.

Justices Uphold $5.8 Million Award Against Tyson Foods

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 05:02:07 GMT

In a setback to business, the Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a $5.8 million judgment against Tyson Foods Inc. in a pay dispute with more than 3,000 workers at a pork-processing plant in Iowa.

The court’s 6-2 ruling rejected new limits Tyson asked the high court to impose on the ability of workers to band together to challenge pay and workplace issues. It was the second time this year the court has ruled against business interests in class-action cases.

The justices decided three other cases Tuesday, including one by its first 4-4 tie vote since Justice Antonin Scalia’s death last month.

Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the majority opinion that upheld lower court rulings in favor of employees of Springdale, Arkansas-based Tyson. The workers sued to be paid for time spent putting on and taking off protective work clothes and equipment before wielding sharp knives in slaughtering and processing the animals.

Tyson argued in its appeal that it should not have been forced to defend a class-action lawsuit on behalf of workers at its Storm Lake, Iowa, plant. The employees do their jobs on the plant’s slaughter or “kill” floor and on the processing or “fabrication” floor.

The company and business groups that supported it pressed the court to elaborate on its 2011 decision blocking a massive sex-discrimination case against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. that would have included up to 1.6 million female workers. They wanted the court to rein in the use of statistical evidence to support the employees’ claims.

But Kennedy, in his majority opinion, explicitly rejected the argument by Tyson and its backers to broadly rule out statistical evidence in these sorts of cases. “A categorical exclusion of that sort...would make little sense,” Kennedy wrote.

The opinion relied on a 70-year-old Supreme Court decision that allows workers to use statistical evidence in lawsuits over compensation when their employer doesn’t keep adequate records of their hours.

Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented. Thomas wrote that the trial court made several mistakes and never should have allowed the lawsuit to proceed. “These errors prejudiced Tyson and warrant reversal,” he wrote.

Tyson has faced similar litigation around the country. In 2010, it settled a decade-long dispute with the U.S. Department of Labor by agreeing to pay workers at some poultry plants for time they spent putting on and taking off protective clothing.

In another case, the tie vote left in place a lower court ruling that barred two Missouri women from suing a bank for loan discrimination.

The women sued under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act after a bank required them to guarantee their husbands’ business loans. The law protects loan applicants from bias based on marital status.

The lower courts in this case ruled that the law covers only those who apply for credit and not those who guarantee to secure the debt. Other courts have come out differently, and the Supreme Court initially agreed to decide the issue in order to resolve that disagreement.

But the one-sentence opinion does not set a national precedent and does not identify how each justice voted. It simply upholds the decision from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that applies to Missouri and six other nearby states.

Scalia had participated in arguments in the case on the first day of the court’s term on Oct. 5. His aggressive questioning of the lawyer for the women suggested he would have sided with the bank in a decision that would have had nationwide effect.

Watch the AgDay story here: