With 2024 coming to a close, Tyler Main, Illinois Pork Producers Association District 1 Director shares it has been a decent year for pork producers.
“The fourth quarter especially, was a little better than we anticipated. Exports have been strong; Mexico continues to be the number one exporter- no change there. Look forward to continuing to work with them in the future,” says Main. ” Seasonality see here, here more and more health, health issues coming on here in the winter months. Cold weather- PRRS is flaring up. I’ve heard quite a few stories of PRRS in the area, but it’s no big surprise, unfortunately, it’s just kind of a new normal, fighting little health issues, but nothing too major that I’ve heard of at least locally.”
Going into 2025, Main adds pork producers will continue to fight for a Farm Bill and a fix to California’s Proposition 12.
“We have had it since, 2018 and they extended it and passed the funding for another year,” says Main. “I was in DC two years ago, and that was a topic of discussion when I was out there then- and of course, nothing has changed. So we will see with this new administration coming in, we will see if anything changes here. One thing we have we are looking to get into the new farm bill, if there ever is one, is a Prop 12 fix.”
Main adds with the new Trump administration coming back into office, IPA will be watching any tariffs being put into place as well.
