Farms.com Home   Ag Industry News

Randy Spronk elected as chair of USMEF

Randy Spronk elected as chair of USMEF

Spronk say exports will be key to recovery for the pork market in 2024

By Jean-Paul McDonald
Farms.com
Photo credit: USMEF

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) announced that Randy Spronk, president and managing partner for Spronk Brothers Holding, was elected chair of USMEF.

Spronk is a past president of the National Pork Producers Council as well as the Pork Producers Association.

Spronk is prioritizing exporting U.S. beef, pork and lamb in the international marketplace.

Spronk acknowledged that the US is experiencing domestic demand challenges for a variety of reasons, but he believes focusing on the international markets will bring profitability back to the domestic swine industry.

“I think it's very important that we actually focus again on our exports,” said Spronk in an audio report. “I think it's one of the things that we've identified in the swine industry is our story on sustainability. That can differentiate. It's because of how we produce our feed. It's about our corn and our soybean, how we utilize that that is our sustainability story that nobody else in the world can replicate."


Trending Video

Season 6, Episode 6: The Science Behind Sudden Sow Deaths

Video: Season 6, Episode 6: The Science Behind Sudden Sow Deaths

Recent necropsies have revealed new insights into unexplained sow deaths, helping producers better understand the causes behind these losses. A recent study led by Laura Solis, a graduate student at Iowa State University, examined why these deaths occur, many around farrowing. In some cases, animals were sent to the lab for further analysis, as discussed by Dr. Marcelo Almeida, assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University. The episode also features Dr. Chris Rademacher, clinical professor and swine extension veterinarian as well as associate director of the Iowa Pork Industry Center, who asks questions of what seasonal factors there were and management strategies that can influence herd health outcomes.