Randy Spronk elected as chair of USMEF

Nov 13, 2023

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."

Video: Intrauterine Vaccines in Swine - Dr. Heather Wilson

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Heather Wilson from VIDO at the University of Saskatchewan explains how intrauterine vaccination is being developed as a new option for swine health. She shares how formulation, adjuvants, and delivery methods influence immune responses and what early trials reveal about safety and reproductive performance. Listen now on all major platforms.

"The idea was that an intrauterine vaccine might avoid a tolerance response and instead create an active immune response."

Meet the guest: Dr. Heather Wilson / heather-wilson-a8043641 is a Senior Scientist and Program Manager at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization at the University of Saskatchewan. Her work centers on vaccine formulation and delivery in pigs, including the development of intrauterine vaccination to support reproductive health and passive protection of piglets. Her background spans biochemistry, immunology, and functional pathogenomics.