USDA Accepts Bids For 50,000 Tons of Pork to Russia

August 4, 1999

USDA has accepted bids on 50,000 tons of pork to Russia as humanitarian assistance, but U.S. pork producers want another 50,000 tons authorized. USDA had rejected offers on two previous occasions because bids were too high.

John McNutt, president, National Pork Producers Council, said the action should give U.S. pork producers "a much needed morale boost during their long and continuing struggle with prices below the cost of production."

A second package of "at least 500,000 tons" has been requested by NPPC in a recent private meeting with agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, McNutt said. "Pork producers have lost $4 billion in equity in the past 20 months and prices are expected to stay below the breakeven point for the rest of 1999, putting added economic pressure on independent producers who barely weathered the catastrophe of 1998."