Citing an abundance of caution, The National Pork Producers Council Wednesday announced its decision to cancel World Pork Expo 2019 as African swine fever continues to spread in China and other parts of Asia.
World Pork Expo, held each June at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, hosts approximately 20,000 visitors over three days, including individuals and exhibitors from ASF-positive regions.
David Herring, NPPC president, called prevention the “only defense against ASF,” adding “while an evaluation by veterinarians and other third-party experts concluded negligible risk associated with holding the event, we have decided to exercise extreme caution.”
The decision to cancel this year’s World Pork Expo comes as more than 100 U.S. pork producers gather in Washington this week to meet with their members of Congress during NPPC’s Legislative Action Conference.
Pork producers are asking Congress to appropriate funding for 600 new U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture inspectors to further strengthen defenses against African swine fever.
Despite the cancellation, the National Swine Registry, Certified Pedigreed Swine, and the American Berkshire Association are still planning a live swine show during the week of June 2-8, 2019.