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Iowa pork leader dismisses calls for moratorium

The president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association is dismissing calls for a moratorium on new hog operations in the state.

Gregg Hora of Fort Dodge tells Brownfield a moratorium “would stifle what’s happening with the pork industry and jobs throughout rural Iowa”.

“Iowa pork farmers do not believe in moratoriums,” Hora says. “We believe in responsible, educated, trained farm workers—not just farm workers, but also those owners of the facilities and those that have the pigs in the facilities.”

Hora says pork producers care about their animals and the environment.

“Through PQA training and the TQA training and ongoing environmental training that we do, it’s important for us to let Iowans know that we continue to improve our production practices and our environmental sensitivity,” he says. “Because we all live here—we all work here—and we want to have a prosperous rural Iowa.”

A coalition of groups called The Iowa Alliance for Responsible Agriculture has called for a moratorium on new large hog operations, citing air, water and public health concerns.

Hora made his comments in an interview with Brownfield at the recent Iowa Pork Congress. We also discussed several other issues, such as labor and NAFTA.

AUDIO: Gregg Hora