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Pork producer wonders what’s next

Smithfield’s announcement that it wants its contract sow growers to convert to open pen housing, while not totally unexpected, does have some pork producers wondering what’s coming next.

Bill Tentinger runs an independent farrow-to-finish hog operation near Le Mars, Iowa.

“I think the fear in the industry is that eventually, if they move their entire system that they have some kind of control of, to a gestation stall-free system—then that will possibly become a requirement down the road for even the independent producer that is delivering to their plant,” says Tentinger.

Smithfield is the world’s largest pork processor.  According to various media reports, the company raises around 15 million pigs a year, but processes 27 million.

Tentinger is the immediate past president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association.

Dennis Morrice–KLEM Radio, Le Mars, Iowa contributed to this story.