DES MOINES, Iowa — For the second year in a row, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) has announced its decision to cancel of the World Pork Expo – originally slated for June 3-5 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines – due to coronavirus (COVID-19) human health concerns. 

“While (we are) deeply disappointed to cancel this year’s Expo, the NPPC’s board of directors unanimously agreed it was prudent to make this decision now,” said Howard ‘A.V.’ Roth, NPPC President and a Wauzeka, Wis., pork producer.

Jim Monroe, NPPC assistant vice president of communications, said the NPPC’s board of directors includes producers, veterinarians, and supplier and packer representatives. 

“It was a unanimous decision and certainly (we) factored in guidance from human health experts, including the CDC, and government officials,” he said.   

Last year, the NPPC cancelled the 2019 World Pork Expo due to health concerns over the African Swine Fever (ASF) in China and other countries.

Monroe said the NPPC was “extremely disappointed” it had to cancel the World Pork Expo again this year. 

“We received strong support for our decisions this year, and last from the many pork industry organizations that have participated in this event for more than 30 years,” he said. “It is a well-established show.”

David Herring, NPPC president, and a Lillington, N.C., pork producer, said, “Professionals in the pork industry worked together across the globe to understand the situation and evaluate risks presented with ASF.”  

Billed as the world’s largest pork-specific trade show, the World Pork Expo draws more than 20,000 industry professionals to the three-day event to showcase innovations, introduce new products and participate in training and educational programs. 

Jen Sorenson, president-elect of the NPPC board of directors, told Radio 570 WNAX in Yankton, S.D., “Producers will miss the event, but hopefully, it’ll be back in 2021.” 

“The Pork Expo is the time to come together, network, get business done, socialize, share ideas, look at the new technology and innovation that’s coming into the industry,” she said. 

“For us, as pork producers, it’s business as usual,” she added. “We’re taking care of our animals on our farms and that’s our big priority right now.”

As one of the first to be on the front lines in taking the necessary precautions in handling disease prevention, she said pork producers remain proactive and were practicing social distancing “before it was cool.”  

“With our practices to protect our herds when it comes to biosecurity, when it comes to showering in and out of our farms, using that hand sanitizer, disinfecting supplies that come into the farm – just a whole gamut of things that we do to protect our herds,” she said.

By eliminating COVID 19-related uncertainty surrounding the event, Roth said the NPPC’s decision will allow producers and others across the pork industry to focus on “the essential role we play in the nation’s food supply system at this critical time.”

“We will do our part to support the nation’s transition back to normalcy, and look forward to making next year’s World Pork Expo better than ever,” he said. 

The 2021 World Pork Expo is tentatively scheduled for June 9-11 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds Des Moines.