The Pork Checkoff’s online information resource for pork producers – pork.org – is getting a new look to make it easier for producers to get the information they need quickly and efficiently. The redesigned site went "live" Monday morning and will be introduced to pork producers during World Pork Expo in Des Moines this week.
"The last time we made major improvements to our producer Web site was almost eight years ago," said Bill Kessler, a Missouri pork producer who chairs the Checkoff’s Producer and State Relations Committee. "So it was time. Members of our committee got to test drive the site last week and I think producers are going to like what they see."
User data show that several thousand producers visit pork.org each week. In 2009, the site had more than 165,000 unique user visits. "Pork.org is easily the most complete source of information about Pork Checkoff programs," Kessler said. "Producers use it for everything from market information to checking on their PQA Plus® certification status, and for the latest news.
"Even though the site is designed primarily for producers, we know that others come to the site searching for information about pork production. So resources such as our ‘Quick Facts’ book are easy to find and should help us demonstrate the principles of our We Care initiative to visitors." Kessler said.
The redesigned site, in addition to having a cleaner look and feel, has a number of new features producers are going to find useful, Kessler said. Here are just a few:
•A new search feature allows a producer to type in a word or phrase to find the information they’re seeking.
•Because certification information is one of the most used features of pork.org, there is a new section devoted to making it easier for producers to get the information they need about certification programs.
•There is a searchable database of all Pork Checkoff-sponsored research.
•Short videos demonstrating how today’s pork producers raise hogs, and audio "podcasts" that feature useful information for producers from industry experts, have a prominent spots on the home page.
•And because producers like to prepare pork as much as any consumer, the new site features a daily recipe combined with a convenient link to TheOtherWhiteMeat.com for additional pork information.
World Pork Expo visitors are invited to come to the Pork Checkoff hospitality tent at the northwest corner of the Varied Industries Building to see the new pork.org in action. Checkoff staff will be available to answer questions.
The National Pork Board has responsibility for Checkoff-funded research, promotion and consumer information projects and for communicating with pork producers and the public. Through a legislative national Pork Checkoff, pork producers invest $0.40 for each $100 value of hogs sold. The Pork Checkoff funds national and state programs in advertising, consumer information, retail and foodservice marketing, export market promotion, production improvement, technology, swine health, pork safety and environmental management. For information on Checkoff-funded programs, pork producers can call the Pork Checkoff Service Center at (800) 456-7675 or check the Internet at www.pork.org.
Source: National Pork Board