West Coast Port Delays Cause Big Issues for U.S. Pork Exports

Jun 12, 2023

Tensions continue between employers and unions at ports along the U.S. West Coast. These shipping delays are causing big problems for the U.S. pork industry, explains Maria Zieba, vice president of international affairs for the National Pork Producers Council.

“Last year, the contract between the ports and longshoremen expired. Since then, negotiations have been ongoing,” Zieba says. “There was some movement in April, but since then, there hasn’t been a lot of progress.”

"Starting June 2, we've seen negotiations hit a new low as disruptive work actions have slowed operations," explains Zieba.

As a result, U.S. importers are now experiencing delays at major Pacific gateways from Seattle to Southern California, with job actions erupting at various ports.

“These disruptions have significant implications for the American economy,” explains Pro Farmer analyst Jim Wiesemeyer in his daily newsletter. “Though the job actions have been relatively limited, especially compared to the 2014 contract negotiation cycle that cost retailers millions in lost sales, the two parties remain far apart on wage proposals.”

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Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.