Though the pork industry faced several headwinds last year, National Pork Board President Derrick Sleezer said the industry kept its focus on opportunities for pork producers in the United States.

Sleezer, who raises pigs near Cherokee, reflected on his presidency at the Pork Industry Forum, which was held recently in Indianapolis.

"Before I became president, we were dealing with the backup in the ports," Sleezer noted. The West Coast port delays, which were a result of labor disputes, cost the U.S. meat industry millions of dollars.

After the issues were resolved, the industry focused on building the relationships that were strained as a result of the delays.

Then pork supplies grew...