Many pork producers are liquidating their herds, and losing nearly 50 dollars per animal. Terry Steinhart is a Swine Field Specialist with the ISU Extension Service. He says while things are tough now, lowering the number of animals on the market should help in the long run. Steinhart expects some of the foreign markets to open up more in the next six months. However, he says much of the export flow is tied to politics. Steinhart also says government subsidy programs have helped keep pork prices from spiraling out of control.