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Grand Forks, N.D. (AP) A former president of the National Pork Producers Council says the economic recession and the swine flu scare are holding back expansion of large hog operations in North Dakota.

Craig Jarolimek, part owner of the North Dakota Sow Center, which has 5,000-pig operations in Bottineau and Edmore, says that once those issues fade there will be more growth in the state.

Jarolimek says hogs could be raised in North Dakota and processed for specialty markets in Asian countries, then shipped there in containers that start on rail cars and transfer to barges.

Information from: Agweek, http://www.agweek.com/ (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 05-17-09 0930CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list