AP

INDIANAPOLIS -- In a move to help Indiana's beleaguered hog farmers, McDonald's Corp. will reintroduce its McRib sandwich for a seven-week run in Indiana using only Hoosier-grown pork in the sandwiches. 
McDonald's officials are expected to announce the initiative today during a news conference with Lt. Gov. Joe Kernan. The sandwiches will be available at a reduced price starting Friday at 300 McDonald's restaurants in Indiana. 
"Because pork prices are low at this time of crisis, we are passing on the savings to our customers," said David Sleppy, past president of the Central Indiana McDonald's Restaurants owner/operators cooperative. 
Sleppy said the company anticipates using up to half a million pounds of pork during the promotion. All of the pork used in the McRib sandwiches will be purchased from Hoosier hog producers, he said. 
The nation's hog farmers have been stung by record low prices that resulted from global hog overproduction and reduced demand in Asia because of to economic troubles. Hogs prices have been rebounding, but still remain low. 
Gerry Mennin, an Indiana pork producer who is president-elect of the Indiana Pork Producers Association, hailed McDonald's McRib promotion. 
"We welcome this initiative ... It raises the awareness of our plight, and also encourages the public to enjoy more pork," Mennin said. 
Kernan, who is Indiana's commissioner of agriculture, chairs a task force that is looking into the plight of the state's pork producers. 
"We salute this McDonald's effort. They have worked hard to get this promotion out of the gate as fast as possible," Kernan said.