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The 2024 World Pork Expo kicked off today in Des Moines, Iowa, and one of the events this morning was a policy panel discussion hosted by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). Producer-leaders and experts discussed the need to work with both sides of the aisle to support America’s pork producers as the farm bill is being discussed.
Preparing for and preventing foreign animal diseases, navigating challenges posed by California Proposition 12, increasing market access programs for U.S. pork, and protecting herd health are the key priorities that NPPC has successfully advocated for within the farm bill.
“Having a proactive, producer-focused advocacy plan has enabled NPPC to elevate our common interests to impact inclusions in the 2024 House Farm Bill,” said NPPC President Lori Stevermer, a pork producer from Easton, Minnesota. “We appreciate our legislators addressing the issues facing the agriculture industry because they hold real-world implications for farms across the country.”
Dr. Anna Forseth, NPPC director of animal health, highlighted the importance of preserving FAD risk and prevention programs, which include National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank; National Animal Health Laboratory Network; National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program; and National Veterinary Stockpile.
Chase Adams, NPPC assistant vice president of domestic policy, discussed the complications created by California Proposition 12 in potentially opening the door to a web of 50 different, often conflicting, standards on how food is produced. “NPPC urges Congress to adopt a legislative solution in the farm bill to mitigate further impacts to both farmers and consumers,” he said, noting the legislation has led to price spikes as high as 41% for fresh pork in California and is negatively impacting consumers.
“NPPC continues to work on a range of policy issues that protect herd health and safeguard producers’ farming businesses,” said Bryan Humphreys, NPPC CEO. “As it relates to ongoing discussions around the farm bill, we want to continue the momentum set by inclusions in the House version and encourage Congress to finalize a bipartisan bill this year that reflects the needs of pork producers.”
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