More than 100 pork producers from around the country attended the National Pork Producers Council’s (NPPC) Spring Legislative Action Conference last week in Washington, D.C. The biannual fly-in featured a variety of speakers, a media briefing and NPPC’s widely popular congressional “Baconfest” reception in the Great Hall of the Library of Congress. NPPC President Scott Hays kicked off the event by sharing …
NPPC President Not Willing to “Bet the Farm” on Prop 12
Now that California’s Prop 12 is in effect, hog producers around the nation are having to decide if they’re going to change their operations to comply. National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) President Scott Hays says it’s an individual choice, and one his family farm turned down. “If you think about it from a producer perspective, most of the cost is …
Large Pork Producers Don’t Favor Overturning Prop 12
Legislation has been introduced in Congress that would overturn California’s Prop 12. Reuters says some of the country’s biggest pork producers who’ve already spent money to comply with the California requirements don’t favor throwing out Prop 12. The Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act would curb states’ ability to regulate agricultural products sold within their borders. The bill was introduced …
NPPC Releases Q3 Economic Update
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) released its third-quarter pork industry economic update covering the top pork industry issues, current trends, and marketing issues impacting U.S. farmers. Among the biggest takeaways, California’s Prop 12 creates significant challenges and market uncertainty for pig farmers across the country and has far-reaching implications beyond the pork industry. High production costs continue to be a major …
Spartz Ag Appropriations Amendment Ignites Checkoff Debate
The cattle industry is speaking out against a proposed amendment to the ag appropriations bill, and the Representative behind the amendment is firing back. Introduced by Indiana Congresswoman Victoria Spartz (R-IN-05), the amendment states that none of the funds made available by the bill may be used to carry out commodity checkoff programs. Vice President of Government Affairs with the …
Legislation Would Exempt Farms from Emission Reporting
Last week, a group of lawmakers introduced legislation to exclude reporting of routine emissions from livestock farms to state and local emergency response authorities. The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) supports the legislation. Pork producers and other livestock industries have engaged with federal and state regulators for decades over permitting and reporting of air emissions. This engagement has included both …
NPPC Submits Testimony on Importance of U.S. Pork Trade
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) recently submitted testimony for the congressional record on the importance of trade to the U.S. pork industry. It all took place at a field hearing in MN, to discuss “Trade in America: Agriculture and Critical Supply Chains.” In their testimony, NPPC said “Free and fair trade has helped the United States become an economic powerhouse. To maintain that …
EATS Act Would Abrogate Proposition 12
Last week, a bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives called the Exposing Agricultural Trade Suppression, or EATS Act. It is designed to prohibit state and local governments from imposing laws and regulations that have the effect of dictating agricultural production practices outside their borders. Representatives Ashley Hinson (R-IA-2) and Zach Nunn (R-IA-3) introduced the bill, which has …
Swine Vets Lobby for Foreign Animal Disease Funding in 2023 Farm Bill
Last week, swine veterinarians from around the country flew into Washington, D.C. to lobby Congress to secure funding for foreign animal diseases (FAD) prevention in the 2023 Farm Bill. According to the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), the subject matter experts highlighted was the importance of the “three-legged stool”, which includes the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank (NAVVCB), National Animal Health Laboratory Network …
NPPC Statement on California Proposition 12 Implementation Modification
Proposition 12 was scheduled to be implemented in California on July 1st, but after concerns from many in the industry about various challenges, an extra six months of additional relief for products in the supply chain was granted. After this, National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) CEO Bryan Humphreys released a statement saying: “It is welcome news to America’s pig farmers and consumers …