The omnibus spending bill to keep the government operating through fiscal 2022, which was approved by Congress and then signed into law last week by President Biden, included nearly two dozen pork industry priority provisions and programs that will benefit U.S. producers. According to the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), a lot of the $25.1 billion for agriculture, rural development, …
NPPC Focuses on Readiness for Possible Foreign Animal Diseases
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) hired Dr. Anna Forseth for the newly created position of Director of Animal Health. She will focus on foreign animal disease prevention and preparedness, as well as antibiotic use and resistance issues. “She has a wealth of knowledge about hogs and swine diseases and a great background in swine research,” says NPPC CEO Bryan …
India Agrees to Allow Imports of U.S. Pork
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced Monday that the government of India has agreed to allow imports of U.S. pork and pork products into India, removing a longstanding barrier to U.S. agricultural trade. This news follows the successful revitalization of the U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum held in New Delhi in November 2021. The National …
Various Issues Pushing Up Pork Prices but Not Profits
A report issued this week notes retail pork prices are rising, but not industry profits. Economists with Iowa State University, North Carolina State University and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) says prices are rising due to increased transportation costs, supply bottlenecks and delays and increased labor costs throughout the pork chain. Those factors were either caused or exacerbated by …
Vietnam Confirms Tariff Cut on U.S. Pork
Vietnam has confirmed it will lower its Most Favored Nation tariff on imported frozen pork from 15 to 10 percent. The reduction is expected to be implemented on July 1, 2022. Getting better market access to Vietnam, a major pork-consuming country, has been a top trade priority for the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). They recently led efforts asking U.S. Trade …
Livestock, Poultry, Egg Groups Weight in on EPA Pesticide Restrictions
Last week, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) led 35 other livestock, poultry and egg organizations in asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reconsider the analysis used for a proposal to restrict the use of pyrethrin, the pesticide used in food animal houses to control flies. In comments submitted to the EPA, the groups pointed out that “fly …
Groups Pleased with USDA Investment in Agriculture Announcement
This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a comprehensive set of investments to address challenges facing America’s agricultural producers. Of the $3 billion investment, up to $500 million will be used to prevent the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF). This will be through robust expansion and coordination of monitoring, surveillance, prevention, quarantine, and eradication activities through USDA’s …
AFBF, NPPC File Prop. 12 Appeal to Supreme Court
Monday, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to take their case against California’s Proposition 12, which would ban the sale of pork from hogs that don’t meet the state’s “arbitrary” production standards. The appeal to the high court comes after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in July upheld …
NPPC Asks Congress to Address Agricultural Labor Shortage
With a scheduled vote in the U.S. House set for Monday, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is calling on Congress to include in a budget reconciliation bill language to expand the existing H-2A visa to year-round agricultural workers. Like many sectors of the economy, the U.S. pork industry is faced with a severe labor shortage. But even before the …
Study: U.S. Pork Industry Needs More Access to Foreign-Born Workforce
The U.S. pork industry has been noting the struggles many producers across the country are having when it comes to a shortage with labor. An updated study reflecting the current state of the labor market was released by Iowa State University economists, and it notes despite competitive wages, the U.S. pork industry continues to struggle with a labor shortage that …