September 8 White House press briefing with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and National Economic Council Director Brian Deese on meat prices. Deese discusses how beef, pork, and poultry are the real drivers of increased grocery store bills, and that there’s an underlying corporate consolidation problem with meat-processing giants that needs to be addressed. Secretary Vilsack discusses actions the administration …
World Pork Expo Showcases Top Pork Priorities
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) kicked off the return of World Pork Expo with a policy priorities press conference focused on the administration appeal of a recent federal district court ruling striking down faster harvest facility line speeds, legal action on California’s Proposition 12 and expanded export market access. The expo is being held this week in Des Moines …
Agri-Pulse Hosts National Pork Board Webinar on Trade
Agri-Pulse president Sara Wyant moderated a discussion on Thursday with USDA Trade Undersecretary Ted McKinney, North Carolina hog farmer Jan Archer, and Iowa State University economist Dermot Hayes on how exports add value for pork producers and support U.S. jobs. The event was sponsored by the National Pork Board. Watch the webinar here. Listen to the audio here: (1 hour)
Pork Producers Facing $5 Billion in Losses
With an estimated two million hogs still backed-up on farms, the nation’s pork producers are facing $5 billion in losses and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is urging Congress to act swiftly to preserve their livelihoods. According to an analysis by Dr. Steve Meyer, an economist with Kerns & Associates, based on lean hog futures prices on March 1 …
NPPC Urges Senate Action on Relief for Hog Farmers
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) hosted a press briefing Thursday with four pork producers to talk about the need for immediate aid and urge the U.S. Senate to adopt livestock agriculture provisions included in COVID-relief legislation recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. The impact of COVID-19 has caused hog values to plummet, creating a financial disaster for …
Hog Farmers Face COVID-19 Financial Crisis
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) held a press conference Tuesday to outline the impact COVID-19 is having on the industry, causing hog values to plummet, and the immediate relief they are requesting from the administration and Congress. The call featured NPPC President Howard “A.V.” Roth of Wisconsin, CEO Neil Dierks, Global Government Affairs VP Nick Giordano, and Michael Formica, …
Pork Producers Set 2020 Priorities
The president of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is celebrating progress made in 2019 despite the challenges and setting priorities for 2020. On a call with reporters Wednesday, NPPC president David Herring of Lillington, NC pointed to both USMCA and the recent Japan agreement as successes in 2019 for pork producers, and getting the China phase one deal across …
USDA Urged to Establish Foot and Mouth Vaccine Bank
Representatives of the National Pork Producers Council, the National Milk Producers Federation, the National Corn Growers Association and Iowa State University are urging U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to move quickly to establish a Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine bank. At a press conference Tuesday, the groups recognized steps USDA has already taken to establish the bank, but called for “expedient …
Ag Groups Cheer Japan Agreement
Representatives for farmer and rancher organizations were present for a meeting with President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Abe in New York City as the two signed a trade deal Wednesday worth billions for U.S. agricultural producers. Under the market access agreement, Japan will open the market to approximately $7 billion in American agricultural exports, eliminating or significantly lowering …
NPPC Launches Keep America First in Ag Campaign
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) has launched a new campaign to highlight the importance of establishing a proper regulatory framework for gene editing in American livestock. The “Keep America First in Agriculture” campaign was officially kicked off June 25 with a media teleconference featuring leading researchers, veterinarians, producers and industry experts. Listen to opening remarks from the press conference …
Pork Producers Talk Trade and Animal Disease
National Pork Producers Council officials held a press conference Thursday, the day after announcing World Pork Expo is cancelled this year due to concerns about African swine fever. More than 100 pork producers from around the country were in Washington D.C. this week for the Spring Legislative Action Conference to meet with their representatives in Congress to discuss issues such …
2019 Pork Industry Forum
The annual National Pork Industry Forum, a gathering producer delegates of the National Pork Board and National Pork Producers Council, was held March 4 – 8, 2019 in Orlando, FL. This virtual ag newsroom includes links to photos and audio content available free of charge for digital or print publication or broadcast. Photos 2019 Pork Industry Forum Photo Album Audio …
2018 National Pork Industry Forum
The annual National Pork Industry Forum, a gathering producer delegates of the National Pork Board and National Pork Producers Council, was held Feb 28 – March 2 in Kansas City. This virtual ag newsroom includes links to photos and audio content available free of charge for digital or print publication or broadcast. National Pork Industry Forum photo album Audio Pork …
SMART Farmer Jeanette Merritt
Jeannette Merritt is our SMART Farmer for this episode – an Indiana farm girl and former agricultural journalist who is raising crops, hogs and kids with her husband and serving the industry in many capacities. Jeanette is a 4th generation farmer, a Purdue University graduate, Director of Checkoff Programs for Indiana Pork and serves on the Indiana Soybean Alliance board …
Quarterly Hogs & Pigs Report
The Pork Checkoff hosted the USDA’s Quarterly Hogs and Pigs Report on Thursday, June 29, 2017. This quarterly teleconference featured three agricultural economists and their reactions to the report. Panelists included: Dr. Lee Schulz, Extension Livestock Economist, Iowa State University Dr. Scott Brown, Assistant Extension Professor, University of Missouri-Columbia Joe Kerns, President, Kerns & Associates, Ames, IA Reports seemed to …