Trade, labor and biosecurity are at the top of the National Pork Producers Council’s list of priorities heading into fall.
“We’ve got to get this administration reengaged in trade issues,” AgriTalk’s Chip Flory told Terry Wolters, NPPC president, during AgriTalk on Sept. 27.
With 25% of U.S. pork being exported, Wolters said the pork industry needs the opportunity to grow while supporting other countries around the globe.
“We just need some action to open new markets or at least show us a little interest in opening some new markets. Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) would be a great opportunity for us to get engaged,” Wolters said.
Nearly $8.1 billion worth of pork products is marketed to over 100 countries around the globe. He believes U.S. pork is full of opportunity if they can just get the support they need to expand.
“It adds jobs, it adds support to our industry,” Wolters said. “We are arguably the most economical country in the world to produce low-cost, affordable food, and share it with the world. This would be a great opportunity to continue that process.”
Visa reform is another key priority for NPPC right now.
“We are really looking for year-round foreign workers, not seasonal workers,” he said. “More importantly, we’re looking for them to take the cap off. We’re limited to 20,000 H-2A visas a year, and 10,000 of those go to dairy. 10,000 workers just doesn’t go very far in today’s work environment.”
The majority of U.S. pig farms are located in rural America, where there are limited populations, so the industry needs help in these remote areas, Wolters explained.
“You get glimmers of hope there is interest in it, but it doesn’t seem to go anywhere. I have mixed feelings about it. I think it’s a pretty straightforward ask to expand the limits. If we can get people in legally to do the work, I struggle seeing what the problem is,” Wolters said.
Another key priority is biosecurity and protecting U.S. borders from the threat of foreign animal disease. NPPC supports congressional funding of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to fully staff its agricultural inspection program and keep American agriculture safe from foreign animal and plant diseases. NPPC also supports passage of S.3678, the “Beagle Brigade Act of 2022,” which will fund the National Detector Dog Training Center.
“The beagles are key to protecting our borders. Those dogs are extremely well trained,” Wolters said. “They have the ability to detect ag products – not just meat – but fruit, vegetables and other things that are being illegally brought into the country. They have the ability to do it like no human or machine can do it.”
NPPC also urges lawmakers to appropriate funds in fiscal 2023 to hire additional APHIS-VS field staff, provide the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) with its full authorization and increase signage in international terminals at airports to build awareness of foreign animal disease threats.
“We’re in the beginning stages of the Farm Bill,” Wolters said. “We want to continue to get funding for the foot-and-mouth disease vaccine bank and support our national animal health laboratories. Those are key elements that are going to help support and protect the livestock industry in this country. It’s very important we keep that going.”
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