The amount of information coming at the average person each day is overwhelming. Just think of how that increases during an event like the National Pork Industry Forum. Industry leaders cut through the clutter to share their most important message for pork producers today.
“One of the things that I’ve talked about for over the last year is that the challenges we face as an industry really come at us from four vantage points. Stay ever vigilant on domestic policy, international policy, corporate policy and state policy. When we’re strong in each of those areas, which I believe we are, we can truly make a difference for the industry.”
– Bryan Humphreys, National Pork Producers Council CEO
“Be prepared and focus on prevention for the introductions of diseases like African swine fever. But we also need to remember foot-and-mouth disease and classical swine fever. These foreign animal diseases could be devastating to us as an industry here in the United States. Keeping it out is the No. 1 priority. Preparing for it is No. 2.”
– Patrick Webb, DVM, National Pork Board assistant chief veterinarian
“Production costs are top of mind for producers right now – increasing more than 20% in 2022. We continue to face domestic disease challenges, labor shortages and things that can make your job difficult and have a negative impact on margins. In the U.S., we’re still the lowest cost producer of pork, aside from a few regions in Brazil, and we’re still the best equipped and best positioned to continue supplying pork to our U.S. consumers as well as consumers around the world.”
– Holly Cook, National Pork Producers Council Staff Economist
“Get involved. Whether that’s at your local producer organization or at the state level or coming to Pork Forum, you have to get engaged and the onus is on us as producers. There’s a lot of great work being done by both national organizations and at the state level. But as producers, you have to know where your money’s going. I encourage every producer to get involved and help set the direction that the organizations are going to go and what they’re going to focus on.”
– Heather Hill, National Pork Board president
“You can do things on your own, but you won’t get very far without a good trade association looking out on behalf of your business and industry. NPPC is the only pork organization that represents pork producers in the policy, advocacy and legislative arena both at the federal level and on international trade issues, in cooperation with our state associations on state policy. All of these things are critical to our livelihood and our freedom to operate. It’s definitely a sound investment for all U.S. pork producers.”
– Jen Sorenson, National Pork Producers Council past-president and Iowa Select Farms communications director
“With our new staff, our new culture, our new look, and additional funding, we’ve been able to be more proactive on many issues, especially state issues. Our work on Proposition 12 is a new area for us to get deeper into the judiciary process. That’s the new NPPC – that’s the space we’re going to be in going forward. We’re proud of our proactive stance. We’re proud that we can be out in front for producers and get ahead of issues.”
– Scott Hays, National Pork Producers Council president-elect
“Pork is a doable protein – it makes a great meal and great eating experience. You can feel good about what you are feeding your family. If we can keep that in mind, I think there is opportunity to keep demand strong. We’ve gained a lot of households and share and now it’s up to us to maintain that.”
– Kiersten Hafer, National Pork Board vice president of domestic market development
“Thank you for your additional investment with NPPC in 2023 here and going forward. The NPPC has had a transformational year in 2022. Between Bryan’s leadership, staff leadership and expanded staff, we are doing things that we have not done before and that’s not any criticism against past staff. Every year is a new year, a new world, with new problems. I’m very proud of what our staff is doing on behalf of producers. I think they should know that their dollars are well invested and moving this industry forward.”
– Lori Stevermer, National Pork Producers Council vice president
More from National Pork Industry Forum:
Meet Scott Hays: National Pork Producers Council’s New President
Here’s Why NPPC Urges Quick Passage of the Beagle Brigade Act of 2023
Proposition 12 Update from the National Pork Industry Forum
A Sign of Unity: Pork Industry Forum Brings People Together
HogSlat’s Billy Herring Inducted into National Pork Industry Hall of Fame
Mike Telford Wins 2023 Paulson-Whitmore State Executive Award
Vilsack Unveils $25-Million Grant Award to Wholestone Farms at Pork Forum
