NPPC's New President A.V. Roth Looks Forward to Year Ahead
A.V. Roth, a fifth-generation farmer who has raised hogs his entire life, says he’s excited for the chance to lead pork producers in the year ahead as president of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC).
From funding to trade, the opportunities are varied and the reach is far. As president, Roth will hand over some of the responsibilities of his small, farrow-to-wean operation in southwest Wisconsin to his family in order to represent U.S. pork producers throughout the year ahead.
“This role is a huge honor. The people who have come before me have been great leaders, titans for the pork industry,” Roth says. “I'm so humbled for the honor to have just a little bit of that opportunity to serve.”
A look at the issues ahead
The U.S. pork industry has been battling an ongoing labor shortage, which is now exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the country and world. Although pig farms and pork processing plants are not in crisis today, Roth says NPPC is working hard to prevent the severe labor shortage from becoming a crisis.
U.S. pork producers need additional federal support, Roth says. This includes provisions in the pending congressional relief package to provide financial support for childcare for farm and plant workers.
“We need clarity from the U.S. Department of Transportation that farms are part of the critical domestic infrastructure needed to produce the food that feeds America and the world,” he says. “This clear designation ensures the uninterrupted supply of commercial feed and other production inputs to farms, as well as the transport of livestock from farm to market.”
Roth is hopeful these workforce and federal support concerns will be addressed, allowing for the uninterrupted flow of high-quality, safe and affordable pork to consumers here at home and around the world.
On trade opportunities, great strides were made last year through the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement and the U.S.-Japan trade deal. Roth is hoping progress can be made with China in the year ahead.
“China is nearly 25 million metric tons short of protein – that’s a quarter of the pigs in the world. That hole is huge to fill. And all we're asking is to take away these punitive tariffs so that pork producers in the U.S. have a chance to help China feed their people,” Roth says.
He’s also looking forward to ensuring we keep African swine fever (ASF) out of the U.S. and applauded President Trump for signing legislation earlier this month to protect the U.S. pork industry through expanded agricultural inspections.
“To keep ASF out of the country is huge,” he says. “If we get ASF in the U.S., it would immediately stop nearly 30% of our pigs from being exported to countries who need pork.”
Profitability and sustainability
In the end, finding answers to industry challenges and creating opportunities for producers is a priority.
“If you want to pass your farm on the next generation, you have to be sustainable,” he says. “Sustainable is not just referring to the crops and the land, which is extremely important to me. But I need to make sure the farm makes money, too. The kids aren't going to be able to do anything if it's not making money now.”
David Herring, NPPC past president, said he is excited for Roth’s leadership in the year ahead.
“Stand on your values, listen and lead with confidence because leadership does matter,” Herring says.
More from Farm Journal’s PORK:
NPPC Calls for Labor Solutions as Visa Processing Halts in Mexico
Herring Reflects on Whirlwind Year of NPPC Presidency
President Trump Signs Bill to Protect U.S. Against African Swine Fever
