The farm bill, animal health, free market systems and Prop 12 were discussed on AgriTalk’s first morning at the 2024 World Pork Expo. Host Chip Flory was joined by Bryan Humphreys, CEO of the National Pork Producers Council and Jennifer Shike, editor of Farm Journal’s PORK magazine.
“The challenges that we face with health would only be exacerbated if we were to happen to get a foreign animal disease in this country,” Humphreys shared during the show. “Our members in Congress have taken this incredibly seriously. In the House version of the farm bill they included all of our ask on what we refer to as our three-legged stool of animal health, foreign animal disease prevention and preparedness.”
That $233 million added to the farm bill includes funding for the National Animal Lab Network, the National Disease Preparedness and Response Program, and the vaccine bank.
“To take care of those priorities, not just for the U.S. pork industry, but for all of livestock agriculture, clearly demonstrates to me that folks in D.C. get the importance of protecting our industry for animal health,” Humphreys said.
After analyzing the House version, Flory added he felt it was a farmer-friendly bill, from not only the row crop and specialty crop side, but also from livestock producers’ point of view.
“I would consider this an American friendly bill,” Humphreys agreed. “We’re protecting American agriculture, both on the row crop side and the livestock side.” The priorities Humphreys sees addressed are funding for animal health, fixes for Proposition 12, and increased funding for foreign market development opportunities.
“These are things that are going to benefit not just agriculture, but all of rural America,” he said.
Humphreys encouraged listeners to talk with members of Congress to pass this bill because of what it does for American agriculture.
“I didn’t coin this phrase, but food security is national security,” he said. “And if we don’t protect our American food supply, through things like the farm bill, then we’re doing a real disservice to this country.”
In terms of market development, Flory offered that as an opportunity for the government to cooperate with private industry and organizations.
“When we talk about the role and responsibility of the federal government, it’s to break down those trade barriers and to gain access for American products into those countries,” Humphreys said. “We do that through free trade agreements or bilateral agreements, or however you want to look at it. But it’s about creating the opportunity for the American producer, in this case, specifically—the pork industry, to have access to those markets and get their products in.”
He pointed out the success of these foreign market relationships as 25% of pork products produced in this country are exported, creating about $8.16 billion worth of trade for the U.S. pork industry to more than 100 countries.
“Part of that success comes from the Market Access Program (MAP) and the foreign market development funding that comes in the farm bill,” Humphreys said.
The House version would increase the MAP from 200 million to 400 million. The foreign market development funding would increase from about 34 to $69 million.
“That’s a tremendous opportunity to get into those countries and promote our products,” Humphreys added.
Another issue addressed by the farm bill is Prop 12, which falls in line with market development.
“California was responsible for about 13% of domestic pork consumption domestically, so tremendous opportunity there for us,” Humphreys said.
However, the industry has seen challenges since implementation.
Citing numbers from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in California and USDA, Humphreys said they’re seeing a 20% decrease in pork consumption in the state due to an almost 20% price increase in the cost of those products in California.
Hearing those numbers brought up the question, how do people afford pork?
“I just think about how challenging it is and how much money we spend in our family,” Shike said. “Both parents are working hard and the food bill is high ,and you think about a 20% increase in a staple food that Californians clearly love and appreciate and value for so many reasons culturally and nutritionally. It’s just not fair. It’s not right.”
Humphreys agreed and is happy to see bipartisan support for the House version of the farm bill, which addresses the Prop 12 issue. It’s a discussion he said will continue within the industry and with elected officials.
“In my opinion this protects states’ rights, and really protects the ability of Iowa legislators to regulate Iowa farmers, not the California Legislature,” he said.
Listen to the full episode:
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