As the fifth generation on our Ohio family farm – paving the way for the sixth and seventh generations – I can attest to how much our business has changed over the years. Across the industry, we have embraced advancements and science-based best practices that have helped us produce safe, high-quality pork in ways that are better for the animals we care for, as well as for our people and the planet. I’m proud of how we raise pigs today.
However, increased activism has forced us to play defense. I firmly believe we are on the right side of these issues, so I’ve always strived to meet them head-on. In fact, I have welcomed thousands of visitors to my farm, including policymakers and nonfarming audiences, to provide a firsthand view of the realities of pork production. As a result, we’ve successfully changed misperceptions about how our animals are cared for, how our land is utilized, and how modern farms operate.
As president of the National Pork Producers Council, I am bringing that same commitment to transparency to share the work NPPC is doing on behalf of the nation’s 60,000-plus pork producers. Often, this work may not make headlines, but incremental steps result in important wins. I want producers to know what we’re doing and to understand the impact that persistent and strategic advocacy can have on industry. Not only will this approach show producers what they get for their investment, but it also sets each of us up for success.
Let’s start that process by highlighting NPPC’s long-range strategic plan, as this road map will guide our decisions in the years to come.
NPPC exists to ensure pork producers have a voice in the rooms where decisions about our future are made. We are committed to consistent, proactive engagement with policymakers at the international, federal, and state levels. Our long-range strategic plan places an emphasis on advocacy efforts that ensure the industry stays ahead of evolving regulations, market trends and corporate demands.
This plan was not created in a vacuum. We sought out and incorporated input from producers to ensure our advocacy efforts are aligned with the long-term goals of the hardworking men and women NPPC represents. From an organizational level, our long-range strategic plan will help us better anticipate and mitigate disruptions across the industry. It will create more effective engagement with producers, which will allow us to be more impactful advocates at every level of government.
Ultimately, we have a much larger goal. We all share the conviction that our family farm is our legacy. Protecting that legacy is the reason I found myself in the advocacy space in the first place. I am committed to ensuring we are all able to pass our family farms on to the next generation. NPPC’s long-term strategic plan will help us get there.
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