Neil Dierks, CEO of the National Pork Producers Council, was given the Distinguished Support of Animal Science Award from the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) at its joint annual meeting with the American Dairy Science Association. Dierks received the honor for his strong support for increasing agricultural research and education. Among other efforts, ASAS cited Dierks’s involvement in planning, … Read More
Pork Groups Urge Senate To Act On COOL
The National Pork Producers Council and 34 state pork producer organizations are urging the Senate to take up legislation to repeal country of origin labeling requirements for beef, pork and poultry before Congress takes a month-long recess beginning in early August. The U.S. Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) law requires meat to be labeled with the country where the animal … Read More
UN Guidance For Trichinae Risk Seen as Plus for US Exports
New guidelines from the United Nations for establishing negligible risk for trichinae in swine could significantly boost exports of U.S. pork. This news release from the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) says the U.N.’s food-safety standard-setting body, the Codex Alimentarius Commission, finalized global guidelines that provide a way for countries to define negligible risk for trichinae and establish methods for … Read More
Groups File Lawsuit To Vacate ‘WOTUS’ Rule
More than a dozen farm groups have joined together to file a lawsuit to vacate a new Clean Water Act (CWA) regulation, better known as the “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule. The National Pork Producers Council says the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have overstepped their bounds with the rule with an … Read More
TPA Finally Passes Congress
After lots of drama and much political posturing, Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) finally cleared the final hurdle before being sent to the president’s desk, passing the U.S. Senate Wednesday by a vote of 60-38. “As the demand for U.S. beef continues to grow around the world, the future success of the beef industry rests in our ability to meet foreign … Read More
Ag Gets Waiver From ‘Hours Of Service’ Rule
The National Pork Producers Council petitioned the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) back in 2013 for a waiver and exemption from complying with the requirement of truck drivers to take a 30-minute rest break for every 8 hours of service. The groups this spring asked the FMCSA to renew the waiver and to extend it for the two-year maximum … Read More
Livestock Groups Pleased with TPA Passage
The U.S. House passed Trade Promotion Authority Thursday by a vote of 218-208 getting fast track back on track, making the U.S. meat and dairy industry happy. “Trade Promotion Authority gives Congress the ability to set definitive goals for the President in negotiations, and then requires any deal be brought back for final approval,” said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association president … Read More
Global Business Panel on COOL
With the World Trade Organization Wednesday to hear formal requests from Mexico and Canada to retaliate against the United States over Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for meat products, a Global Business Dialogue panel at the National Press Club Tuesday was very timely. The panel, which was sponsored by the National Pork Producers Council, featured representatives from both countries discussing … Read More
27th World Pork Expo A Success
World Pork Expo just completed its 27th year, drawing approximately 20,000 pork producers and other professionals from 41 countries to Des Moines, Iowa, June 3-5. We want to once again thank our sponsor, Boehringer Ingelheim, for making our coverage of this event possible. Links to all our audio can be found at AgNewsWire.AgWired.com. Brought to you by the National Pork … Read More
Trade Top Priority for NPPC
Ken Maschhoff, The Maschoffs, Inc. and VP of the National Pork Producers Council, was on hand during the World Pork Expo to talk all things vital to the pork industry. I picked his brain on trade and other policy issues impacting swine production. “The pork industry is exporting 27% of our pork today. Exports are tremendously important. They represent $6.6 … Read More