U.S. pork producers are in Washington D.C. this week to meet with policy makers regarding four key issues: the farm bill, a legislative fix to California Proposition 12, resolutions to the labor shortage and an active trade agenda.

“We need to have a farm bill done this year. It's vitally important for us as pork producers. It addresses Prop 12, a legislative fix to that potential patchwork of 48 states having different regulations which would be detrimental to our industry,” said Lori Stevermer, National Pork Producers Council president and a pork producer from Minnesota. “I've had numerous conversations over the last couple months. I've been at county fairs, state fairs. I've been to Farm Fest. I've even been to the Democratic National Convention. Everyone I talked to said we need a farm bill. So, I'm saying leaders do your job.”

The United States remains a global leader in pork production, with nearly 60,000 pork producers producing 27 billion pounds of pork annually and marketing millions of hogs each week to feed families, not only in the United States, but around the world. While 2023 was a challenging year, and the first part of 2024 has shown some improvements compared to last year, NPPC CEO Bryan Humphreys said there are concerns looking forward to Q4 and early into 2025.

“While we're here this week, and talking about the challenges, we're here to fight for solutions,” Humphreys said. “We need a farm bill. Now we don't need to be talking about extensions. We need to be talking about how to get a farm bill done in 2024.”

Duane Stateler, NPPC president-elect and a pork producer from Ohio, echoed those remarks.

“The 2018 Farm Bill is already six years old and the reason you do it, things change in a five-year period. Markets change, everything changes. Also, the threats change such as foreign animal disease,” said Stateler. “There are a lot of things that are different in this farm bill than what was in 2018 and it’s designed that way because things in the industry change. If we were to go on with a change of administration, whichever one it is, and new people are brought into Washington with the start of a new Congress, that's going to just delay things next year. And with the environment that has taken place with crop prices and some stress that are on farmers and different industries within the realm of agriculture, it's important that we get this moved now while we've got the opportunity.”

Rob Brenneman, NPPC vice president and a pork producer from Iowa has experienced the labor shortage firsthand, witnessing a record number of TN visa denials from the U.S. Department of State. About five years ago his farm started to pursue TN visa applicants to help with the technology side of the business.
“In rural America, there's not an abundance of labor, and if they are, they're usually involved in another farming operation. We've filled that gap with TNs, but I think it's absolutely absurd that we just keep getting TNs denied. We've been to the State Department and we've been to the White House and had conversations, and it just seems like they're doing everything in their power to do the opposite of what we're asking because nothing's changed,” Brenneman said. “And I can guarantee you that if nothing changes in rural America, that our food supply will be in huge jeopardy because of the lack of labor to get the job done.”

Brenneman also has insight into the impact Prop 12 has had, as he has transitioned a portion of his livestock operation to the new welfare requirements.

“It is just one more thing to do differently and it's one more thing to train your people differently on,” Brenneman says. “We can't have 48 different ways we raise pigs. It will not be efficient. Prop 12 has definitely added cost, an unneeded cost, and the reason had no scientific justification behind it.”

While Prop 12 happened in California and Massachusetts now has Question 3, Stevermer says the main concern is what happens when the next state passes another law.

“Then we as producers are constantly making changes to that patchwork. So that uncertainty is what's really weighing on people's minds,” Stevermer says. “I think we should note that not just producers are affected. We predicted that pork prices would be affected in California and the USDA Chief Economist has verified that. Pork prices are up on average 20% since Prop 12 went into place, and the supply is down about 20%. That's not good for consumers, and it's not good for farmers either.”

As for trade, Stevermer acknowledged exports have been a bright spot over the last year, with $8.1 billion of pork products exported last year. Those exports created $62 worth of value per hog.

“We would always take more free-trade agreements, but we know that's not how things are being done in the manner that maybe they were10,15 years ago,” Stevermer said. “But certainly, those agreements with other countries and I think even opportunities, whether it's with GSP or AGOA, both of those are two programs that need to be renewed, that are providing some opportunities or potential opportunities.”

Another priority for pork producers in the 2024 Farm Bill is funding for foreign animal disease prevention and preparedness, including the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Counter Measured Bank, the National Animal Health Laboratory Network and the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program. 

In the meantime, Scott Hays, NPPC immediate past president and a pork producer from Missouri, pointed out the good news is U.S. pork producers have been successful to date in keeping FADs, such as African swine fever, out of the country.

“That's the most important thing, prevention, but while that's going on, we're also preparing, what do we do? If it gets here, how do we get our farms around it? How do we get it stamped out so that we can get back to business as usual?” Hays said. “It's still on producers’ minds, on our minds at NPPC, and the national organizations to ensure that we protect the U.S., not only from African swine fever, but other foreign animal diseases as well.”

Stevermer said although NPPC’s priorities are familiar topics, these issues need to be addressed first.

“We wish the farm bill was passed. We wish we had additional labor options, whether it's TNs or H-2A visa reform. We wish we could talk about positive things like what we're doing with sustainability and the traceability work … but we have to deal with what's in front of us and there's work to be done,” Stevermer said.