Pork Act delegates will debate key issues, challenges and opportunities confronting the pork industry during National Pork Industry Forum March 4-6 in Kansas City, MO.

The Pork Act Delegate Body theme this year is “Leading a World-Class Food Industry – Responsible. Sustainable. Professional. Profitable.”

“The theme mirrors the vision statement of the National Pork Board’s new five-year strategic plan that will be presented to the delegates in Kansas City,” says Tim Bierman, a Larrabee, IA, pork producer and president of the National Pork Board. “We are eager to get the delegates’ reaction to the board’s vision for the role the Pork Checkoff will play in our future.

“Forum also is a key time for Checkoff investors to participate in the business of how we use those investments to address critical issues faced by U.S. pork producers,” says Bierman. “Among the issues on the table this year are some new ideas about our marketing efforts as well as a progress report on programs that are helping to demonstrate producers’ long-term commitment to socially responsible pork production.”

Delegates will also discuss other issues related to Pork Checkoff including the rate of the Checkoff and the amount of Checkoff funds distributed to state pork associations for Checkoff-funded programs.

Delegates will also nominate producers and importers for appointment to the National Pork Board and to the Pork Nominating Committee.

Recommendations regarding the Pork Checkoff and appointments to the Pork Board are forwarded to the U.S. secretary of agriculture for final approval.

Pork Act Delegates are pork producers or importers nominated by their state pork associations or by individuals, then appointed by the secretary of agriculture.

In 2010, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has appointed 154 pork producers and six importers to the Pork Act Delegate Body.

To learn more about the Pork Checkoff, call (800) 456-7675 or visit www.pork.org.