Des Moines, IA - The following was released today by the National Pork Producers Council:
It is quite apparent from the latest demands directed at the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) by the Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and its apparent new ally, National People's Action, that the two activist groups do not understand how the national pork legislative checkoff works.
The National Pork Board, an independent body established under provisions of the Pork Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act of 1985, collects and distributes checkoff funds. It also administers and coordinates all checkoff-funded programs. The Pork Board contracts with other industry organizations, such as the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), to carry out specific programs in the areas of promotion, research and consumer information.
The National Pork Producers Council believes that it has developed effective, meaningful programs for the National Pork Board to help solve real producer problems in the real world. We cannot change the reality that there is a trend toward larger hog production units. We can and are developing programs designed to help keep all producers competitive, regardless of their production size or style.
Pork producers, regardless of the size of their production operation, need the latest information and technology in order to remain competitive. The National Pork Board, in association with the National Pork Producers Council, has been using every known communications vehicle in recent years ... from word-of- mouth to the latest electronic delivery systems, to alert all pork producers to what it takes to continue being successful in the pork business. We can help those producers who take advantage of the many opportunities we offer. Unfortunately, we cannot help those who choose to turn their backs on those opportunities.
The Pork Board and NPPC draw their strength from the nation's grassroots producers. Overall policy direction for both organizations is determined by producer delegate bodies elected at the state level. Approximately 30% of the pork producer delegates at the March 1998 NPPC Annual Meeting, had less than 100 sows, while another 32% had between 100-499 sows. About 17% of the delegates reported having 1,000 or more sows. Forty-one percent of the producer delegates owned or rented less than 200 acres of land.
According to a new national telephone survey conducted by the independent Gallup Organization, an overwhelming majority of pork producers continue to be highly supportive of the national pork checkoff and believe it is benefiting them personally.
The annual survey, commissioned by NPPC on behalf of the National Pork Board, was completed in late February of this year. It is conducted each year in one of many efforts to find out how pork producers want their checkoff money spent. Eighty-eight percent of the 506 pork producers involved in this year's survey this year said the checkoff had benefited the pork industry. Nearly 72% said that the checkoff had benefited them personally. Eighty-three percent of the producers surveyed said they were in favor of continuing the checkoff. The survey had a +/- 4.4 point margin of error.
Perhaps National People's Action and Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement are as unaware of the specific checkoff programs underway that benefit all pork producers, as they are of the mechanics of the checkoff itself. In an effort to correct that possibility, we have gathered together some information that we have decided to make available not only to them, but any other organizations or individuals who may be interested.
Meat Industry Insights News Service
P.O. Box 553
Northport, NY 11768
Phone: 631-757-4010
Fax: 631-757-4060
E-mail: sflanagan@sprintmail.com
Web Site: http://www.spcnetwork.com/mii