Pork producers want presidential candidates' backing

Aug. 16, 1999

On the eve of the Iowa Republican straw poll, the National Pork Producers Council proposed giving every pork producer $50,000 cash, regardless of size of operation. That was one of a series of recommendations NPPC also will urge on Congress in the form of a "recovery plan."

When the Senate passed a $7.4 billion farm recovery program Aug. 4, it included $350 million for all livestock and dairy producers. That won't provide the cash flow assistance to keep anyone in business for long," says NPPC President John McNutt. Instead, NPPC wants $600 million just for pork producers to fund the $50,000 payments to all producers regardless of size.

Other parts of the NPPC proposal:

-A second humanitarian assistance package for Russia: The recently completed shipment of 50,000 tons of pork to Russia helped spark "a small rally in hog prices," says NPPC. Another aid package of at least 100,000 tons, for shipment this fall or winter, would help reduce cold storage stocks and increase prices during a time of large supplies.

-A "humanitarian inventory assistance program": Pork products would be donated to needy countries under this program. McNutt says this would help reduce the breeding herd now and bring "equilibrium" to the hog market. USDA would purchase hogs from producers bidding production into the program. Successful bidders would have to operate at reduced production levels for a prescribed period of time. Packers would be allowed to process the animals during non-working hours such as weekends or nights. All animals would be processed into carcasses, specific cuts or canned product for humanitarian distribution.

-USDA support for national cooperatives: Also, NPPC wants USDA support to conduct an economic analysis of the feasibility of building and operating processing and marketing operations. USDA has pledged both technical and cost-share assistant to help pork producers.

-USDA purchases of pork for feeding programs: NPPC wants USDA to increase purchases of pork and pork products to domestic feeding programs. USDA made record pork purchases last year, but pork continues to lag both beef and poultry in volume and value, says NPPC.

-Full funding of the Market Access Program: Although the MAP is authorized at $250 million a year, Congress has funded only $90 million for the past several years. NPPC wants MAP funded at the full $250 million level.

-Increased funding for guaranteed loan programs: Significant additional funding is needed by Congress for the guaranteed farm ownership, operating loan and interest assistance programs for pork producers, says NPPC.