The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) has been actively advocating for policies and initiatives that support the U.S. pork industry, ensuring producers are well-positioned for success in the evolving regulatory and trade landscape. Below is a breakdown of the key updates from the NPPC Capital Update for the week ending January 31, 2025.
1. NPPC Pushes for U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan (US SHIP) as a Federal Program
📌 What happened?
NPPC submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) supporting the formal establishment of the U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan (US SHIP) under the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
US SHIP is a voluntary, industry-led initiative designed to certify U.S. pork operations as free from foreign animal diseases (FADs) such as African swine fever (ASF) and Classical swine fever (CSF).
📌 Why it matters?
- Protecting Trade: The certification could serve as a reference point for interstate commerce and international trade, ensuring the U.S. pork industry remains competitive in global markets.
- Preventing Devastating Losses: Without US SHIP, a major FAD outbreak could halt pork exports for over a decade, potentially costing the industry $50 billion in economic losses. Even in a best-case scenario, an outbreak controlled within two years would still result in $15 billion in losses.
- Enhancing Biosecurity: The plan includes traceability, feed biosafety, farm biosecurity, feral swine mitigation, disease surveillance, and transportation sanitation—all of which are critical to disease prevention.
NPPC is calling for adequate funding to support the program’s development and transition to APHIS oversight, ensuring it remains effective in safeguarding the industry.
2. Agricultural Leaders Meet in Washington to Discuss Policy & Trade
📌 What happened?
NPPC President Lori Stevermer joined leaders from other major agricultural organizations in Washington, D.C., to discuss policy, trade, and regulatory challenges affecting U.S. producers.
📌 Key topics of discussion:
- The 2025 Farm Bill: Ensuring critical support programs and funding for agriculture.
- Tax Policy: Pushing to extend beneficial tax provisions for farmers beyond 2025.
- Regulatory Challenges: Addressing burdensome federal regulations impacting pork production.
- California Proposition 12: Advocating for a resolution to the state’s restrictive housing law, which limits pork sales from producers who do not meet California’s arbitrary sow housing standards.
- Trade & Export Expansion: Strengthening market access and protecting U.S. agriculture in international trade agreements.
📌 Why it matters?
With a new administration and Congress, the U.S. pork industry is working to ensure its policy priorities remain front and center. NPPC is advocating for policies that support producers, expand export opportunities, and remove restrictive regulations.
3. Lee Zeldin Confirmed as EPA Administrator – What It Means for Pork Producers
📌 What happened?
The Senate confirmed Lee Zeldin as the new Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under President Trump’s administration.
📌 Why it matters?
- The EPA enforces environmental regulations such as the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, which impact agricultural operations.
- NPPC will work closely with Zeldin to ensure that regulations are science-based, practical, and not overly burdensome for pork producers.
- Pork producers have already made significant sustainability gains, including:
- 76% reduction in land use over 50 years.
- 25% reduction in water use.
- 7% reduction in energy consumption.
📌 NPPC’s stance:
“We need practical, effective environmental policies that allow pork producers to continue farming responsibly without excessive overreach,” said NPPC President-Elect Duane Stateler. NPPC looks forward to collaborating with the new EPA leadership to balance environmental protection with agricultural viability.
4. RFK Jr. Faces Senate Hearings for HHS Secretary – Concerns for Agriculture
📌 What happened?
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s nominee for Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, testified before the Senate Finance and Health Committees.
📌 Why it matters?
HHS oversees several agencies that impact agriculture, including:
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Regulates gene editing technologies in livestock.
- The Dietary Guidelines for Americans: Determines federal nutrition policy, including school meal programs.
📌 Concerns from the Ag Industry:
- Kennedy has previously supported restrictions on concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).
- He co-founded Waterkeeper Alliance, an organization that has pushed for strict environmental regulations on livestock operations.
- He has questioned the use of pesticides, GMOs, and gene editing in agriculture—a stance that concerns many farmers.
📌 NPPC’s stance:
NPPC is committed to ensuring that HHS policies support modern pork production and do not create unnecessary barriers for farmers.
5. Trump Administration Fills Key USDA Positions
📌 What happened?
President Trump has nominated several individuals for key roles at USDA, including:
- Stephen Vaden – Deputy Secretary of Agriculture.
- Richard Fordyce – Undersecretary for Farm Production & Conservation.
- Dudley Hoskins – Undersecretary for Marketing & Regulatory Programs.
- Luke Lindberg – Undersecretary for Trade & Foreign Agriculture Affairs.
📌 Why it matters?
These officials will oversee critical programs affecting pork producers, including farm policy, food safety, export regulations, and conservation efforts. Their leadership will play a key role in implementing the new Farm Bill and shaping USDA’s priorities.
6. NPPC Hires Kelcy Schaunaman to Lead Competition, Labor & Tax Policy
📌 What happened?
NPPC has hired Kelcy Schaunaman as Manager of Competition, Labor, and Tax Policy in Washington, D.C.
📌 Why it matters?
Schaunaman will advocate for policies that support pork producers in key areas such as:
- Workforce & labor regulations.
- Tax policies that impact farm profitability.
- Market competition issues affecting pork pricing.
Her background in agriculture law and policy will strengthen NPPC’s efforts to protect producer interests.
Final Thoughts: What This Means for Pork Producers
🚜 The U.S. pork industry is navigating major policy shifts under a new administration and Congress. NPPC is working aggressively to:
✅ Secure funding for U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan.
✅ Ensure fair trade policies and regulatory relief.
✅ Protect pork production from harmful policies.
✅ Strengthen farm profitability through tax and labor advocacy.
📌 Stay informed and engaged! Follow Swine Web for ongoing updates on policy, trade, and industry news that impact pork producers.
🔗 Full NPPC Capital Update: Read here
