Scott Hays, president of the National Pork Producers Council, testified before the House Ag Committee?s Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry and talked about pork priorities. Hays presented policy priorities ranging from funding that supports programs to safeguard the nation?s food supply against the threat of foreign animal diseases to initiatives that expand foreign market access for U.S. agricultural products. Hays outlined the economic challenges facing pig farmers as hog prices have moderated significantly since 2022. Production costs have risen drastically, the industry faced trade retaliation, supply chain issues, labor shortages, and the unfavorable Supreme Court decision on Prop 12. ?This is putting a pinch on the pork industry and could drive consolidation at the farm level as producers may be forced to exit the industry,? Hays says. Other priorities include a one-year extension of Livestock Mandatory Price Reporting, opposition to proposed changes to the Packers and Stockyards Act, and others.
NPPC outlines industry priorities during house hearing
