USA – Pork producers across the United States are welcoming the unveiling of the 2024 Farm Bill by the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, according to the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC).

Lori Stevermer, NPPC President and a pork producer from Easton, Minn., expressed gratitude to Chairman G.T. Thompson for addressing the pressing issues facing the agriculture industry.

Stevermer highlighted the inclusion of pork producers’ top priorities in the House Farm Bill as a testament to the industry’s unity and advocacy efforts.

The House Farm Bill incorporates several key provisions advocated by NPPC, including a legislative solution to address the challenges posed by California’s Proposition 12.

This 2018 ballot initiative has led to significant price spikes for pork in California due to its stringent housing requirements for pork production.

Additionally, the House Bill preserves essential resources aimed at safeguarding the nation’s food supply through prevention measures against foreign animal diseases (FADs), such as the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank and the National Animal Health Laboratory Network.

Furthermore, the House Farm Bill seeks to increase market access for U.S. pork through programs like the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Development Program (FMD).

These initiatives aim to promote U.S. agricultural products abroad and stimulate export markets, thereby contributing to economic growth and job creation across the country.

In response to the ongoing threat posed by feral swine, the House Bill proposes a boost in resources for feral swine eradication efforts.

This includes support for the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program, established in the 2018 Farm Bill, to mitigate the risks posed by feral swine to agriculture, ecosystems, and public health.

Additionally, the House Farm Bill authorizes the National Detector Dog Training Center, a vital facility for training detector dogs to detect potential threats, such as African swine fever, at the nation’s ports of entry.

NPPC is urging the House Agriculture Committee to promptly consider and pass the Farm Bill to provide pork producers with the certainty needed to sustain their operations for future generation

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