National Pork Producers Council
The National Pork Producers Council conducts public-policy outreach on behalf of its 43 affiliated state associations, enhancing opportunities for the success of U.S. pork producers and other industry stakeholders by establishing the U.S. pork industry as a consistent and responsible supplier of high-quality pork to the domestic and world markets.
Pork Checkoff
The National Pork Board was created by an Act of Congress that established the pork Checkoff. The Pork Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act of 1985 is commonly known as the Pork Act. Pork producers asked Congress to make the Checkoff a mandatory, national program and, in a vote in 1988, affirmed the continuation of the pork Checkoff. The Pork Act outlines how Checkoff funds must be used. The National Pork Board collects checkoff on all U.S. produced market hogs, feeder pigs, breeding stock, imported hogs and pork products. The National Pork Board administers programs and allocates Checkoff funds according to priorities determined by those who pay the checkoff. Producer priorities are determined through various methods to identify and prioritize key issues affecting the pork industry. At the national level, programs are administered by the National Pork Board. The Pork Act requires that a percentage of the Checkoff funds collected each year be returned to state producer associations. The National Pork Board is responsible for communicating with pork producers and the public. Communications tools include a quarterly magazine, newsletters and websites to keep people who pay the checkoff informed about the programs their investments support.