With COVID-19 continuing to create challenges for the pork industry, producers face estimated losses of up to $5 billion dollars this year.
The National Pork Producers Council is strongly supporting the Relief Act of 2020.
“In a nutshell, this act helps hog farmers and they really need help. This is an unprecedented emergency in hog farming. So, it’s really important that Congress pass legislation to help hog farmers and that the President signs it. National Pork Producers Council is hopeful that this will happen in July,” said Nick Giordano with the NPPC.
The legislation includes funding for APHIS, amendments to the Commodity Credit Corporation, and compensation for producers facing massive financial losses.
“Hog farmers did not come into the COVID crisis with strong economic winds at their back, they came limping in, but 2020 looked good,” Giordana said. “Unfortunately, that all came crashing down at the beginning of the year with COVID.
Sen. Chuck Grassley partnered with Sens. Joni Ernst and Jim Inhofe to introduce the bill. Grassley is also calling for a 50-14 marketing rule to better support beef and pork producers.