National Pork Producers Council

NPPC’s top priority is a new COVID congressional relief package that includes much-needed financial assistance to U.S. pork producers in crisis. On Monday, NPPC held a media briefing, outlining the unprecedented emergency that U.S. hog farmers face as a result of COVID-related challenges and urged swift congressional action to address this crisis. “We’re going to lose a lot of hog farmers – small, medium, and large; the question is how many. That’s going to depend on not only the continued impact of COVID, but on what the federal government is able to provide by the way of support,” NPPC Vice President and Counsel, Global Government Affairs Nick Giordano told more than 50 reporters during the press conference. NPPC is urging the Senate to include the RELIEF for Producers Act of 2020—providing a critical lifeline to U.S. hog farmers—in the next COVID relief package. Read more about the press conference here. In related news, U.S. Sens. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) sent a letter to Senate leadership this week, urging help to pork producers in the upcoming COVID package. NPPC thanks Sens. Smith, Klobuchar and Durbin for seeking critical help to U.S. pork producers, many of whom are struggling to weather this crisis. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) plans to release the COVID package on Monday. It’s expected to include compensation to livestock producers for pandemic-related losses, as well as direct payments to farmers.