IPPA reps travel to D.C.

Five representatives from the Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA) traveled to Washington D.C. for two days as part of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) biannual legislative fly-in.

While there, Mike Haag (IPPA President Elect), Bob Frase (Current Past President), Curt Zehr (At-Large Director), Phil Borgic (NPPC board member), and Ken Maschhoff (NPPC President) conducted 20 meetings, one with each member of the Illinois Congressional delegation.

Four key issues were discussed during those meetings: the initiation of bilateral free trade agreement negotiations with Japan, the importance of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the withdrawal of the interim final Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule and robust funding for a Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Vaccine Bank in the 2018 Farm Bill.

The United States over the past 10 years, on average, has been the No. 1 exporter of pork in the world. In 2016, exports contributed significantly to the bottom line of all U.S. pork producers adding more than $50 to the value of each hog marketed. Additionally, $5.9 billion of U.S. pork was exported to more than 100 counties.