Local pork producer provides input on programs

SUSSEX BOROUGH — Kirk Stephens, a pig farmer from Sussex, served as a delegate to the Pork Act Delegate assembly March 1-3 in Atlanta.
Stephens was appointed as a delegate by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
“It was important to me to represent pork producers from across the United States as a Pork Act delegate,” said Stephens. “As an industry, we are committed to ‘elevate U.S. pork as the global protein of choice by continuously and collaboratively working to do what’s right for people, pigs and the planet.’ This was reinforced throughout the Pork Act delegate meeting.”
Stephens was one of 168 appointed delegates who traveled from 49 states across the country to represent pork producers and importers who sell pork products in the United States. The duties of the delegate body include nominating members to serve on the National Pork Board, establishing how much of the Pork Checkoff is returned to state pork organizations, and providing direction on pork promotion, research and consumer and producer education priorities funded by the Pork Checkoff.
To fund programs, America’s pork producers contribute 40 cents of every $100 of sales to the Checkoff. Importers use a sales formula to contribute a similar amount. The role of the Pork Checkoff is to promote and enhance consumer demand for pork on a global basis, as well as invest in research designed to improve production practices and safeguard the pork supply, the environment and animal well-being. Building consumer confidence and educating America’s pig farmers about livestock production practices through training and certification programs are also key priorities.
The National Pork Board earlier approved a 2017 budget for national spending of $55.4 million for promotion, research and education programs. The strategic direction of the Pork Checkoff is centered on building consumer trust, driving sustainable production and growing consumer demand in the United States and globally.
“It has never been more critical that we work together as producers, processors and food chain partners to make a collective difference to pork’s consumers,” Stephens said.