FAQ

NPPC stands for National Pork Producers Council.

We advocate for the social, environmental and economic sustainability of U.S. pork producers and their partners by fighting for reasonable public policy, advancing our freedom to operate, and expanding access to global markets.

The National Pork Producers Council represents the interests of 60,000+ U.S. pork producers and other stakeholders in the pork supply chain. It comprises 42 affiliated state pork producer associations.

NPPC engages in public policy advocacy, trade and market access expansion, animal health and food safety issues, environmental and energy policy, and commerce and production issues affecting the pork industry.

NPPC works with legislators, regulators, and international trade organizations to advocate for and educate on policies that support U.S. pork producers.

While NPPC is a national organization, it also represents and works through its member state pork associations, helping coordinate and support policy interests at both state and federal levels. And, NPPC has staff devoted specifically to working with the states on state-level issues of national importance.

The Strategic Investment Program is the primary source of NPPC funds, wherein pork producers voluntarily invest a percentage of the sales of each hog sold. Other sources include the Pork Alliance Program, the Packer Processor Industry Council and NPPC events.

NPPC has two offices: one in Washington, D.C., to engage regulators, legislators, and other decision makers in the capital and another in Urbandale, Iowa, located near Des Moines and close to many pork producers.

NPPC is overseen by a board of directors elected by its member state associations. The day-to-day operations are run by a CEO and other professional staff.

NPPC welcomes pork producers, allied industry companies, suppliers, processors, and other stakeholders in the pork supply chain.

You can work with NPPC to advocate for the pork industry in several ways:

• Give to PorkPAC, NPPC’s political action committee, which supports grassroots efforts and funds the creation of communications materials and programs that defend pork producers’ freedom to operate.
• Participate in NPPC’s LEADR program or contact your state association to be notified of information campaigns to get involved.
• Stay informed via NPPC’s news updates, social media, newsletters, and other resources.

PorkPAC is the political action committee of the National Pork Producers Council. It works to educate federal lawmakers about the interests of pork producers, processors, marketers, consumers, and the pork business. A financially strong PorkPAC also counters well-funded opposition group activity by strengthening NPPC’s grassroots, communications, and public policy programs.

Yes. Through the National Pork Industry Foundation (NPIF), NPPC helps fund scholarships and educational programs for students interested in pork industry careers or agricultural research.

Interested individuals or allied industry partners can contribute to the National Pork Industry Foundation; such contributions may qualify as tax-deductible charitable donations.

Visit our News & Resources section. It includes news such as the weekly Capital Update policy report, press releases, scholarship opportunities, videos, social media links, and more.

You can use the contact options on the NPPC website to reach us. You can also fill out our subscription form to receive press releases, weekly updates, and other relevant communications. For media-specific requests, please email news@nppc.org.

SIP is the primary source of funding for NPPC and is used to strengthen NPPC’s mission to enhance and defend opportunities for U.S. pork producers at home and abroad. Pork producers participate by voluntarily investing a percentage of the sales of each pig sold. A portion of this investment is distributed as unrestricted funds to the state organizations, allowing them to respond to threats on a local basis.

Investors benefit in many ways, including NPPC’s ongoing efforts:

• Fighting for reasonable legislation and regulation: NPPC keeps legislation and costly regulation in check by connecting lawmakers and regulators with the people and realities of the U.S. pork industry.
• Developing revenue and market opportunities: NPPC aggressively defends investor interests in trade negotiations, increasing export market access for U.S. pork.
• Protecting investor livelihoods: NPPC proactively addresses issues of industry and consumer concern, such as food safety, environmental protection, and animal health and welfare.

SIP was started to ensure that adequate funding is available for critical programs focused on public policy, including legislative, regulatory, and trade issues. Voted into action in 2002 by producer delegates, the program also ensures adequate funding is available for state organizations to support their members on local legislative and regulatory issues.

No—SIP is entirely voluntary and separate from the mandatory checkoff program administered by the National Pork Board. The pork checkoff is used for research, promotion, and education and cannot be used for lobbying, regulatory, or trade policy advocacy. SIP funds allow policy representation and advocacy at state, national, and international levels.

As an investor, producers have a voice in NPPC policy development. Investors receive timely, direct communication on critical policy and regulatory issues being addressed by NPPC. As producers and allied industries are faced with more critical issues than ever before, SIP investors are provided with information and resources to act on these issues that often threaten their freedom to operate.

Investors are producers of all types and sizes. This unified investment allows NPPC to act with one voice and effectively utilize these resources.

Investors voluntarily contribute 15 cents per $100 of gross pig sale value or contract value, with employees investing $150 annually and Young Pork Advocates participating for $50 annually—a system that fosters industry engagement at all levels.

All SIP investments are split, with 40% going to state organizations and 60% to NPPC. State affiliates spend these unrestricted funds as directed by the members and leaders of their organization.

The U.S. pork industry is a pillar of agriculture and supports over 573,000 jobs, involves more than 60,000 pork producers, markets over 149 million hogs annually, and contributes more than $62.6 billion to the GDP. The pork industry also indirectly generates significant economic activity through its purchase of inputs. Feed inputs like corn and soybean meal account for an estimated 52% of total U.S. production costs. Other costs include equipment, buildings, land, utilities, trucking, and labor.

In 2023, the pork industry supported more than 573,000 jobs in the U.S

U.S. pork is exported to more than 100 countries at a total value of more than $8.6 billion.

NPPC supports trade agreements and other trade initiatives that open new and expand existing export markets and eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers to U.S. pork exports.

NPPC works on behalf of the industry to ensure that the pork provided to our markets is safe, nutritious, and responsibly produced—reflecting both consumer standards and our industry’s devotion to the welfare of our animals. NPPC advocates for science-based approaches to swine health and production and opposes efforts to dictate on-farm production practices.

Pork producers are dedicated to protecting the environment and safeguarding the nation’s resources for future generations. In addition to being subject to federal and state environmental regulations, the pork industry has worked with all levels of government to develop science-based practices addressing use and management of valuable nutrients. The U.S. pork industry’s efforts over the past 50-plus years have seen it reduce its environmental footprint by 8%, using 75% less land, 25% less water, and 7% less energy.

In 2018, California approved Proposition 12, state legislation that prohibits the sale of uncooked whole pork meat not produced according to the state’s arbitrary, unscientific housing dimensions. As a consequence, pork prices have surged. NPPC advocates on the industry’s behalf to U.S. government officials to fix the mountain of issues caused by Prop. 12, specifically looming concerns over a patchwork of state sow housing laws that producers – no matter what state they are located in – must abide by if they want to sell to the large California market.