NPPC Applauds Massachusetts Question 3 Reversal on Ground Pork | NPPC Engages at Republican National Convention | NPPC’s Carr Represents U.S. Pork at FAO Livestock Meeting | July WASDE Report Shows Pork Production Up for 2024 | USDA Allocates More Funds to Expand Meat Processing Capacity

NPPC Applauds Massachusetts Question 3 Reversal on Ground Pork

What happened: Nearly a year after NPPC first negotiated a settlement with Massachusetts over the transshipment provisions in Question 3 – and many subsequent follow up discussions concerning the treatment of ground pork under Question 3 – the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) updated its FAQ document to provide much need clarity.

The 2016 ballot initiative – similar to California’s Proposition 12 – bans the sale of pork from hogs born to sows raised in housing that doesn’t comply with Massachusetts’ prescriptive standards. The vast majority of pork currently produced in the United States does not meet the state’s arbitrary standards.

In its late May update to the Question 3 FAQ, MDAR reversed its prior determination that ground pork was subject to Question 3. Following NPPC’s continued engagement on the issue, including a January NPPC Board of Directors meeting with coalition partners in Boston, MDAR’s revised FAQ now clarifies that, in addition to not covering sausage, Question 3 also does not cover ground or otherwise comminuted pork (pork that has been diced, chopped, or cut into “smaller” pieces) since it is no longer whole pork meat.

In addition, MDAR also clarified that pursuant to its settlement agreement with NPPC and its coalition of groups representing New England restaurant and hospitality businesses, Massachusetts will “temporarily” not enforce its regulations that sought to apply Question 3 to pork products that were transshipped through Massachusetts for delivery to other states.

NPPC’s take: The release of this updated FAQ is a significant development that should provide additional direction and certainty to the marketplace regarding the sale of pork in Massachusetts and New England. As NPPC has consistently heard from its partners in the distribution and restaurant industry, MDAR’s original decision to require ground pork to be Q3 compliant caused significant chaos and confusion for restaurants, especially ethnic restaurants, that rely on ground pork in their menus. NPPC has worked hard to convince Massachusetts to reverse its previous position on ground pork and applauds this commonsense solution which should relieve pressure on supplying ground pork into Massachusetts. As Massachusetts continues to work on its implementation of Question 3, NPPC will continue to engage with our broad coalition of partners to ensure a continued supply of pork to Massachusetts consumers.

NPPC Engages at Republican National Convention

What happened: NPPC President-elect and Ohio pork producer Duane Stateler and Chase Adams, NPPC’s assistant vice president of domestic policy, this week attended the Republican National Committee (RNC) convention in Milwaukee and met with Trump vice presidential pick Sen. J.D. Vance, as well as the U.S. Senate and House leadership. 

Stateler told his fellow Ohioan, Sen. Vance, about the pork industry’s priorities, including the need to fix California Proposition 12. Stateler and Adams also discussed passing a new Farm Bill, with provisions addressing foreign animal diseases, promoting U.S. pork exports, and dealing with agriculture’s labor shortage. They also received legislative updates from House Speaker Mike Johnson (LA), Majority Leader Steve Scalise (LA), and Majority Whip Tom Emmer (MN). 

NPPC sponsored and attended the Great American Farm Fair, held as part of the convention to highlight the importance of farm policy. The event at the Malchine Farms in Waterford, WI, was attended by nearly 400 people, including many members of Congress. 

What it means: The RNC convention and the one to be held in late August by the Democratic National Committee are opportunities for NPPC to educate federal and state lawmakers, other convention delegates, and representatives of the presidential candidates on issues of importance to America’s pork producers. 

Stateler advocated for pork industry priorities with congressional leaders from across the country, including House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson (PA) and House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade Chairman Adrian Smith (NE).

NPPC’s Carr Represents U.S. Pork at FAO Livestock Meeting

What happened: Dr. Trachelle Carr, NPPC’s senior director of international technical affairs, participated in the 2024 annual meeting of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance (LEAP) Partnership, a multi-stakeholder initiative committed to improving the environmental performance of livestock supply chains while ensuring its economic and social viability.

Over the past 12 years, the LEAP Partnership has been instrumental in creating internationally agreed-upon methodologies and metrics for assessing the environmental impact of livestock production systems. Focusing on the environment and sustainability, the partnership advocates for implementing guidelines across various countries, scales, and production systems.

At its annual meeting this week in Rome, LEAP Partnership participants worked to enhance and expand the partnership’s impact and establish key priorities for making global livestock systems more sustainable over the next three years.

According to the partnership, farmers, consumers, and other livestock stakeholders increasingly request more information about the environmental performance and the sustainability of livestock supply chains. Although a wide range of environmental assessment methods have been developed, comparative and standardized indicators are proving essential to switch the dialogue focus with stakeholders from methodological issues to improvement measures.

Why it matters: The LEAP Partnership develops comprehensive guidance and methodologies for understanding the environmental performance of livestock supply chains, helping shape evidence-based policy measures and business strategies. NPPC’s participation in these international forums/initiatives supports the U.S. pork industry’s position to advance science-based regulations and direct international guidelines to prevent the implementation of other agenda-driven policies that would restrict U.S. farming practices.

NPPC’s take: NPPC supports using technologies to increase pork production while reducing the industry’s carbon footprint. It opposes arbitrary, non-science-based trade barriers that stifle innovation and could potentially impact the industry for future generations. NPPC will continue to engage in FAO-related meetings with a sustainability focus throughout the remainder of 2024.

July WASDE Report: Pork Production Up for 2024

What happened: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) last Friday released its July supply and demand estimates for meat and poultry production – and for cotton, dairy, feed grains, oil seeds, rice, sugar, and wheat – showing higher pork production projections based on increased carcass weights.

USDA’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report forecast overall red meat and poultry production of 107.127 billion pounds, down by about 1 million pounds from the June projection for 2024 on lower expected broiler and turkey production and higher beef and pork production.

Pork production is expected to increase more than 5% for the second half of 2024, compared with the same period in 2023. For 2025, production is expected to increase 1.5%, based on producers’ farrowing intentions for the second half of the 2024 and projected modest growth in the pig crop for the first half of 2025, according to the report. While WASDE lowered the pork export forecast for the year based on recent trade data, exports are still expected to increase 6.3% in 2024 and another 5.1% in 2025.

Why it matters: The monthly WASDE report incorporates information from a number of statistical reports published by USDA and other government agencies. It provides a framework for more detailed reports issued by USDA’s Economic Research Service and Foreign Agricultural Service. Click here for more information on how the WASDE report is prepared. The FAO-OECD agricultural outlook gives a global perspective on meat and poultry consumption.

USDA Allocates More Funds to Expand Meat Processing Capacity

What happened: The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it will allocate $110 million to aid smaller meat processors through the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) and the Local Meat Capacity (Local MCap) Grant Program. USDA distributed the first round of funds to the programs in March.

Funded under the Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan, the programs aim to increase independent meat and poultry processing capacity, create better markets for producers, and lower food costs.

USDA is collaborating with the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund to distribute more than $83 million in grants to 24 independent processors in 15 states under the MPPEP. Funds will support the construction of new processing plants, job creation, and expanded business opportunities. Click here for a list of the latest MPPEP projects. Another nearly $27 million for 33 projects in 23 states is being awarded through the Local MCap program. Click here for a list of the latest Local MCap projects.

Previously, USDA allocated more than $291 million to 59 projects under the MPPEP for expanding processing capacity and strengthening the food supply chain and $9.5 million to 42 projects under the Local MCap program.

NPPC’s take: NPPC supports efforts to expand meatpacking capacity and strengthen the nation’s food supply chain, and while it backs investing in smaller independent meat processors, it has pointed out to USDA that larger plants are better able to capture economies of scale and – unlike most small facilities – ship product interstate and overseas.

What it means: Ensuring sufficient harvesting and processing capacity at meatpacking plants is critical to the ability of the U.S. pork industry to provide products to consumers around the globe. The MPPEP and Local MCap programs help encourage competition and sustainable growth in the U.S. meat processing sector and improve supply chain resiliency.