National Pork Producers Council

The National Pork Producers Council, headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, conducts public policy outreach on behalf of its affiliated state associations, supporting U.S. pork producers and other industry stakeholders. The NPPC's supports the industry's standard practice of housing pregnant pigs in gestation crates, which has been criticized by The Humane Society and other animal welfare groups.^[1]

Political Involvement

According to NPPC's website, their mission is to "fight for legislation and regulations, develop revenue and market opportunities and protect the livelihoods of America’s 67,000 pork producers. Public policy issues agriculture and industry, animal health and food safety, environment and energy, and international trade." ^[2] It conducts public policy outreach on behalf of its 43 affiliated state associations.

Beyond legislation and regulation, NPPC is involved in the political process through a political action committee, PorkPAC. The PAC seeks to educate the public and support candidates at the state and federal levels who support the industry.^[2] In 2014, the PAC received $465,009 in donations, the highest amount since figures were available in 1990.^[3] The largest amount ($12,500) went to Senator Jack Kingston (R-GA), followed by $10,000 each to the Representatives John Boehner (R-OH), Jim Costa (D-CA) Ron Kind (D-WI), Steven King (R-IA), David Rouzer(R-NC) and Adrian Smith(R-NE).^[3]

In 2016, 80% of the PAC's contributions went to Republican federal candidates and 20% to Democrats. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and again Adrian Smith(R-NE) and David Rouzer(R-NC) received the largest amounts.^[4]

Organization

NPPC is governed by Board of Directors, composed of 15 members, and pork producer delegates from the states. Recommendations for new policies and for changes to existing policies are considered annually, in March, at the National Pork Industry Forum.

NPPC also creates ad hoc task forces to study or provide guidance on industry issues. NPPC receives advice and works closely with the meat packing industry and animal health and feed companies, as well as the National Pork Board. Together the NPPC and NPB have formed joint task forces on certain issues.^[2]

Ethical Principles

The pig farmers represented by NPPC adhere to a set of We Care^[5] guidelines, including:

• Produce safe food
• Promote and protect animal well-being
• Ensure practices to ensure public health
• Safeguard natural resources in all our practices
• Provide a work environment that is safe and consistent with our other ethical principles
• Contribute to a better quality of life in our communities

Criticism

The NPPC supports a variety of housing systems, including gestation crates and open pen housing, each of which has advantages and disadvantages concerning animal welfare according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.^[6]

The Humane Society and other animal welfare groups have criticized NPPC's support for housing pregnant pigs in gestation stalls.^[1]

Veterinarian, livestock industry consultant and animal welfare activist Temple Grandin has been quoted as saying, "We've got to treat animals right, and gestation stalls have got to go.[...]Confining an animal for most of its life in a box in which it is not able to turn around does not provide a decent life."

In July 2012, the National Journal took out of context separate quotes on gestation stalls from NPPC's communications director.^[7] A discussion with then-Journal reporter Ben Terris included a description of gestation stalls: "So, our animals can't turn around for the 2 and a half years they're having piglets. They are moved to bigger farrowing, or birthing, pens for about a month each time they have a litter of piglets. Gestation stalls allow farmers to give sows individual care and feed rations and prevent aggression among sows, and animal scientists recognize these individual pens as the best system for housing pregnant sows. While the real motivation of animal-rights groups such as HSUS to banning gestation stalls is to raise the cost of producing pork as a way of reducing the consumption of meat, they claim they don't like gestation stalls because they're inhumane. I don't know who at HSUS asked the sow." Terris used only the first and last sentences, juxtaposing them in a way that forced Neil Dierks, NPPC CEO, to issue the following: “On behalf of the National Pork Producers Council, I sincerely regret the recent comments in a news article that were attributed to an employee of the National Pork Producers Council. The comments were inappropriate and do not represent the views of our organization nor do they reflect the values of the hardworking American farmers who produce safe and nutritious pork for consumers around the world. Our nation’s pork producers take great pride in their long-standing commitment to the highest standards of humane care for animals. They are good people with good values. They care deeply for the animals they raise and make their health and well-being a top priority.”^[8]

References