Pork Producers Initiate Call Urging Senate’s Immediate Attention

URBANDALE, IA – As the country continues to work towards finding normality after the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. pork industry is still weathering a crisis. During a press briefing on Thursday morning, the National Pork Producers Council explained how the outbreak caused hog values to plummet, which created a financial disaster nationwide. Industry losses are expected to top $5 billion for the remainder of the year. Four pork producers addressed the crisis on their farms and called on the U.S. Senate to quickly consider livestock provisions included in COVID-relief legislation recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. Specifically, the pork industry is asking for compensation for euthanized livestock that can’t be processed; expanded direct payments, without payment limitations, to livestock farmers who have suffered severe losses; increase funding for animal health surveillance and laboratories; and provide for mental health assistance for farmers facing an animal welfare crisis.