Mr Harrison, currently serving his second three-year term on the Pork Board, will take the post of president from 1 August.

Lynn and his wife, Pat, operate a 10,000-head pig farm in northwest Wisconsin. He is a long-time member of the Pork Board’s Environmental Committee and served as the board’s vice president this past year.

In 2002, he received the Environmental Stewards Award, given each year to a select number of US.pork producers who best demonstrate their commitment to preserving and protecting the air, land and water resources related to their farms. His farm is one of eight Wisconsin Discovery Farms, which are part of an environmental research program run by the University of Wisconsin. He also has served twice as president of the Wisconsin Pork Association.

“My introduction to the National Pork Board was directly related to my interest in the environment,” said Mr Harrison. “I’ll always have a special passion for those issues, but I’m excited about the opportunity to work on all the issues that face pork producers, regardless of where they live or what style of operation they have."

He said NPB would continue to work to build domestic demand for pork and to develop overseas markets. Welfare and animal health issues remained a priority with an industry committent to provide consumers with the safest and healthiest pork products possible.

“I want to build on the foundation laid by Pork Board President Wayne Peugh during this past year. Under Wayne’s leadership we have made significant progress in building a greater level of trust with our customers, and ultimately with consumers. That is going to serve our producers well for years to come," said Mr Harrison.

Steve Weaver, a pork producer and National Pork Board member from Elk Grove, California, has been elected vice president. He will serve for one years.

He is a former banker, but was introduced to pig production by his children, helping them to raise a few pigs for 4-H and FFA projects. His family now raise 1,200 pigs annually on their farm near Sacramento.

Mr Weaver has just been elected to his second three-year term on the Pork Board and serves on the Producer and State Relations, Swine Health and Animal Welfare committees.