She says such a ban would not only devastate a producer’s business - but their continued success in the U.S. pork industry. Now that the full Senate is considering the bill - Phillippi says some lawmakers are looking to further limit the marketing options available to pork producers. She says an amendment on captive supply - which Wyoming’s Mike Enzi is expected to introduce - includes provisions that are simply unbelievable.

Phillippi says it seems members of Congress would like to see producers retreat to the old spot market - and believe producers would be better off. But she says producer profits would actually suffer. That’s why she says U.S. producers need to educate Senators and make sure those legislators understand where pork producers are coming from

Livestock Economist Glenn Grimes says pork producers work hard to do what’s best for themselves and their customers when they’re free of unnecessary government interference. But he says several aspects of the farm bill currently stalled on the Senate floor do just that - unnecessarily interfere with the business of pork producers. Grimes says he’s especially concerned with language that would prohibit packer ownership of livestock.