US Pork economy needs new trade agreements

Lobbying congressional lawmakers the NPPC said that the future of the US pork industry, and the future livelihood of family businesses, depends largely on further trade agreements, including those pending with Peru, Colombia, Panama and South Korea.

“The added income from the pending free trade agreements will allow our small pork operation to grow and develop and will ensure a future in hog production for my son and his family ,” said Doug Wolf, an NPPC board member and pork producer from Lancaster, Wisconsin, in a testimony before the House Small Business Committee.

Wolf explained that in Wisconsin, alone, about 14,200 jobs are involved in various aspects of the pork industry and that state garners 2,130 jobs and $90 million of personal income from exporting pork products to foreign markets.

“Increased pork exports over the last five years have contributed significantly to the profitability of our operation. Wolf L&G Farms is very proud to supply the world with our home-grown Wisconsin pork and pork products.”

Calculations by Iowa State University economists suggest that pork exports add $33.60 to the price that producers receive for each pig. Free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, Peru and South Korea could add a further $12.66 per pig to producers’ bottom line.

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