The 15 producers who serve as members of the National Pork Board and Pork Checkoff staff leadership will hear directly from the forum delegates appointed by US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. Each year the Pork Act Delegates confer, vote on resolutions and advisements and provide valuable direction on the important issues facing pork producers and the industry.

The theme for the annual pork forum - People. Pigs. Planet . - is in reference to the recently adopted Pork Checkoff 2020 Strategic Plan. The new strategic plan is focused on anticipating and managing the changing world facing US pork producers now and in the future.

"As an industry, we have a defined commitment to elevate US pork as the global protein of choice by continuously and collaboratively working to do what's right for people, pigs and the planet," said Dale Norton, president of the National Pork Board and a producer from Bronson, Mich.

"It has never been more critical that we work together as producers, processors and foodservice and retail leaders to make a collective difference to pork's consumers."

In advance of the annual meeting, members of the National Pork Board also will convene their March board meeting. The agenda for that meeting will include updates on 2015 plans to enhance pork demand, increase market opportunities, improve pork production practices and invest in research priorities.

Included on the 2015 Pork Forum agenda will be opportunities for pork producers to become trained in the pork industry's Pork Quality Assurance® Plus (PQA Plus®) certification process, as well as learn more about pork industry programmes.

The full agenda is available at www.porkindustryforum.com.