This week the President of the American Farm Bureau, Bob Stallman, requested the Department of Agriculture to increase the amount of pork purchased under Section 32. Section 32 is a permanent approriation USDA uses to support non-farm program commodities while enhancing nutrition programs. This would help provide some stability for the pork industry but more importantly would supply a healthy protein source for users of nutrition programs. These users include children who eat school breakfast and lunch.

This request comes at a critical time for family farmers who raise pork. Today's pork producers are faced with feed costs which have more than doubled in the last year, while prices for liveweight hogs are at the lowest they have been in over 4 years. Right now a family farmer can raise one hog which averages 250 pounds for about $150, but the market is only paying these farmers $110 for the hog. Farmers can not continue to absorb these losses. Pork prodcuers do not receive government assistance and rely entirely on the markets.

As a pork producer, I believe President Stallman's request comes at a very crucial time for my industry. This year resembles the 1998 pork crisis, where many family farmers exited the pork industry due to extremely high losses. I appreciate Farm Bureau standing up for pork producers and being our voice!