“The U.S. Meat Export Federation is alarmed that a vote of pork producers m...

“The U.S. Meat Export Federation is alarmed that a vote of pork producers may result in the termination of the national pork checkoff program – a major weapon in the fight to build global consumption of U.S. pork.

“Since 1990, total pork exports have increased from 147,547 metric tons to an estimated 544,000 metric tons in 2000. This increase in volume was due, in large part, to the leveraged investment of pork checkoff dollars with USDA and other funds through USMEF to build demand in markets worldwide. Pork producers should be proud of this unprecedented growth and record of achievement.

“We understand that the national pork checkoff program will continue as the procedures and processes, which led this vote, are being challenged.

“Meanwhile, USMEF officers, Executive Committee and senior staff are assessing the impact of the possible loss of the national pork checkoff on its day-to-day operations. More important, with the evaluation and input of our international directors, we are reviewing program priorities in order to determine the mix of programs best capable of maintaining our momentum in key markets, such as Japan, Mexico, Korea, Russia and Eastern Europe. To do this, USMEF will look to funding from the USDA and other segments of U.S. agriculture, in addition to the national pork checkoff, as we strive to continue our effective demand-building efforts on behalf of U.S. pork.”

-- USMEF --

The U.S. Meat Export Federation is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn, sorghum and soybean checkoff programs.