For Immediate Release
January 8, 1999

National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) President Donna Reifschneider today welcomed the $50 million in direct payments to pork producers announced by Vice-President Al Gore, saying it "highlights the urgent need pork producers have for cash flow assistance."

Gore made the announcement today during an event in Iowa, the nation's largest hog producing state.

"While we don't know many of the details of the proposal, if it helps producers stay in business, it serves a worthy purpose," said Reifschneider, a Smithton, Ill. producer. "This is likely the most USDA could do within its discretionary powers, which should be a signal to Congress that immediate action is desperately needed."

Reifschneider said Gore's announcement of the acceleration of the hog pseudorabies eradication program also sends a positive signal to the industry.

"The $80 million transfer will allow this program to move expeditiously to a successful conclusion," Reifschneider said. "This is a disease we have worked systematically to eradicate over the past decade. This is a 'three-fer.' It will allow the industry to accelerate the ongoing eradication program to eliminate a disease with serious economic consequences for pork producers, it addresses the capacity bottleneck plaguing pork producers and it will open significant new trade opportunities for U.S. pork producers."

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