WASHINGTON, D.C. - National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) President Donna Reifschneider welcomed Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman's announcement of assistance to pork producers saying it is a "positive first step" and will provide a "temporary lifeline for many pork producers and their families." However, she cautioned that "much more must be done to effectively address the crisis pork producers are experiencing."

Reifschneider, a producer from Smithton, Ill., noted that while NPPC had hoped the package would be more comprehensive, Glickman went out of his way to emphasize that his announcement marked the beginning of a process to enact meaningful assistance to pork producers, including a direct cash infusion and loan guarantees on ownership loans.

In addition, NPPC believes that immediate action must be taken to address the flood of slaughter hogs from Canada that is perpetuating the slaughter capacity crisis. Imports of Canadian live hogs, which now represent more than 20 percent of Canada's annual hog production, have increased 37 percent in 1998. Canadian hog imports are pouring into the United States as a result of a weak Canadian dollar and ongoing labor problems, including a strike at Quality Meats in Ontario that began on Dec. 7.

"Secretary Glickman stated very emphatically that low prices had been and would continue to be a major priority for him and we look forward to continuing the process of working through these very difficult problems," Reifschneider said. "The secretary wants to do more for pork producers and will do more in the future."

NPPC wrote to President Clinton in late November detailing the plight of pork producers and met in early December with Glickman. An unprecedented number of pork producers and elected officials, including former President Jimmy Carter, contacted the Administration urging immediate action.

Reifschneider is continuing to ask pork producers to contact their elected representatives to request additional action by USDA.

Today's announcement included:

• Notice of a Farm Service Agency (FSA) guaranteed operating loan program for all commodities, including pork producers;
• Acceleration of the National Pseudorabies Eradication Program;
• Additional purchases of pork and pork products for domestic and international feeding or humanitarian assistance programs;
• A moratorium on FSA loans for new construction of hog buildings;
• Investigations of contracts and any other non-competitive pricing practices in the marketplace, and;
• Support for the voluntary live hog price floor that was established by Hatfield Quality Meats and Farmland Foods, Inc.

For more information on this USDA package and other initiatives being carried out by NPPC, visit pork's web site at www.nppc.org.

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