Daniel Tubbs, a pig farmer from Jasper in Walker County, served as a delegate to the Pork Act delegate assembly Feb. 28-March 2 in Kansas City. Tubbs was appointed by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.

“It was important to me to represent pork producers from across the U.S. as a Pork Act delegate,” Tubbs said. “As an industry, we are committed to ‘elevate U.S. pork as the global protein of choice by continuously and collaboratively working to do what’s right for people, pigs and the planet.’ This was reinforced throughout the Pork Act delegate meeting.”

Tubbs was one of 163 appointed delegates who traveled from 47 states to represent pork producers and importers who sell pork products in the U.S. Delegate body duties include nominating members to serve on the National Pork Board, establishing how much of the Pork Checkoff is returned to state pork organizations and providing direction on pork promotion, research, and consumer and producer education priorities.

To fund programs, America’s pork producers contribute 40 cents of every $100 of sales to the Checkoff. Importers use a sales formula to contribute a similar amount. The role of the Pork Checkoff is to promote and enhance consumer pork demand on a global basis, as well as to invest in research designed to improve production practices and safeguard the pork supply, the environment and animal well-being. Building consumer confidence and educating America’s pig farmers about livestock production practices through training and certification programs also are key priorities.   

The National Pork Board approved a 2018 budget for national spending of $63.2 million for promotion, research and education programs. The strategic direction of the Pork Checkoff is centered on building consumer trust, driving sustainable production and growing consumer demand in the U.S. and globally.

“It has never been more critical that we work together as producers, processors and food-chain partners to provide high-quality pork products to consumers,” Tubbs said.