The National Pork Producers Council has outlined a plan to address theeconomic crisis pork producers are currently facing. The pork industry hassuffered a four-million dollar loss in the past 20-months and John McNutt,N-P-P-C president and Iowa City pork producer, says this problem is biggerthan most people think.The N-P-P-C has presented its eight-point plan to the Secretary ofAgriculture and is working with the U-S Senate to try and get some or all ofthe plan put into a bill. McNutt says one major component of the plan is toreduce the amount of production and give any excess product to humanitarianaid. McNutt says another important part of the plan would allow some porkproducers to exit the business while retaining some of their equity. Hesays conditions for pork producers will improve, but it needs to happenbefore EVERYONE leaves the industry. McNutt says pork producers need to voice their opinion while federal aid isbeing given to farmers.There are one-hundred-14-thousand U-S pork producers. 18-thousand areIowans.
