Three of the 21 members of the Iowa Pork Producers Association have announced they will vote against the mandatory pork check-off. The fight is over the required 45 cents pork producers pay on every one hundred dollars worth of pork they sell. A vote by the pork industry will decide whether that mandatory “check-off” continues. Wilbur Kerhli of Manchester, Betty Janasen of Hampton, and Lisa Siebrecht of Curlew are members of the Iowa Pork Producers Board, and they’ve come out against the check-off. In a prepared statement, Janasen said independent pork producers have paid more than their fair share of money to promote pork. Siebrecht says she no longer has faith that the National Pork Producers Council supports family farmers. Kerhli says the vote will determine the future of the pork industry. Absentee voting is already underway. In-person voting will be held next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
