A lawsuit has been filed to try to prevent the government from releasing thenames of farmers who signed a petition seeking an end to the manditory porkcheck-off. Under the check-off, hog farmers pay 45 cents on everyone-hundred dollars worth of pork they sell — and the money is forwarded tothe National Pork Producers CouncilThe National Pork Producers Council is asking the U-S-D-A to release a listof the petition-signers’ names.Campaign for Family Farms spokesman Hugh Espey says the N-P-P-C shouldNOT be given the names.Nearly 17-thousand farmers signed the petitions, seeking a referendum whichcould end the pork check-off. Espey says the lawsuit is trying to keep thenames of those farmers secret.Fifteen percent of the nation’s pork producers and importers signed thepetition asking for a referendum to end the manditory pork check-off, whichhas been in effect for 12 years. Supporters say the check-off dollars helpmarket pork, boosting consumer demand for the “other white meat.”