Journal Star / April 10, 2001 / By Steve Tarter
PEORIA, Ill.--The National Pork Producers Council can't seem to stay out of the news.
The most recent furor involves statements made by council President Barb Determan, who offered testimony on behalf of pork industry in Washington last month.
Representatives from the livestock industry were offering recommendations for the next farm bill before the House Agriculture Committee.
Determan, looking to support the cause of pork producers who rely on grain for feed, was reported to have called for a reduction in the soybean loan rate by 20 percent, a statement that upset farm groups already struggling with low commodity prices in recent years.
A flurry of protests reached pork council headquarters. "It roused a storm," said spokesman Cindy Cunningham.
Most criticism to the call for adjusting loan rates focused on the pork group's rationale for such a recommendation.
"The NPPC is attempting to have the government subsidize the input costs of extremely large corporate hog producers. To bolster the viability of the agricultural industry as a whole, the pork-producing complex should not ask grain producers to accept lower prices for their commodity," said Brian Harris, livestock director of the National Farmers Organization.
The soybean loan rate has been $5.26 for several years.
"Soybean producers regard the loan rate as an income safety net," said Tom Wallace, a Cameron soybean farmer.
With the present price of soybeans around $4.30 a bushel, any reduction in the loan rate is vehemently opposed by soybean growers.
"Illinois soybean farmers would lose as much as $160 million if the rate were reduced to $4.94 (a 7 percent reduction)," Wallace said.
But now Determan and the pork council deny even making such a statement.
"It is not NPPC's position to reduce the soybean loan rate by 20 percent," said Determan, who said she discussed the issue with American Soybean Association President Tony Anderson.
"Since 65 percent of our producers' costs are in feed costs, we were concerned about loan rates as they affect feed costs," she said.
Despite denials of the loan rate statement posted at the NPPC web site, Determan's testimony is also provided where she makes the case for "re-balancing loan rates" that would reduce feed costs for pork producers.
"A reduction in the soybean loan rate of nearly 20 percent would be required to balance returns above variable costs for Iowa grain producers," Determan testified.
On another front, the NPPC is seeking a court injunction to bar future trespassing after protesters visited its Washington office last month.
The protest, spearheaded by the Campaign for Family Farms, focused on the mandatory pork checkoff recently reinstated by the Bush Administration.
Determan, who was not present at the time, said efforts to discuss issues were rebuffed by protestors who attached bumper stickers to office walls and "physically accosted two employees," she said.
While the checkoff was voted down by the nation's producers last year, the pork council has steadfastly supported the marketing surcharge that raised $54 million last year.
Copyright 2001 Journal Star:
