DECATUR, Ill. — The Farm Progress Show was kicked off the morning of Aug. 28 with an Ag Policy Forum in Decatur. In attendance were Illinois Congressional Delegation members Rep. Darin LaHood (IL-18), Rep. Rodney Davis (IL-13), Rep. John Shimkus (IL-15) and Rep. Mike Bost (IL-12) along with Very Special Guest, Sonny Perdue, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
Illinois Pork Producers Association President Pam Janssen, along with Executive Director Jennifer Tirey, attended the meeting on behalf of pork producers in Illinois.
Secretary Perdue exclaimed, “We know MFP payments won’t make you whole. We need to support trade.”
That was a main topic on the agenda. Specifically for Janssen, as she asked Secretary Perdue, “Where can we sell pork if the China tariffs are not resolved?”
He was confident that the Japan agreement will be good for U.S. pork producers and optimistic that the loss of pigs in China due to ASF will create a strong need for U.S. pork.
Tirey went on to ask about potential plans to fund 600 more ag inspectors at our nation’s borders to ensure ASF does not cross into the country. There is a current line in the DHS Appropriations budget for this, at $94 million. Purdue expressed his support of the additional beagle teams and showed interest in pushing for further ag inspectors.
Perdue also shined hope on developing a foreign animal disease vaccine bank with more research and planning.
After the forum, both LaHood and Bost stopped by the IPPA booth in the Illinois Corn Growers tent for further conversation centered around pork.
— Illinois Pork Producers Association
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