National Pork Board
Encyclopedia
The National Pork Board, headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa
is a quasigovernmental body of the United States government that was established under the terms of the Pork Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act of 1985, also known as the Pork Act, which was included as part of the 1985 Congressional Farm Bill
. The board is responsible for overseeing the provision of consumer information, performing industry-related research and promotion of pork as a food product, most notably through its "Pork. The Other White Meat
" advertising program. The board's activities are funded by a mandatory commodity checkoff program for cattle and hog farmers, which requires producers to pay into a marketing fund each time an animal is sold.
The program operates as part of an Agricultural Marketing Service
overseen by the United States Department of Agriculture
. Its 15 members are chosen by the United States Secretary of Agriculture
, based on nominations received from the Pork Act Delegate Body.
With a program promoting pork as a lean meat to health-conscious consumers, pork sales in the United States rose 20%, reaching $30 billion annually by 1991, spurred by the success of its "Pork. The Other White Meat" advertising program, introduced in 1987.
Data collected by the USDA's Economic Research Service
showed that pork consumption following the introduction of the Board's promotion programs had risen from 45.6 pounds (20.7 kg) per capita in 1987 and reaching a peak of 49.3 pounds (22.4 kg) per person in 1999, dropping to 48.5 pounds (22 kg) in 2003. By contrast, beef consumption had declined from 69.5 pounds (31.5 kg) per American in 1987 to 62 pounds (28.1 kg) in 2003.
The national checkoff began in 1986 with a rate of .25 of one percent (25 cents per $100), that was increased to .35 of one percent in 1991 and to .45 of one percent in 1995. , the checkoff rate is four-tenths of one percent — 40 cents for every $100 at market rate — of the value of all pork products manufactured in the United States or imported into the country. The current rate has been in place since 2002, when the rate was decreased by .05 of one percent.
Despite $4 million spent to support the retention of the checkoff, a referendum held in 2000 among hog farmers voted to eliminate the checkoff, which funded the $50 million marketing campaign promoting pork. Secretary of Agriculture voided the results, citing problems with petitions filed in advance of the referendum.
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
is a quasigovernmental body of the United States government that was established under the terms of the Pork Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act of 1985, also known as the Pork Act, which was included as part of the 1985 Congressional Farm Bill
Food Security Act of 1985
The Food Security Act of 1985 , a 5-year omnibus farm bill, allowed lower commodity price and income supports and established a dairy herd buyout program. This 1985 farm bill made changes in a variety of other USDA programs...
. The board is responsible for overseeing the provision of consumer information, performing industry-related research and promotion of pork as a food product, most notably through its "Pork. The Other White Meat
Pork. The Other White Meat
"Pork. The Other White Meat." was an advertising slogan developed by advertising agency Bozell, Jacobs, Kenyon & Eckhardt in 1987 for the National Pork Board. The campaign was paid for using a checkoff fee collected from the initial sale of all pigs and pork products, including imports...
" advertising program. The board's activities are funded by a mandatory commodity checkoff program for cattle and hog farmers, which requires producers to pay into a marketing fund each time an animal is sold.
The program operates as part of an Agricultural Marketing Service
Agricultural Marketing Service
The Agricultural Marketing Service is a division of the United States Department of Agriculture, and has programs in five commodity areas: cotton and tobacco; dairy; fruit and vegetable; livestock and seed; and poultry...
overseen by the United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
. Its 15 members are chosen by the United States Secretary of Agriculture
United States Secretary of Agriculture
The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture. The current secretary is Tom Vilsack, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on 20 January 2009. The position carries similar responsibilities to those of agriculture ministers in other...
, based on nominations received from the Pork Act Delegate Body.
With a program promoting pork as a lean meat to health-conscious consumers, pork sales in the United States rose 20%, reaching $30 billion annually by 1991, spurred by the success of its "Pork. The Other White Meat" advertising program, introduced in 1987.
Data collected by the USDA's Economic Research Service
Economic Research Service
The Economic Research Service is the main source of economic information and research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Located in Washington D.C., the mission of ERS is to inform and enhance public and private decision-making on economic and policy issues related to agriculture, food,...
showed that pork consumption following the introduction of the Board's promotion programs had risen from 45.6 pounds (20.7 kg) per capita in 1987 and reaching a peak of 49.3 pounds (22.4 kg) per person in 1999, dropping to 48.5 pounds (22 kg) in 2003. By contrast, beef consumption had declined from 69.5 pounds (31.5 kg) per American in 1987 to 62 pounds (28.1 kg) in 2003.
The national checkoff began in 1986 with a rate of .25 of one percent (25 cents per $100), that was increased to .35 of one percent in 1991 and to .45 of one percent in 1995. , the checkoff rate is four-tenths of one percent — 40 cents for every $100 at market rate — of the value of all pork products manufactured in the United States or imported into the country. The current rate has been in place since 2002, when the rate was decreased by .05 of one percent.
Despite $4 million spent to support the retention of the checkoff, a referendum held in 2000 among hog farmers voted to eliminate the checkoff, which funded the $50 million marketing campaign promoting pork. Secretary of Agriculture voided the results, citing problems with petitions filed in advance of the referendum.