This has been a year that nobody will soon forget. COVID-19 presented the agriculture industry with a new set of challenges. However, there are still other challenges that had to be faced. As we continue our series with the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) during October Pork Month, we talk with IPPA President Michael Paustian about policy work and what good has come out of the challenges of 2020.
IPPA President Michael Paustian says that it is important at this time of the year for the IPPA to talk with elected officials about policies and other concerns important to Iowa hog producers. Paustian says the big topic this year was securing our borders from a Foreign Animal Disease outbreak like African Swine Fever. Paustian says Germany has reminded us how vigilant we need to be. However, there is a serious impediment facing border inspections during our pandemic.
Paustian says they also are advocating for COVID relief funding for agriculture in general and particularly the pork industry. Paustian says even though negotiations are stalled, they want to make sure the topic stays in front of lawmakers.
2020 posed many challenges to the pork industry. Illnesses in packing facilities led to the slowing of pork processing and a backlog of hogs waiting to be processed. However, this challenge and the others like it also showed the pork industry what it was capable of doing. Paustian commends Iowa producers for their ?stubbornness? in not letting their hogs go to waste. They were resourceful and found ways to weather the storm.
Paustian wants to thank the producers in the state for their dedication to their farms and operations of all sizes. He urges them to share their story with consumers during October Pork Month.
Our full interview with IPPA President Mike Paustian will air in this weekend?s Weekend Ag Matters Program.
