USDA has formally proposed reducing the pork checkoff rate from 40 cents to 35 cents per $100 value for live animals, in line with an overwhelming vote by National Pork Producers Council delegates.
Revenue from the checkoff is anticipated to fall $13.5 million. The amount raised for promotion and marketing in 2021 was $103.6 million. That was a 41% increase from the year before and reflected a 47% increase in live hog prices.
“Even with the proposed reduction in assessment rates, total program funds will have still increased significantly above 2020 levels owing to the ongoing increase in price levels, assuming the general market conditions of 2021 persist,” USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service said in the proposed rule being published in last week’s Federal Register
