State Representative Terry Morrow is pleased that the federal government has responded to the call for help for America’s pork producers that he and others issued last month.  Secretary of Agricuture Tom Vilsack announced that he will use an additional $30 million by September 30 to purchase pork for the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Summer Food Service Program, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and The Emergency Food Assistance Program.

After visiting with Minnesota pork producers and the Bode family  at their Nicollet farm on August 19, I wrote to Minnesota’s Congressional delegation the next morning to request its help in using these federal funds to help our hog farmers. Our farmers are suffering greatly from a ‘perfect storm’ of trade barriers and rising costs. Public misconceptions about the current flu strain also hurt.  I reminded our representatives and senators that pork remains safe to eat and that people cannot get the flu from eating pork.

Representative Morrow’s August 20 letter asked Minnesota’s delegation to request that Secretary Vilsack use existing federal funds to help pork producers by purchasing pork.  These Section 32 funds come from fees collected on imported food products.  The same day, Congressman Tim Walz contacted Secretary Vilsack to make this request.

It’s gratifying to see the system work.  The Bodes shared their time and expertise with us.  We immediately contacted our federal partners.  They responded right away. The entire effort started with local hog farmers—whose farms help support our economy here in Minnesota—and their hard work has brought about a sensible solution.

In his announcement, Secretary Vilsack stated,

These purchases will assist pork producers who are currently struggling due to depressed market conditions and reflects the Obama Administration’s ongoing work to support struggling producers. This action will help mitigate further downward prices, stabilize market conditions, stimulate the economy, and provide high quality, nutritious food to recipients of USDA’s nutrition programs.

Representative Morrow’s August 20 letter also requested that Secretary Vilsack utilize an additional $50 million soon after October 1—the start of the new federal fiscal year—to build upon the effort to help Minnesota’s pork industry and provide food to programs that help those in need.