Posted Jan. 29, 2010

When the 2010 National Pork Forum is held in Kansas City in March, the Iowa pork industry will be well represented.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced yesterday the appointment of 154 pork producers, including 30 from Iowa, to the 2010 National Pork Producers Delegate Body (Delegate Body). Six importers also were appointed. All appointees will serve a one-year term. The appointees were selected from nominees submitted by state pork producer associations and importer groups.

Established under the Pork Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act of 1985, the Delegate Body and the National Pork Board have implemented a national program designed to improve the pork industry's position in the marketplace. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service oversees operations of the Delegate Body. Representation on the Delegate Body is based on annual net assessments collected on sales of domestic hogs within individual states, with a minimum of two producers from each state. States have the option of not submitting nominees.

Delegates meet annually to recommend the rate of assessment, determine the percentage of assessments that state associations will receive and nominate producers and importers to the 15-member National Pork Board. The Delegate Body will be seated during the March 4-7, 2010, National Pork Industry Forum in Kansas City, Missouri.

The program is funded by an assessment currently set at 0.40 percent of the market value of all hogs sold in the United States. An equivalent amount on imported hogs, pork and pork products is also collected.

Iowa producers appointed to the Delegate Body are:

Timothy J. Schmidt Mark Meirick Bryan K. Karwal David D. Struthers Stephen J. Burgmeier Joel D. Van Gilst Heather Lindberg-Hora Rodney G. Dykstra Howard T. Hill Chad R. Keppy Steven L. Kerns Gregory R. Lear Curtis D. Meier David E. Moody       Oliver E.Moody

Dale G. Reicks Marvin J. Rietema Jamie M. Schmidt Max S. Schmidt Norman R. Schmitt Gregory J. Schroeder Leon C. Sheets Derrick D. Sleezer Scott W. Tapper Bill J. Tentinger Donald H. Toale Eugene D. VerSteeg John E. Vossberg John P. Weber Todd A. Wiley