Pork Checkoff

History
The National Pork Board, which provides the producer leadership for the Pork Checkoff, is the descendent of a long line of pork associations in the United States. The associations were formed by hog producers who faced many challenges to profitability in the swine production sector. They knew that those challenges could best be met by producers working together and finding sources
of funding through which to address those common
issues.

The organization traces its roots to the mid-1950s
when a group of producers, concerned about the future growth and profitability of the pork industry, organized the National Swine Growers Council (NSGC). In 1965, NSGC evolved into the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), as it took the first steps toward creating the meat-type pig needed to produce the pork products that consumers desired.

 “Moline 90”
In May 1966, about 90 pork producers from 11 states
(Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri,
Nebraska, North Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and
Wisconsin) met in Moline, Ill. This group, which came to be known as the “Moline 90”, gathered to establish a voluntary checkoff.

The group agreed to hire the first full time executive secretary for the council and to raise, through contributions, a “Get Ready Fund” of $40,000. A bank note was passed around and eight pork producers signed it, obligating each of them to pay if the “Get Ready Fund” was not raised. The note was never needed.

With some funds and staff, NPPC began moving toward development of the meat-type hog consumers were beginning to demand. Realizing that promotion would create more pork sales, producer leaders sought congressional action that would permit a market deduction to fund product promotion. They succeeded in getting amendments to the Packers and Stockyards Act that opened the way for a voluntary checkoff system. This was the first voluntary checkoff program to exist.

“Nickels for Profits”
In 1967, after months of organizing at the county and state levels, NPPC started the voluntary “Nickels for Profit” checkoff in six counties in Iowa and Illinois. The first check received was for $4.90. By 1968, producer enthusiasm spread, 16 states were organized, and the nickel checkoff program started nationwide.

By 1970, NPPC membership rose to 40,000 with a $1
million operating budget. In response to increasing member needs for promotion and research, the checkoff increased over the years from a nickel, to a dime, to 20 cents, then to 0.3 percent of each hog’s market value.