Small hog farmers' mandatory fees funnel millions to industrial pork lobby

U.S. hog producers are required to contribute roughly 35 cents per $100 of pork sales to the National Pork Board, a checkoff program intended only for promotion and research. An exclusive review of public records reveals that $66 million has been transferred from the Board to the National Pork Producers Council, the industry’s leading lobbying group, via trademark licensing, a $60 million purchase of the "Pork. The Other White Meat" slogan, and a long-term office lease.

Nearly half of these payments were not previously reported, and the funds support lobbying for practices like gestation crates that small, humane farms oppose. The two entities share leadership and have a history of close financial ties, despite legal mandates for separation. While the USDA has approved the deals and dismissed a related lawsuit, legislators have introduced bills to prohibit such arrangements, though none have passed. The controversy highlights how mandatory farmer fees can be used to advance industrial interests at the expense of smaller producers.