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About $10.5 million will be returned to states for state and local programs and the rest will be spent for national pork promotion, research and consumer information programs.

“The budgeting process started with a strategic plan,“ said Craig Christensen, a pork producer from Ogden, Iowa, who is president of the National Pork Checkoff Board. “The 2004 Strategic Planning process was a forward-looking effort to ensure that the Checkoff is invested in programs that best meet the current needs of pork producers.“

The process included a broad range of producers and was based on the foundation of a new mission, vision and seven critical issues as defined by the pork producers who serve on the board of directors. Producer leaders considered what they want Checkoff to help make happen in 2004 and created strategic intents for each of the critical issues.

The Board approved national programs matching 32 strategic intents at a cost of $45.7 million, which includes forecast revenues for 2004 and $5.5 million from reserves. One measure of success of the process, Christensen said, is the number of new initiatives in the 2004 plan. Approximately $12 million, or almost a third of the national program spending planned for 2004, is for new projects.

“Many of the new programs and initiatives for 2004 reflect a commitment to providing science-based answers,“ Christensen said. “New areas the Checkoff will focus on include work towards eradicating PRRS and alternative production research.“

However, starting from the critical issues also showed that the Pork Checkoff cannot be invested in every good idea. The pork producers involved in the budget and plan of work process focused on allocating funds to projects that would have a high impact. “The Pork Checkoff budget is concentrated on programs that will make the biggest difference for pork producers and can’t be done anywhere else,“ Christensen said.

To ensure that the Pork Checkoff meets the needs of the pork producers who invest in the Checkoff, more pork producers were included in the budget and planning process than ever before. All pork producers can share their ideas any time by calling the Pork Checkoff Service Center at 800-456-PORK.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has final approval for the 2004 Pork Checkoff budget.

National Pork Board has responsibility for Checkoff-funded research, promotion and consumer information projects and for communicating with pork producers and the public. Through a legislative national Pork Checkoff, pork producers invest $0.40 for each $100 value of hogs sold. The Pork Checkoff funds national and state programs in advertising, consumer information, retail and foodservice marketing, export market promotion, production improvement, technology, swine health and pork safety. For information on Checkoff-funded programs, pork producers can call the Producer Service Center at 800-456-PORK or check the Internet at www.porkboard.org.

Source: National Pork Board - 11th November 2003