By Swine Web News – October 6, 2025
Source: National Pork Producers Council (NPPC)
In this week’s NPPC Capital Update, the pork industry faces ongoing challenges from the federal government shutdown, as USDA operations adjust, ag groups push for resolution, and scholarship applications open for the next generation of pork leaders.
USDA Market News and Meat Inspections Continue Amid Shutdown
At midnight on September 30, the federal government officially shut down after Congress failed to pass a funding bill for fiscal year 2026. As a result, many federal programs halted operations and numerous USDA employees were furloughed.
Essential personnel, however, remain on duty — including those managing Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) and federal meat inspections. These functions are critical to maintaining transparency in market data and ensuring food safety.
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) urged Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to designate LMR staff as “essential” to prevent data disruptions during the shutdown.
Why it matters: LMR reports provide vital pricing, volume, and supply-and-demand information that producers depend on for business decisions. The data is also used by the Risk Management Agency to calculate indemnities under Livestock Risk Protection policies. Interruptions could delay settlements and impact producers’ financial stability.
Ag Organizations Urge Congress to End Shutdown
NPPC joined 22 agricultural organizations in calling on Congress to swiftly reopen the government. The coalition’s letter to congressional leaders emphasized the far-reaching consequences of the shutdown on farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.
“A government shutdown adds additional uncertainty, disrupts critical services, delays payments, and places more burden on rural communities already feeling significant stress,” the letter stated.
With commodity prices remaining low and input costs high, producers are warning that additional instability threatens already thin margins.
Applications Open for the Neil Dierks Scholarship
The National Pork Industry Foundation, administered by NPPC, is now accepting applications for the 2025 Neil Dierks Scholarship, which honors the former NPPC CEO’s contributions to the pork sector.
A $5,000 award will be granted to a graduate student at a land-grant university pursuing studies that directly support the pork industry. Applications are due December 31, 2025, and the recipient will be announced during the National Pork Industry Forum, March 4–6, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri.
For eligibility and application details, contact Lucy Russell, NPPC Manager of Producer Engagement, at russelll@nppc.org
