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A recent court ruling striking down the USDA New Swine Inspection System (NSIS) will reduce plant output at six large locations currently running the System by 25 percent.  Five of the affected plants have been operating safely for more than 20 years, demonstrating the efficiency of the NSIS.

Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Representatives Jim Hagdorn (R-MN) and Dusty Johnson (R-SD) have led the initiative to urge the USDA and the DOJ to appeal the Federal District Court ruling.  The National Pork Producers Council maintains that if the ban on NSIS is imposed, national pork production would be reduced by 2.5 percent.  According to Iowa State University economist, Dr. Dermot Hayes, small and medium-sized U.S. hog farmers will suffer more than $80 million in reduced income.

Jen Sorenson, NPCC President, stated “The economic impact to these packers will be significant, it is the nation’s small-and-medium-sized hog farmers who will suffer the greatest harm from upstream impacts.  It is imperative that USDA act quickly to move for a stay of the Judge’s order and an appeal to prevent this reduction in packing capacity, which is set to take place at the end of June.”