Also, Don Butler, Director of Government Relations and Public Affairs for Murphy-Brown LLC and current president of the National Pork Producers Council, spoke to the group about the current status of the industry, his role as National Pork Producers Council president and how the interns, as the next generation, can affect the future success of the pork industry.
 
The event ended with dinner provided by NCPC with the support of Cape Fear Farm Credit.
 
Industry representatives that attended included:
·         Don Butler, Murphy-Brown
·         Dr. Gary Parker, Goldsboro Milling
·         Nelson Powell, Cape Fear Farm Credit
·         Jamie Overton-Thomas of Hog Slat
·         Don Malcolm, Newsham Choice Genetics
·         Dr. Matthew Turner, Prestage Farms
·         Dawn Williamson, Murphy-Brown
·         Vernon Cox, Division of Soil and Water
·         Greg Sconyers, The Hanor Company
·         Joey McCullen, JC Howard
·         Summer Russell, Prestage Farms
·         Kathy Dugan Barker, Gallberry Consulting Services
·         Deborah Johnson, North Carolina Pork Council
·         Ann Edmondson, North Carolina Pork Council
 
For more information on the internship program, you may contact Jan Archer at jarcher3@nc.rr.com.

 
During the day-long event, more than 50 North Carolina producers participated in group discussions, small group assignments and were provided with the latest information from NPB on industry statistics. The group also enjoyed some fellowship time during lunch.

 

NPB is also asking for producer participation in a nationwide survey. The survey, which takes only a few minutes to complete, is part of an effort by the board to get broad-based producer input as the board creates a new strategic plan for the organization.

The overall objective of the planning process is to find new solutions to the economic, social, and scientific challenges facing the pork industry, said Novak.  The survey, together with three regional producers meetings, is designed to ensure the plan is focused on critical day-to-day needs of pork producers. In addition to North Carolina, regional meetings were also held in Omaha and Indianapolis.

During 2010, the National Pork Board will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the creation of the national Pork Checkoff. The strategic planning process is motivated in part by a desire to look at the role of the Pork Checkoff with fresh eyes, just as the pioneering producers who created the Checkoff did 25 years ago, Novak said.

The big questions, he added, are, "What are the industry's needs, concerns and priorities now, and what will they be five years from now and even 25 years from now? And what should the National Pork Board be doing to address these needs through the Pork Checkoff?"

The survey questions allow producers to identify and prioritize the issues they believe are important. There is room at the end of the survey for producers to add specific comments.

Deadline for completing the survey is Friday, August 21.  To complete the survey visit www.pork.org and under the spotlight section click on the link titled Pork Checkoff Seeks Input from Pork Producers in Crafting New Strategic Plan.