During the National Pork Industry Forum next month, Pork Act Delegates will discuss some of the key issues, challenges and opportunities facing the pork industry. The theme for this year's annual business meeting is "Leading a World-Class Food Industry - Responsible. Sustainable. Professional. Profitable."  Pork Forum is scheduled for March 4-6 in Kansas City.

Tim Bierman, a Larrabee, Iowa, pork producer and president of the National Pork Board says the theme mirrors the vision statement of the National Pork Board's new five-year strategic plan that will be presented to the delegates. Bierman says they are eager to get the delegates' reaction to the board's vision for the role the Pork Checkoff will play in the future.

According to Bierman, among the issues on the table this year are some new ideas about marketing efforts as well as a progress report on programs that are helping to demonstrate producers' long-term commitment to socially responsible pork production. In addition, delegates will address issues related to the Pork Checkoff program, including the rate of the Checkoff and the amount of Checkoff revenue distributed to state pork associations for Checkoff-funded programs.