Dustin Baker has been hired as manager of production issues for the National Pork Producers Council, covering such matters as the farm bill and marketing and pork economics.

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Baker, who began his duties Monday, is in NPPC's Washington, D.C., office, reporting to Nick Giordano, NPPC's vice president and counsel for global government affairs.

Baker comes to NPPC from the National Milk Producers Federation, where he served as an economic analyst and coordinator of NMPF's Young Cooperator program.

National Pork Producers selects manager of production issues

Prior to NMPF, he was a research assistant with Woodward Risk Management Consulting in Ithaca, N.Y. He also completed internships with Newedge Group, a Chicago brokerage firm; with the U.S. Senate, where he was a legislative intern; and with Great Lakes Cattle Marketing in St. Louis, Mich.

"Dustin brings experience in economic analysis and financial risk management as well as knowledge of the legislative process," said NPPC President Dr. Ron Prestage, a veterinarian and pork producer from Camden, S.C. "I know he'll be a great asset to our domestic public-policy team."

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From a livestock family, Baker previously served as Michigan FFA state president. Baker earned a bachelor's degree in agribusiness management from Michigan State University and a master's degree in applied economics and management from Cornell University.