Pork producers from around the country will be weighing in virtually this week with the National Pork Producers Council’s Spring Legislative Action conference. Nebraska Pork Producer Association President Shana Beattie says one of her group’s major concerns is the need to address the shortage of ag labor and the need for more year round workers.

She says another major issue for Nebraska’s Pork producers is making sure there are proper protections in place to deal with foreign animal diseases.

Beattie says trade is another concern and while there have been some recent victories with lowering of tariffs in the Philippines, there’s also potential for trade with Vietnam but the need to remove some tariff barriers there.

Beattie says trade remains critical for Nebraska’s pork producers as 26 percent of the pork produced domestically in the United States is sold to overseas customers.