The National Pork Producers Council is urging the Senate to take quick action on providing economic relief for pork producers hammered by the COVID 19 pandemic. President Howard A.V.Roth says while the processing capacity has improved somewhat, it’s still a major problem that’s led to a lot of euthanizing of hogs and economic harm to producers.

He says pork producers are projected to lose billions of dollars this year and while recent passage of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program is helpful, it falls very short of pulling producers out of their financial dilemma.

Roth says there are several provisions in the Heroes Act that are needed by pork producers and his group wants the Senate to quickly pass a companion bill that includes most of those components.

Roth says funding is also needed to help pork producers with the mental strain they’re under and programs for that are included in the House’s Heroes Act that needs to be melded with a Senate bill.