Episode Details

Producer dollars power the pork checkoff, so the big question is simple: how do we make sure those dollars solve real problems on real farms? We dig into the National Pork Board’s producer-led advisory committee model and why the shift to “advice only” is meant to tighten focus, improve accountability, and keep decisions grounded in daily barn realities.

Jamie Burr, Chief Sustainability Officer, and Chad Herring, a NPB board member and advisory committee chair, walk us through the We Care advisory committee and what it is designed to deliver: practical resources and tools producers can actually use, plus a clearer way to document progress in animal care, environmental stewardship, community responsibility, and workforce care. We also talk about farm impact reports and why better measurement matters not just for the pork industry, but for customers and consumers who expect credible sustainability proof.

A standout theme is data trust. We unpack how voluntarily collected, blinded and aggregated on-farm information fits into the “principles times practices times proof equals public trust” framework, including how programs become tangible proof points. Just as important, we explore why producer input has to happen early, because if a program sounds good in a meeting but fails on farm, it does not deliver value or protect freedom to operate.

If you care about practical sustainability, producer leadership, and the future of pork production, listen now, share this with a producer who should have a seat at the table, and subscribe, rate, and review so more people can find the show.