The Minnesota Pork Board works on behalf of Minnesota pork producers who pay into the mandatory Pork Checkoff by administering state-level activities. These Pork Checkoff programs fall into three categories: research, education, promotion.
Pork producers and individuals associated with entities who pay the Pork Checkoff are encouraged to take part in Pork Checkoff activities and to help determine how to invest Pork Checkoff funding.
U.S. pork producers and importers pay 40 cents per $100 of value when pigs are sold and when pigs or pork products are brought into the United States. The National Pork Board collects and distributes Pork Checkoff funds and administers Pork Checkoff programs at the national level.
A percentage of the annual Pork Checkoff collections return to state where the funding originated. Minnesota's return is 17 percent of the total amount collected in the state. An outside auditor annually reviews the spending of Minnesota's Pork Checkoff dollars to assure the money is used in accordance with federal law.
COUNTY PORK ASSOCIATIONS
There are several Minnesota counties with active pork producer associations. These county associations set their own annual membership fees and those fees remain with the county associations. The county association members elect their own officers. A pork producer does not need to be a county association member to take part in Minnesota Pork Board committees and activities.
