Capital Update – For the Week Ending Jan. 23, 2026

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Pork Leadership Institute 2026 Class Selected

What happened: NPPC and the National Pork Board announced the 2026 Pork Leadership Institute class. PLI is a premier program dedicated to equipping pork producers with the knowledge and skills to lead the pork industry into the future.

This year, 19 exceptional individuals from across the country have been selected to join the program, representing a diverse group of leaders ready to drive innovation, advocacy, and progress within the pork sector.

Collaborating closely with state pork association executives and field representatives, NPPC and the Pork Board selected the following individuals for the PLI Class of 2026: Ethan Baldwin (Indiana), Ryan Bartachek (Iowa), Matt Boerboom (Minnesota), Yolanda Castelo (North Carolina), Clay Eastwood (Texas), Suzanne Genova (Oklahoma), Emmalee Haege (Illinois), Jennifer Hasty (North Carolina), Tyler Main (Illinois), Donny Ray (Mississippi), Kolton Reasy (Pennsylvania), Macie Reeb (Iowa), Rick Roper (Idaho), Katie Sherman (Tennessee), Kevin Stuckey (Ohio), Tanya Torguson (South Dakota), Stacey Voight (Ohio), Morgan Weinrich (Missouri), and Austin Zimmerman (Nebraska).

Why it matters: PLI is instrumental in shaping the success of pork producers by cultivating knowledgeable industry ambassadors and future leaders. "As we welcome the Class of 2026, it's exciting to see these producers stepping up to lead for their farms, their communities, and the industry," said Bryan Humphreys, NPPC CEO. "The Pork Leadership Institute gives them the tools and know-how to tackle the challenges that really matter-from policy and trade to sharing the story of pork production with neighbors and lawmakers. These graduates are already in the trenches, and this program helps them roll up their sleeves even further to speak up for producers, strengthen their operations, and keep the industry resilient for years to come."

For more information about the Pork Leadership Institute, click here.

USDA Deputy Secretary Vaden Calls Prop. 12 'Internal Protectionism'

What happened: In a webinar hosted by the National Agricultural Law Center, USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden once again spoke out against the unconstitutionality and dangerous impacts posed by California Proposition 12.

"While the United States is working to knock down foreign trade barriers, some states are simultaneously enacting domestic trade barriers, such as California's Proposition 12," Vaden said.

"This internal protectionism is what led to the demise of the Articles of Confederation. If one state can block products from another state, the country ceases to function as a unified national market.

"I strongly believe the Supreme Court got the Prop. 12 decision wrong, both on procedural grounds and in its interpretation of the Dormant Commerce Clause issue. This is not a partisan issue. Democrats and Republicans, including President Trump and former President Biden, agree that California's law is unconstitutional. USDA expects continued litigation as underlying constitutional issues remain unresolved."

Why it matters: Without the certainty of a Prop. 12 fix, widespread, damaging consequences are anticipated for farmers and consumers alike. These include the risk of putting farm families out of business by significantly increasing the cost of raising pigs and an attack on affordability, with increased prices expected at the grocery store that could be as much as 41% for certain pork products.

NPPC's take: NPPC has worked closely with Vaden, as he was instrumental in the development of the pork industry's strategy to argue Prop. 12 in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.

House Funding Bill Would Renew AGOA for One Year

What happened: A provision included in a funding bill introduced in the U.S. House and expected to be approved by both chambers of Congress would extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act for one year. It also would renew the Haiti Economic Lift Program.

Earlier this month, the House passed stand-alone legislation to renew AGOA for three years. That measure has not yet been taken up in the Senate.

AGOA gives sub-Saharan African nations duty-free access for their goods exported to the United States in exchange for "reasonable and equitable" treatment of U.S. imports. Both AGOA and the Haiti Economic Lift Program expired at the end of September. The extension was included in a bipartisan fiscal 2026 $1.2 trillion appropriations bill for the departments of War, Health and Human Services, Labor, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, and Education.

Several AGOA beneficiary countries have barriers to their markets for U.S. goods and services, including Angola, Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, with the latter two having de facto bans on U.S. pork imports.

NPPC's take: NPPC prefers the shorter-term extension for AGOA since many of the beneficiary countries continue to have barriers to U.S. services and goods, including pork. NPPC has asked the Trump administration to withhold or limit benefits to such nations. In the past, for example, it supported removing Nigeria and South Africa from the AGOA program until they allow full market access for U.S. pork.

Why it matters: The objectives of AGOA are to expand U.S. trade and investment with sub-Saharan Africa, stimulate economic growth in the region, and facilitate African nations' integration into the global economy. In many AGOA countries, pork is an important source of protein, making them potentially significant markets for U.S. pork.

EPA Seeks Nominations for Advisory Committee

What happened: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced it is taking nominations to serve on its Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee, which provides independent policy advice, information, and recommendations to the EPA administrator on a range of environmental issues and policies of importance to agriculture and rural communities.

To build a broad and balanced representation of perspectives, FRRCC members are selected from a variety of relevant sectors, including from farming, ranching, and rural communities; allied industries (farm groups, suppliers, marketers, and processors); academia and researchers; state, local, and tribal governments; and nongovernmental organizations.

To be considered for an appointment to the FRRCC, applications should be submitted to [email protected] by March 2. For more information on how to apply, click here.

Why it matters: Established in 2008, the FRRCC serves as an advisory body that addresses specific topics of unique relevance to agriculture as identified by the administrator.

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