National Pork Board (NPB)
The National Pork Board (NPB) is a pork research and promotion program created by the U.S. Congress that operates under the oversight of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. NPB was created to develop and expand markets for pork and pork products. It also operates the Pork Checkoff program, a mandatory government program that charges pork producers and importers a fee for each pig sold to fund promotion, research, and education efforts surrounding pork. 1 2
Contents
NPB is a member of Farmers for Soil Health, a collaboration between the National Corn Growers Association, the United Soybean Board, and the National Pork Board. 3
Background
The National Pork Board was created under the authority of the Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act of 1985, which went into effect in 1986 and created the pork research and promotion (R&P) program to develop markets for pork and expand sales opportunities for pork and pork products. The pork R&P program operates under the guidance of the U.S. Department of Agriculture as the National Pork Board. 1
The National Board is made up of 15 pork producers, each of whom is nominated by the 160 members of the National Pork Producers Delegate Body. The National Pork Producers Delegate Body is comprised of at least two pork producers from each of the 43 states that actively produce pork. Delegate Body members serve for one-year terms and board members serve for three-year terms. 1
Leadership
In 2024, the president of the National Pork Board was Alan Wulfekuhle from Quasqueton, Iowa. Wulfekuhle was first elected as the president of NPB in 2020 and, as of May 2025, his term was set to end in 2026. Wulfekuhle works for G&W Pork. Other members of NPB include Gordon Spronk, Alayne Johnson, Morgan Wonderly, Santiago Vazquez, Stewart Leeth, Jesse Heimer, Kevin Rasmussen, Robert Ruth, Patrick Bane, Seth Krantz, Bill Luckey, Jeremy Burkett, Jessica Campbell, and Chad Groves. 4 5
Activities
Pork Checkoff
The National Pork Board administers the Pork Checkoff, a mandatory government program that charges pork producers and importers a fee for each pig sold to fund promotion, research, and education efforts. NPB uses the funds to promote pork marketing and to support the pork industry. Pork Checkoff funds are overseen by a 15-member board of directors. Delegates appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture nominate members of the board and set the Pork Checkoff rate. 2
Pork Checkoff also owns and maintains Pork.org, a website that publishes nutrition information about pork, information about cuts of pork, pork safety information, and pork cooking techniques. 6
Farmers for Soil Health
The National Pork Board is a member of Farmers for Soil Health, a collaboration between the National Corn Growers Association, the United Soybean Board, and NPB. The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), a membership organization focused on agriculture and conservation that shares information on climate-focused technology, is also a partner of the Farmers for Soil Health Program. The purpose of Farmers for Soil Health is to promote conservation practices to improve soil health in the United States. Farmers for Soil Health offers a cost-sharing program in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities to provide financial assistance to soybean and corn farmers who plant cover crops that prevent soil erosion and promote soil nutrition. 7 8