Commons Wants Pork Ownership in U.S.

State Rep. Matt Commons (R-Williamsport) recently sent a letter to the White House urging President Donald Trump and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to facilitate pathways that would return majority control of agricultural giants, such as Smithfield Foods, to American ownership.

Smithfield Foods, which is majority owned by a China-based corporation, controls over 20 percent of the U.S. pork industry. As one of the leading pork-producing states and home to a Smithfield Foods processing plant in Peru, Commons said Indiana has a strong interest in safeguarding America’s food security and ensuring farmers are properly compensated.

“The pork industry contributes more than $3 billion annually to our state’s economy,” Commons said. “American ownership in this area impacts not only our food supply, but also our economy and national security.”

In the letter, Commons urged the Trump Administration to engage with private sector stockholders, investors and domestic agricultural partners to explore acquisition strategies that would return majority control of Smithfield Foods to American ownership. 

Commons said Indiana has already taken efforts to combat foreign influence and food insecurity by eliminating adversarial ownership of agricultural land and other sensitive properties in Senate Enrolled Act 256. This letter continues those efforts and urges support for enhanced national security, a strong and independent agricultural economy and long-term stability for farmers.

Commons represents House District 13, which includes all of Benton and Warren counties, and portions of Fountain, Jasper, Montgomery, Newton, Tippecanoe and White counties.