USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack promised government lawyers will involve pork industry leaders in discussions over a lawsuit by the Humane Society of the United States. Vilsack made the comments Wednesday at the Bipartisan Policy Center, according to Agri-Pulse. Vilsack testified at a recent House Agriculture Committee meeting the settlement talks regarding the lawsuit were “in concert” with the industry. Both the National Pork Board and National Pork Producers Council say they do not approve of settlement talks. The Humane Society is suing USDA over the sale of a slogan by NPPC to the Pork Board in 2006. USDA approved the sale at the time. Vilsack said of the pork industry that he has directed USDA “to make sure they are fully briefed on what's going on.” Vilsack says USDA was instructed by the court to see if there is any common ground on the issue. Regarding his recent House Agriculture Committee hearing testimony indicating settlement talks, Vilsack said the conversations were about what the consequences are and what would be beneficial to the industry.
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