In the United States, hog farmers are subject to a mandatory assessment fee, often referred to as a 'checkoff' program. Under federal law, farmers must contribute 35 cents for every $100 in sales to the National Pork Board. The stated purpose of this board is to promote pork products to consumers and fund research for the industry.

However, the use of these funds has become a point of contention for independent producers like Russ Kremer, a Missouri-based farmer who utilizes non-industrial practices. Critics of the current system argue that the National Pork Board uses the collective funds generated by these mandatory fees to support lobbying activities that favor large-scale industrial farming operations. These critics contend that the lobbying efforts often prioritize the interests of major agricultural corporations, which can inadvertently undermine the business models of smaller, independent farmers who do not use antibiotics or confinement cages.

While the National Pork Board maintains that its primary mandate is industry promotion and market development, the debate centers on whether the mandatory nature of these fees forces small farmers to subsidize political and commercial interests that run counter to their own operations. The tension highlights a broader divide in the agricultural sector between industrial-scale producers and those advocating for more sustainable, independent farming practices.