A few years back, California implemented Proposition 12, an act that says any pork marketed in the state or even transported through the state must meet certain requirements for raising. They are dictating pen sizes and facility requirements to 49 other states. The cost of these implementations will be astronomical to pork producers and could threaten the future of smaller family farm operations. Supporters of the pork industry say the act violated interstate commerce clauses. California was taken to court by the Pork industry. The legal battle took Prop 12?s legality all the way to the highest court in the land. Then at the last minute, the Supreme Court of the United States decided they would not hear the case. That meant that Prop 12 would stand and go into effect next year.
The only possible avenue of recourse for America?s Pork Producers now lies in the halls of Congress. Senators Grassley and Ernst have introduced legislation in the Senate that says one state cannot dictate commercial practices to the other 49. Now, in the House of Representatives, Iowa 1st District Congresswoman Ashely Hinson has introduced a companion bill known as the ?Exposing Agricultural Trade Suppression Act? or ?EATS Act.?
At the Iowa State Fair, Congresswoman Hinson stopped by the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network booth to talk with us about her legislation. She says that California is essentially putting regulations on products to the point of essentially having a ?bacon ban.? She says that Iowa?s producers do not want to be ?California-ed.? She says that our producers know how to do their job and do it well.
Hinson talks about the fact that Prop 12 is going to create a logistical nightmare for pork production and marketing. Either the whole marketplace will have to adjust to California?s will, or they will have to separate compliant products from uncompliant products and then package them differently. That cost will have to be made up somewhere, and that would likely be on the backs of America?s pork producers. Hinson says that might be bearable for larger operations and companies. However, it will be financially destructive for small operations and the family farm.
The House is being called back next week to take up the Infrastructure bill that came down from the Senate. Hinson will have a chance to bring her case to the full House. However, with a Speaker from California, it may have a long, uphill battle.
