Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack and Senator John Boozman (R-AR) met with 120 pork farmers at the National Pork Producers Council’s Fall Legislative Action Conference. They discussed prospects for a 2024 Farm Bill and a federal solution to California’s Prop 12. NPPC said that the Prop 12 initiative imposes serious financial burdens on pork producers, raising food prices for consumers, and sets a dangerous precedent by enabling each state to develop differing regulations on out-of-state producers. Californians are experiencing less pork and higher costs. Vilsack emphasized those higher prices make it harder to include pork products in nutrition programs for the hungry. Boozman, the ranking member of the Senate Ag Committee, said he remains optimistic that a farm bill will get passed this year. To help with the education, NPPC hosted a pop-up food truck on Capitol Hill offering maple bacon donuts and information on the threat of Prop 12 and similar laws.
Pork producers talk farm bill, Prop 12 during fly-in
