Implications of California’s Proposition 12 Extend Beyond Agriculture

The Senior Counsel for Public Policy with the American Farm Bureau Federation says the implementation of California’s Proposition 12 has implications that extend well beyond the pork industry

Proposition 12, a California ballot initiative approved by voters in 2018, if allowed to proceed, will ban the sale of pork in that state that does not originate from farms that comply with California’s housing requirements for sows.

The National Pork Producers Council hosted a roundtable last week to discuss Proposition 12 and update the media on the National Pork Producers Council-National Farm Bureau Federation’s Supreme Court challenge of the legislation scheduled to be heard October 11.

Travis Cushman, the Senior Counsel for Public Policy with the American Farm Bureau Federation, says this legislation has implication that extend beyond agriculture.

“For me what it comes down to is the small farmer will be unable to spend millions of dollars to renovate his operation to satisfy a law in a state elsewhere that might change again in a few years” 

“This issue goes well beyond the pork industry. This is an issue that has faced farmers everywhere in all types of farming activities. While we obviously share California’s goal of ensuring animals are well cared for, unfortunately this does not let farmers have a say in that.

“For me what it comes down to is the small farmer will be unable to spend millions of dollars to renovate his operation to satisfy a law in a state elsewhere that might change again in a few years.
From AFBF’s perspective that is our biggest concern, is what this will do to the small farmer.

“California’s attorneys during arguments in a similar case acknowledged that under California’s logic they’d be able regulate wages in other states.

“So, you can’t sell your widget, your computer in our state unless it’s built according to our standards of what an appropriate wage would be.”

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments October 11th and, although the Supreme Court has no deadline for rendering its decision, a ruling is expected by January-February 2023 or by the spring of 2023.