The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) convened a roundtable discussion on Friday, March 29, focusing on the implications of California’s Proposition 12 and Massachusetts’ Question 3. These ballot initiatives impose stringent housing standards for sows, impacting the sale of pork in those states.
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) joined bipartisan efforts to address these initiatives. NPPC board member Bob Ivey and economist Holly Cook outlined the economic and on-farm ramifications of the measures.
Chairman Thompson reaffirmed his commitment to tackling Prop 12 and Question 3 within the committee’s Farm Bill. The aim is to preempt state regulations on agricultural production methods beyond their borders, a move supported by NPPC.
Recent analysis by the USDA Office of the Chief Economist highlighted the consequences of Prop. 12, revealing increased pork prices and decreased sales volumes in California. Since July 1, 2023, prices for pork loin, rib, and belly surged by an average of 20%, with loin prices experiencing a remarkable 41% increase.
