The National Pork Producers Council and the American Farm Bureau teamed up to rally support from more than 900 agricultural stakeholders urging a federal fix to California Prop. 12 in the 2024 Farm Bill. A letter was drafted to House Agricultural Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson and Ranking Member David Scott outlining the negative impacts of Prop. 12.

Points included:

  • The proposition creates marketplace chaos while farmers need clarity and certainty.
  • A patchwork of state laws across all 50 states could severely hamper small and medium-sized producers.
  • Retailitory action could result in international trade threats. It could also weaken America’s ability to negotiate trade agreements.
  • There is no choice, producers must sell to California and therefore have to conform to the requirement.
  • States independently imposing laws runs counter to the freedom to farm in the House Farm Bill.
  • The Supreme Court has indicated that only Congress possesses the authority to prevent chaos in the marketplace.

This letter was signed by over 40 states and national agricultural organizations including the Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference of American Trucking Associations, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Sheep Industry Association, Beef Alliance, Livestock Marketing Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Lamb Feeders Association, National Milk Producers Federation, National Pork Producers Council, National Sorghum Producers, National Turkey Federation, Rural & Agricultural Council of America, and U.S. Cattlemen’s Association.

Read more about the effort to fix California Prop. 12 here.