The Nationwide Pork Producers Council (NPPC) President Lori Stevermer, a pork producer from Easton, Minn., introduced the trade’s viewpoint to the U.S. Senate Agriculture, Vitamin, and Forestry Committee right now by way of her “Views from the Subject” listening to testimony.
Stevermer highlighted the highest pork trade problem – California Proposition 12, a state regulation posing an existential menace to all of U.S. agriculture.
“We should repair the issues attributable to Prop. 12, which has elevated farmers’ working prices, created enterprise uncertainty, and raised pork costs on the grocery retailer,” stated Stevermer. “We stand with farmers and shoppers throughout the nation, grateful to have the assist of each President Trump and former President Biden in clearly and decisively opposing Prop. 12.”
Developed with out enter from pork producers, veterinarians, or specialists in animal welfare, Prop. 12 prohibits the sale of raw complete pork meat not produced below the regulation’s arbitrary and expensive housing dimensions.
The regulation is inconsistent. Underneath Prop. 12, a package deal of raw bacon is against the law to be bought in California if it comes from a pig raised on any farm throughout the nation that doesn’t comply with California’s arbitrary, unscientific laws. Nevertheless, if that similar bacon from that similar pig on that similar farm is first cooked and packaged previous to sale (i.e. microwave bacon), the bacon is authorized in California.
Prop. 12 requires producers to have outdoors auditors certify their farms, which is dear and burdensome, and threatens to place pork producing households out of enterprise by considerably growing the price of elevating pigs.
Different pork trade priorities mentioned embody the prevention of the rising menace of international animal ailments, ongoing market entry and commerce points, and employment challenges, together with the necessity for year-round H-2A visas
Stevermer emphasised the success and resiliency of the U.S. pork trade, which in 2023 marketed greater than 149 million hogs valued at over $27 billion whereas supporting greater than 573,000 U.S. jobs.
Click on right here to learn Stevermer’s full testimony.
