WASHINGTON — Pork producers are pressing Congress to address California’s Proposition 12 before completing the next farm bill.
Nearly 150 producers representing 24 states traveled to Washington during the National Pork Producers Council’s Legislative Action Conference. The group met with officials in about 175 congressional offices as the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced the Agricultural Act of 2026.
Proposition 12 establishes animal-housing requirements for pork sold in California, including pork raised in other states. The NPPC argues that allowing individual states to impose separate production standards increases costs and uncertainty for farms selling into national markets.
NPPC President Rob Brenneman, an Iowa pork producer, said farmers need federal legislation that prevents conflicting state requirements and gives producers greater certainty when making long-term investments.
The organization wants a Proposition 12 provision included in the final version of the farm bill. Its other priorities include funding for the U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan and expanding year-round access to agricultural labor through the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act.
Producers also urged the Trump administration to complete its review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Mexico and Canada remain critical export markets for American pork.
Conference participants heard from Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson of Pennsylvania and Ohio Rep. Shontel Brown. NPPC recognized Ernst and Thompson for their work on pork industry issues and the farm bill.