On May 11, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge to a California law that mandates more space for breeding pigs, also called Proposition 12. The justices upheld a decision to dismiss a lawsuit by the National Pork Producers Council and the American Farm Bureau Federation that sought to invalidate the law, which could force industrywide changes and raise the cost of pork products nationwide. The following statement may be attributed to Trish Cook, a pig farmer from Winthrop, Iowa, and president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association.
“The health and safety of their pigs are a top priority for Iowa pig farmers, and we are frustrated to see the Supreme Court uphold Prop 12. This ruling sets a bad precedent, enabling other states to regulate commerce outside their boundaries. Consumers, especially low-income ones who rely on affordable nutritious pork to feed their families, will ultimately suffer due to higher food prices. Some small and medium-sized producers who are already dealing with high feed costs and inflation, will also sadly go out of business as they struggle to comply.”
