Indiana Farm Bureau fights to change California's prop 12

By Andi Anderson

The Indiana Farm Bureau (INFB), aligned with the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Pork Producers Council, has officially urged U.S. lawmakers to modify California's Proposition 12 in the 2024 farm bill. This appeal was directed at the U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson and Ranking Member David Scott.

Proposition 12, a mandate from a 2018 California ballot measure, restricts the sale of pork, veal, and eggs that do not meet specific housing standards set by the state. The U.S. Supreme Court recognized in May 2023 that only Congress could address the regulatory issues created by such state-specific laws, which affect the national market.

Randy Kron, president of the INFB, highlighted the particular difficulties Prop 12 poses to Indiana's pork producers, especially impacting the smaller and medium-sized farms. He emphasized the necessity for Congress to standardize regulations to prevent a fragmented set of state laws that could disrupt interstate commerce.

Support for the initiative to amend Prop 12 has also come from other state-wide agricultural organizations in Indiana and various local county Farm Bureaus, including those from Fayette, Franklin, Grant, Howard, Jefferson, Johnson, Kosciusko, Perry, Warren, and Warrick counties. The collective goal is to advocate for a legislative environment that supports farmers' stability and consumer needs across the nation.

Photo Credit: indiana-farm-bureau