In a time of economic uncertainty, American consumers and pork producers face significant challenges threatening their livelihoods, the stability of our agricultural sector, and food security. Fortunately, House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson’s Farm Bill offers a beacon of hope, addressing many critical issues that could help stabilize the marketplace and secure the future of American agriculture.
Farming inherently involves a lot of risk and uncertainty. That is why it is crucial to minimize that risk and bring clarity when possible, allowing farmers to focus on what they do best - producing healthy food that sustains and nourishes communities everywhere. The Farm Bill is essential and represents a bipartisan effort to support American farming, consumer food affordability, and our nation’s economic vitality.
The proposed House Farm Bill ensures that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and related agencies have the funding they need to prevent foreign animal diseases from being introduced into our country and to prepare should an outbreak occur. This includes increased funding for testing labs and vaccine banks, as well as additional resources for the Beagles working at the airports. These measures will help maintain the world's safest food supply in the United States and keep U.S. pork exports flowing and our economy growing.
Another critical piece in the Farm Bill is a fix for the problems caused by California’s Proposition 12, which allows California to regulate how farmers across the country raise their animals. The Biden administration agrees that Prop. 12 is creating chaos for farmers nationwide.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has underscored the urgency of congressional action to prevent chaos in the marketplace, warning both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees that without a solution to Prop. 12, the agricultural sector will face unprecedented disruption. Vilsack emphasized that farmers need clarity and certainty, not chaos, to continue feeding America and the world.
The crux of Prop. 12’s problem is that it sets up a precedent for a patchwork of state laws that threaten to dismantle small and medium-sized farms of all types nationwide. Without a unified federal approach, producers will be subject to arbitrary and conflicting regulations across all 50 states.
Due to its size and economic significance, pork producers cannot simply opt out of the California market. Secretary Vilsack has pointed out that producers are essentially compelled to meet California's stringent requirements, regardless of the impracticality and high costs involved. This situation places an undue burden on farmers nationwide, stifling their ability to compete fairly and sustainably.
The impact extends beyond the farm. Since Prop. 12 has gone into effect, this warning of chaos has quickly materialized in California grocery stores. USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist examined retail scanner data and found that Prop. 12 already has caused grocery store prices for pork loins to skyrocket by 41%. Prices for other affected pork products in California have shot up 20%, on average. These price increases could spread nationwide if Congress does not act.
Moreover, Prop. 12’s compliance requirements weaken America's negotiating position in international trade, setting a dangerous precedent allowing other countries to impose similar non-science-based restrictions on U.S. exports. This could lead to retaliatory actions, as seen with Canada’s concerns, potentially jeopardizing the agricultural export market.
While nothing is simple in Washington, lawmakers can prevent further chaos, protect small and medium-sized farms from onerous regulations, ensuring the agricultural sector remains robust and competitive, and make it easier for families to afford quality protein. It is time for Congress to act decisively, providing the clarity and support our farmers desperately need.
Bryan Humphreys the CEO of the National Pork Producers Council.
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