What’s the reality of a post-Proposition 12 America where every link in the food supply chain is impacted by new financial burdens imposed on pork producers? The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) launched an ad campaign that depicts what this could look like on Oct. 1. The campaign calls for a federal solution to California’s Prop 12 and will run across digital and social media channels.
The ads capture the sentiment of battleground state voters, validated by new polling released on Oct. 1. NPPC commissioned polling of registered voters in swing states (AZ, GA, MI, NC, NV, PA and WI) to determine public opinion of Prop 12. The results show that three-quarters of voters are stressed by increasing food costs, and a majority want to see Congress prohibit states from setting farm standards that apply beyond their borders. The polling also shows a wide gap with deep support in favor of Congress taking action on the farm standards issue.
- 71% of voters say their costs of groceries has gone up over the last few months.
- Nearly 80% say the cost of groceries is stressful, with 47% saying it’s extremely stressful.
- Among voters with a strong opinion on whether California should dictate farm animal standards nationwide, a large majority disagree and want Congress to stop it.
“The call to action is clear,” says Bryan Humphreys, NPPC CEO. “Congress must pass a Farm Bill with a fix to Prop 12.”
A Future Reality?
The ads introduce “Cindy,” a hard-working food truck owner who has provided pork barbeque from the “Perkins Family Pig Farm” to her community for over a decade. Prop 12 forces her to raise prices on her valued customers until she can no longer turn a profit or keep up with payments to her suppliers, including Perkins Pig Farm. As she shutters her business, the ads reveal how the Perkins Pig Farm has also fallen to foreclosure. This campaign depicts the challenges of Prop 12, highlighting how this scenario could soon become a reality across America, NPPC shared in a release.
“The ad portrays a far too real story for pork producers, restaurant owners, and consumers across America,” said NPPC president and Minnesota pork producer Lori Stevermer. “Prop 12 is an existential threat to pork producers and impacts consumers’ access to nutritious, affordable food.”
Prop 12 is Harmful to Entire Supply Chain
NPPC economist Holly Cook pointed out that from 2017 to 2022, the U.S. lost more than 5,000 hog farms, a trend Prop 12 risks perpetuating. The construction price of compliance could cost producers up to $4,000 per sow and has already caused a 20% surge in California’s pork prices.
“It’s important to recognize that any additional or conflicting regulations adopted by other states threaten to create even more costs throughout the supply chain, increase uncertainty for producers and consumers, and further disruptions to markets,” Cook said.
Although large companies may be able to afford the cost burden of Prop 12, NPPC said many small and medium-sized operations will suffer, leading to further industry consolidation.
“Prop 12 sets a dangerous precedent where one state can impose rules and regulations affecting farmers nationwide,” Stevermer explained in a release. “Pork producers and their veterinarians know what is best for their animals, and California should not be able to impose housing standards on the rest of the country. Prop 12 is most harmful to our industry, but it is only a matter of time before other industries are impacted by decisions dictated by a particular state’s preference. It’s bad for businesses, it’s bad for consumers, and our new polling shows that voters don’t want it. We need a federal fix to this problem.”
Humphreys said that Prop 12 and similar state laws are exacerbating an already challenging economic environment for pork producers. The ad that NPPC has created sends a clear message: Congress must fix Prop 12 in the Farm Bill.
To view the ad, visit FixProp12.com.
