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(Des Moines, IA) -- Iowa Pork Producers Association President Trish Cook says a U.S. Supreme Court ruling about Proposition 12 is very disappointing. The high court today (Thursday) 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 seeking to invalidate the law. The groups maintain it will force industrywide changes and raise the cost of pork products.
Trish Cook, a pig farmer from Winthrop, Iowa, is 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.”
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig released the following statement today after the United States Supreme Court issued a decision in the case of National Pork Producers Council v. Ross:
“Having the safest, most abundant, and most affordable food supply in the world is foundational to the American way of life. Today's Supreme Court’s decision in National Pork Producers Council v. Ross undermines that firm foundation. While today’s ruling is focused on agricultural production, it will certainly creep into other industries. This disappointing decision sets a concerning precedent and opens the door for the largest states to dictate the laws and regulations for consumers and businesses to the rest of America. This sets the stage for a state-by-state patchwork of ever-changing and costly requirements that will increase the cost of production and drive higher costs for food and other consumer products.”