Reposted from: https://ktvo.com/news/local/some-pork-producers-say-prop-12-benefits-them-despite-criticism-from-iowa-politicians
August 18, 2024
IOWA — A version of the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression, or EATS Act, which challenges California’s Proposition 12, has been incorporated into the House Committee on Agriculture’s version of the Farm Bill.
This proposed legislation, co-sponsored by Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, argues that it will protect Iowa’s pork producers and rural farmers who may struggle to comply with Proposition 12’s requirements to access the California market.
However, not everyone agrees.
Some small family farmers argue that the EATS Act does the opposite, benefiting large corporations rather than supporting those already in compliance with Proposition 12.
“Senator Grassley has been a leader in many respects to help protect cattle producers and others. Unfortunately, we believe in this case, he’s got the wrong information,” said Farm Action Fund President Joe Maxwell. “He’s listened to the wrong people. The National Pork Producers Council, is, for the EATS Act, wants to allow Brazil’s JBS,China’s Smithfield, to bring in pork from anywhere in the world and be able to sell it anywhere that they want. I think he’s listened to them, and he ought to back up and take a look at things like, what is going on in Iowa? That it’s had limited impact, if any.”
Maxwell, a Missouri farmer himself, argues that smaller farms have actually benefited from Proposition 12.
He believes that it provides small farmers with a competitive advantage over large corporations that struggle with the state’s new animal welfare standards.
The Farm Action Fund has organized “farmer fly-ins” to Washington D.C. to demonstrate to Congress that many smaller farms are thriving under Proposition 12.
These farmers report not only meeting the standards but also finding new market opportunities and receiving higher premiums for their pork.