Reading Duane Stateler’s op-ed from October 11, “California is driving up pork prices — and Congress can fix it,” caught me off guard. Like Stateler, I come from a longstanding farming background; my family has tended to livestock and grain in Missouri for over a century. While we both appreciate agriculture, we don’t see eye to eye on what’s best for independent pork producers in the country.
California’s Proposition 12, which establishes higher welfare standards for animals sold in the state, isn’t a threat to farmers like me. In fact, it’s one of the rare market opportunities that can really help us remain sustainable and earn a decent income.
It’s easy to see why Stateler takes such a stance. As the president of the National Pork Producers Council, he advocates for groups that call themselves “the global voice of the U.S. pork industry.” This usually translates into defending larger pork producers and processors. However, there are many voices in this dialogue, particularly those of independent family farmers—the men and women raising pigs, sheep, and cattle, nurturing the animals and supporting rural communities.
Proposition 12 doesn’t eliminate pork production or impose random restrictions. It simply ensures animals sold in California have enough space to stand, lie down, and turn around. California doesn’t dictate farming methods; voters there made a choice to invest in higher animal welfare standards. Given a fair chance, farmers like me can also adapt. This is the essence of a free market, which independent farmers rely on.
What’s truly at stake is control. Who gets to decide the future of agriculture? Independent producers or large corporate packers? The very same corporate interests that say they protect farmers from regulation are actually consolidating the industry and controlling our access to markets. Their narrative revolves around “uniform standards,” but what they really mean is a system where they hold all the power, even if it means keeping mother pigs in tiny cages for the majority of their lives.
Some critics claim Proposition 12 has caused skyrocketing pork prices, but the reality is different. Since enforcement started in January 2024, retail pork chop prices in California have only risen by about 6.6%. That’s a typical short-term shift as supply and demand normalize. In fact, the most notable price increase of 41% happened years earlier, well before Proposition 12 went into effect, during a pandemic-related market correction after record-low prices in 2019. Blaming Prop 12 for inflation is comparable to blaming meteorologists for storms.
There are also accusations that the law harms interstate commerce, but the Supreme Court has looked into this and supported the legislation, affirming that states can set regulations for products sold within their borders. This isn’t an overreach; it’s how federalism is intended to function, maintaining a balance designed into our system.
Currently, Congress is considering the Food Security and Farm Protection Act and the “save our bacon” law—essentially a rebranded version of the failed EATS law—which would strip states of their regulatory authority. These bills suggest to voters and consumers that their preferences don’t count if corporate lobbyists disagree.
Some argue Proposition 12 is detrimental to small farmers, but in fact, it provides one of the few chances we have. The number of U.S. pig farms has dropped over 70% from 1980 to 2022, despite an overall increase in production. This decline isn’t due to animal welfare laws, but rather corporate consolidation, lax antitrust enforcement, and vertically integrated giants like Smithfield and JBS.
Proposition 12 changes the game by creating a premium market for farmers who raise pigs under high-welfare systems. About 27% of producers are already compliant; they are family-run and invested in their future and deserve a fair shot in this market without Congress interfering with their livelihoods.
What’s truly risky is the model promoted by the National Pork Producers Council—a structure that centralizes production, stifles competition, and undermines rural communities. When a handful of multinational companies manage nearly all slaughtering capacity, the closing of even one plant can cause widespread instability in the supply chain. Such arrangements make our food systems significantly less resilient, which is concerning.
I have great respect for all farmers dedicated to caring for their animals and nourishing their communities. However, the National Pork Producers Council does not offer me or the thousands of independent farmers who view Proposition 12 as essential to fair competition any real opportunity to thrive.
We don’t need Congress to “fix” Proposition 12. Instead, we need them to address the broken markets that have pushed farmers like myself towards the edge.
