Prop 12 is Slippery Pt 1

From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson. Prop 12 was supposed to go into effect on Saturday, July 1, but California gave producers an extra six-month to comply with the rule.

It also gives Congress six more months to try and find a solution.

Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig says California’s decision to extend the deadline could be a good thing …

NAIG … “It gives us that kind of six-month window, but that certainly is an indication of the practical reality, right? The challenge of actually complying with this, and from their side, and the producer’s side. And so, it's good, I guess, that you would delay that and try to ease into that transition.”

Naig says this decision is the first step on a slippery slope that can go beyond just pork and poultry.

He says when I speak with groups now, you can they’re worried …

NAIG … “Well, it's pork today, gosh, what could it be tomorrow? And will other states do this? Yes, I think we should expect that they would, and it won't just be around food. So, again, this decision opened the door for all manner of restrictions that can be placed on other states, producers of all kinds in other states, just because a state can use its market power, and that's wrong. That's something that's foundational to market access. I'm not just talking about food here, but that's foundational to market access in this country.”

Tune in tomorrow for more on the uncertain future of Prop 12.