Coalition Urges Congressional Fix to Prop 12

The National Pork Producers Council and the American Farm Bureau led a coalition of over 900 ag stakeholders in supporting a federal fix to California’s Prop 12 in the next farm bill. In a letter to House Ag Committee leadership, the coalition highlighted several problematic parts of the proposition, including marketplace mayhem. The coalition says Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack warned the House Ag Committee that unless Congress provides a solution to Prop 12, there will be “chaos in the marketplace.” Prop 12 could inspire a patchwork of state laws to fuel consolidation. Without congressional action, the letter says producers are “at risk” of arbitrary and conflicting state laws in all 50 states. Prop 12 may also lead to international trade retaliation, adding that Canada has already raised concerns. The letter also says the U.S. Supreme Court and Secretary Vilsack agree that only Congress has the authority to handle this issue.

Source: NAFB