The Ever-Unfolding Story of California's Prop 12
With California Ag Today, I am Haylie Shipp. This is the Ag Information Network.
In the craziness of prepping for a holiday, this story whizzed past my radar. In case yours was on the same page as mine, Capital Press is now reporting that “The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has decided not to reconsider its earlier ruling that determined California’s “Prop 12” statute is constitutional, rejecting arguments from a pork industry organization.”
Proposition 12 was a 2018 ballot measure passed by California voters. It prohibits producing and selling products in California involving certain confinement of mother pigs, egg-laying chickens, and calves used for veal.
Love it or leave it, Prop 12 is reportedly upping prices for consumers. Looking at data out from the University of California earlier this year, since partial implementation began on July 1, 2023, preliminary data indicates that pork prices of products in California that are impacted by this new policy rose, on average, 20%.
According to Capital Press, the Iowa Pork Producers Association can still ask a broader panel of 9th Circuit judges to weigh in on the case or challenge the latest ruling before the Supreme Court. However, it’s not certain it would agree to review the matter again.
