News

Missouri hog producer plaintiff in Prop 12 suit

A Missouri hog farmer is one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against California’s Proposition 12 that requires changes to sow housing for pork that comes from out-of-state.

Todd Hayes tells Brownfield Ag News hog farmers are involved in this lawsuit with the American Farm Bureau and National Pork Producers Council because they are the ones directly affected,“It’s just pretty aggravating for a producer, having somebody dictate to us what we have to do and they’ve never been to a commercial farm.” He says sows don’t need more room just because someone thinks they do. Hayes says modern hog production is so much better for sows than what was done in the past.

When the state of California passed Proposition 2 several years ago that required more room for egg laying hens – Attorneys General from several states, including Missouri, brought suit. BUT, the courts ruled states did not have standing and Hayes tells Brownfield that’s why this Prop 12 suit includes farmers, “It did affect egg producers in all states and it’s going to affect pork producers in all states. So, this case, we are mostly all producers that have signed on as plaintiffs and to determine and explain why it is going to hurt us.”

Todd Hayes is also Vice President of the Missouri Farm Bureau. As in the egg lawsuit, plaintiffs argue the new California pork production law – slated to go into effect next January – is a violation of the U.S. constitution’s interstate commerce clause.