NAFB Washington Watch and Issues Forum

NPPC advocates for a farm bill that addresses the challenges and chaos posed by laws like Prop. 12, fully funds the programs that safeguard the nation’s food supply against threats posed by foreign animal diseases, as well as key programs that expand foreign markets for U.S. ag products.

Contacts: Matt Grill

For decades U.S. pork producers have worked tirelessly to eliminate tariffs on exports. Policies that allow for
businesses to trade fairly and with certainty are critical to the continued success of American agriculture and the overall economy. The United States needs more market access that eliminates or significantly reduce tariffs and non-tariff barriers to U.S. exports.

Contact: Maria C. Zieba

Proposition 12 is a California ballot initiative prohibiting the sale of pork not produced according to the state’s arbitrary production standards. These standards, which were developed without input from hog farmers, veterinarians or experts in animal care or food safety, hurt farmers and consumers throughout the country, while disproportionately affecting low-income households. The facts surrounding this misguided measure must be considered as lawmakers develop a federal solution.

In addition to the issue paper above, check out the costs and impacts of Proposition 12 here. We also encourage you to review our letter to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) for our stance and recommendations, and our letter to agricultural stakeholders for further insights into the issue.

Contacts: Matt Grill

The H-2A visa program allows a very limited number of foreign workers entry into the U.S. for seasonal agricultural work. The seasonal workers permitted under the program do not come close to meeting the pork industry’s need for year-round workers, especially with the decline in rural working age populations. Congress must provide access to the H-2A program for year-round industries.

Contact: Kelcy Schaunaman