New Data Shows Continued Threat to Food Affordability Due to California Prop. 12
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 16, 2026 – Equipped with brand new retail and U.S. Department of Agriculture data reinforcing California Proposition 12’s detrimental impacts on both producers and consumers, 105 American pork producers from 23 states took to Capitol Hill, advocating for their livelihoods with federal lawmakers.
Researchers at the North Dakota State University Agricultural Risk Policy Center found that Prop.12-driven price increases have persisted, even two years after the law was fully implemented. On average, prices for covered products are 20% higher due to Prop. 12, calculated by comparing price increases in California to the rest of the United States. Specifically, Prop 12 has driven prices for pork loins up 32%, ribs 22%, shoulders 16%, and bacon 16%, according to the latest data.
Furthermore, California consumers have paid $350 million more for pork products while their consumption of pork has significantly declined due to Prop. 12. As food affordability worsens, Prop. 12 continues to create uncertainty on the farm and is driving an untenable state-by-state patchwork of animal housing laws.
NPPC applauds the bipartisan Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (commonly referred to as the Farm Bill 2.0) which gives assurances to family farms across the country by not allowing one state to determine farming practices for producers outside its state’s borders.
“We’re all singing from the same songbook – real pork producers of all sizes. We need relief from a patchwork of state animal housing laws, which will surely be the nail in the coffin for a number of farms across the country,” said NPPC President Rob Brenneman, a pork producer from Washington, Iowa. “The mission is clear: We need Congress to exercise their authority and fix Prop. 12.”
A coalition of millions of agricultural producers and members has called on Congress to stop one state from forcing its laws on agricultural producers across the country.
Veterinarians are also opposed to Prop. 12. The American Veterinary Medical Association says Prop. 12 does “not objectively improve animal welfare and may unintentionally cause harm.”
The National Pork Producers Council and the 60,000+ farms it represents will continue leading the charge for producers to run their businesses free from out-of-state regulations.