Support Builds for Legislation to Limit One State’s Ability to Impose Standards on Agricultural Production in Another

Sep 18, 2023

The Chief Legal Strategist with the National Pork Producers Council says support is building for legislation that will prevent states from imposing standards on the production of agricultural products produced in other states. U.S. lawmakers have introduced a bill that would prohibit individual states from imposing conditions on the sale of agricultural products in their states that are produced in other states that go beyond those already in place in those states or under federal law. California’s Proposition 12, Massachusetts Question 3, other state specific legislation designed to regulate animal welfare standards for pork sold in those states and the EATS act were the focus of a Canadian Pork Council webinar last week. Michael Formica, the Chief Legal Strategist with the National Pork Producers Council, says two versions of the EATS or Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression act are being debated in Congress, one in the Senate and the other in the House of Representatives.

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Video: Season 7, Episode 1: Managing Risk and Seeing Opportunities in U.S. Pork Production

Today’s episode features three guests discussing the similarities and differences between pork production in the United States and Brazil, along with strategies for managing risk in today’s industry while recognizing and acting on opportunities. First, Dr. Anne Caroline de Lara, executive manager of live pig production at Seara Alimentos, a JBS company in Brazil, is joined by Dr. Matthew Turner, head of operations for JBS Live Pork. Together, they discuss how labor, climate and ventilation challenges vary between Brazil and the United States, while underscoring their shared commitment to raising healthy pigs. They also point to lessons producers in both countries can take from one another’s systems and on-farm experiences. Then, Brady Reicks, risk manager at Reicks View Farms, shares his perspective on risk management, drawing from his background in markets and his transition into farming. He discusses how protecting margins varies by operation and offers practical approaches producers can use to make marketing and business decisions with greater confidence rather than hesitation.

Both conversations were recorded at recent industry events focused on swine livability, including the International Conference on Pig Livability and Iowa Swine Day.