During House Agriculture Committee Hearing, Feenstra Speaks Out Against California’s Proposition 12 Mandates on Iowa Hog Farmers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, during a U.S. House Agriculture Committee hearing on California’s Proposition 12, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) discussed the negative economic impacts of this egregious mandate on Iowa hog farmers and submitted for the congressional record letters penned by Iowa hog farmers about the adverse effects of Proposition 12 on their farms and operations.

Matt Schuiteman, a hog farmer from Sioux County, Iowa, also testified before the U.S. House Agriculture Committee about the negative ramifications of Proposition 12.

“California’s Prop 12 mandates threaten the safety and health of hogs, increase operating costs for Iowa hog farmers, raise pork prices for families, and jeopardize our food and farm security. It’s why I helped lead legislation and voted for a Farm Bill that overturns Prop 12, restores consumer choice, and supports Iowa farmers and our rural communities,” said Rep. Feenstra. “During today’s hearing, I submitted for the congressional record personal letters from Iowa hog farmers who have faced decreased herd health, substantial financial expense, and market losses because of Prop 12. Allowing a state that represents less than 1/10 of 1% of hog production to mandate activist-driven practices for farmers across the country is blatantly wrong. Representing the largest pork-producing congressional district in the country, I will continue to work to repeal Prop 12 and stand up for our hog farmers.”

In response to Feenstra’s question about the implications of Proposition 12 on the health of hogs,Schuiteman responded, “Part of the root of the problem is just simply the fact that you have an initiative that was crafted by people who have not lived the industry and have not been around the animals. Prop 12 takes away our ability to act on what we know for the best interest of the animal. And we would prefer to have the freedom to manage our animals the best way we can see fit for the best possible outcome.” 

Schuiteman further noted that “We [hog farmers] have talked about the $3,500 - $4,500 range per sow or more,” to convert operations to comply with Proposition 12.

Today, Feenstra helped introduce the Save Our Bacon Act, which would ensure that states, like California and Massachusetts, cannot set arbitrary mandates on production practices for farmers across the country. 

Last year, Feenstra also voted to pass a Farm Bill out of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee that would have repealed Proposition 12.

You can watch Feenstra's full remarks HERE.