Pork producers ‘disappointed’ in latest Senate proposal

Pork producers say they’re “deeply disappointed” that U.S. Senate Democrats did not address California’s Proposition 12 in the proposed farm bill they released Nov. 15. That animal welfare law restricts sales of products in California from animals raised using specific types of confinement systems. Iowa pork producers have said they face investing millions of dollars to modify their operations if they want to sell bacon and other pork products in one of the nation’s largest consumer markets. The Prop 12 ballot initiative went into effect earlier this year and comes at a time when hog farmers experienced large losses due to a combination of factors, including higher input costs, lower hog prices and oversupply. Michigan Democrat Debbie Stabenow, chair of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee, unveiled the committee’s draft of a new farm bill Nov. 15, just weeks before Congress adjourns and a little more than a month before funding for many farm programs ceases after Dec. 31 without