News

Finstad concerned Prop 12 “could devastate family farms”

A member of the House Agriculture Committee is very concerned about ramifications of Proposition 12.

Minnesota Republican Brad Finstad says California’s animal housing law essentially means one state can dictate economic terms for the rest of the country.

“So Prop 12 has been devastating for farmers all across the United States. What it has done to the pork industry, or what it could potentially do, is something that could devastate family farms as we know it.”

He tells Brownfield legislation to address Prop 12 is facing opposition in Congress. But one way or another, Finstad says the interstate commerce issue has to be dealt with.

“Right now (the law impacts) gestation pens for pork and how we raise our hogs, (but) tomorrow it could be how we produce sticky notes. And it’s just a messy road we go down if states start to interject political science into the economic strength and engine of our country.”

Finstad says he’s hopeful the EATS Act, which would prevent states and local jurisdictions from interfering with the production and distribution of ag products in interstate commerce, will be included in the next farm bill.