WASHINGTON, D.C., April 16, 2026 – Armed with fresh retail and federal agriculture data that highlights California Proposition 12’s harmful effects on both farmers and shoppers, 105 American pork farmers representing 23 states traveled to Capitol Hill this week to lobby federal legislators about protecting their operations.
Analysis conducted by researchers at North Dakota State University’s Agricultural Risk Policy Center reveals that price hikes linked to Prop. 12 have continued, even two full years since the regulation went into complete effect. When comparing California’s price jumps to those across the rest of the nation, covered pork products cost consumers 20% more on average because of Prop. 12. The most recent data shows the law has pushed pork loin prices up by 32%, rib prices by 22%, shoulder prices by 16%, and bacon prices by 16%.
Additionally, California shoppers have spent an extra $350 million on pork items while their overall pork purchases have dropped substantially because of Prop. 12. With food costs becoming increasingly burdensome, Prop. 12 keeps generating instability for agricultural operations and is creating an unworkable maze of differing state animal housing regulations.
The NPPC supports the bipartisan Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (also known as Farm Bill 2.0) which provides security to family farming operations nationwide by preventing any single state from dictating agricultural methods for farmers operating beyond its boundaries.
“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 representing millions of agricultural producers and members has urged Congress to prevent one state from imposing its regulations on farming operations throughout the country.
Veterinary professionals also oppose Prop. 12. The American Veterinary Medical Association states that Prop. 12 does “not objectively improve animal welfare and may unintentionally cause harm.”
The National Pork Producers Council and the more than 60,000 farming operations it represents will keep spearheading efforts for producers to operate their enterprises without interference from regulations imposed by other states.
