By Blake Jackson
Missouri family hog farmers are joining a nationwide campaign of independent producers to advocate in Washington, D.C., as Congress evaluates Proposition 12, California’s crate-free pork law. The campaign uses billboards, advertisements, and outreach efforts to thank lawmakers supporting the measure.
Missouri, a leading pork-producing state, raises more than 3 million hogs and pigs, and supporters say Proposition 12 creates a niche market for crate-free pork. This allows smaller farms and cooperatives to compete without relying on corporate contracts.
Bob Street, a mid-sized farmer in eastern Missouri since the 1960s, highlighted the challenges facing producers today. "All of those markets today are gone," Street said. "If you want to market, you have to go semi-loads of hogs, and it's kind of hard for someone like me to put a semi-load together."
Opponents argue Proposition 12 places undue burdens on interstate commerce, requiring out-of-state producers to meet California’s housing standards. They warn this could increase costs for farmers and consumers and threaten the survival of small and mid-sized operations.
Hog farming continues to play a vital role in Missouri’s economy, with over 2,200 farms averaging about 1,400 animals each, supporting thousands of jobs in processing and feed production.
"I think it's important to keep smaller producers in business," Street said. "They're good for the local economy. A lot of what I read said that when you get the bigger ones, they don't add that much to the local economy. They buy things outside the community."
According to Farm Action, more than 5,000 independent farmers nationwide have voiced support for Proposition 12.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-seastock
Categories: Missouri, Livestock, Hogs