The following is a statement from the North Carolina Pork Council. It can be attributed to Roy Lee Lindsey, CEO, NC Pork Council:
We are disappointed in the decision made by the US Supreme Court. Hog farmers in North Carolina do not understand how the State of California should have any say in how hogs are raised in NC. The pork produced here is safe, abundant and affordable. California’s Proposition 12 will increase prices for consumers in California and hog farmers everywhere.
Every day, hog farmers across North Carolina work to provide the proper care for our hogs. Just as we have for generations, our farmers will continue to work on continuous improvement – being just a little better every day – in everything we do. That includes raising animals responsibly, producing safe food, caring for the environment, caring for our employees, and investing in our communities.
We are in the midst of the most challenging economic times our industry has seen in the last 20 years. The cost of production is at record high levels. That includes the cost of feed, equipment, labor, and other supplies. Nothing in Proposition 12 will help farmers deal with these record costs. In fact, compliance with Proposition 12 will significantly increase costs for NC hog farmers with no corresponding return on that investment.
This is not a message of doom and gloom. NC hog farmers, and hog farmers across the country, are resilient. They have faced challenges before and always found a way forward. Hog farmers in the United States are the most efficient pork producers in the world. Pork remains the most widely consumed meat protein in the world. Proposition 12 is just the latest in a long list of challenges our farmers will overcome.