Prop 12 Stirs Controversy in Missouri Hog Farming

Sep 19, 2023

Scott Hays, President of the National Pork Producers Council, revealed his decision not to adapt his Missouri hog farm to meet California's Proposition 12 animal welfare law.

The law mandates specific renovations for hog farms, but Hays expressed concerns over the profitability of these modifications. While some major pork producers like Hormel, Smithfield, and Tyson Foods have committed to complying with Prop 12, Hays cited his reluctance to risk his family's farm.

Proposition 12 sets strict standards, requiring California hog farmers to provide 24 square feet of floor space for each breeding sow. It also bans the sale of pork from farms in other states that don't meet this requirement. The NPPC has voiced its support for the EATS Act, which proposes enabling anyone to challenge state or local laws regulating agricultural product production in federal court. Critics argue that this act may undermine various state laws related to health, safety, and welfare.

Hays emphasized that the NPPC is actively working to find a solution to address Prop 12's challenges, appreciating the backing received from House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn Thompson.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.