Rollins backs North Carolina, pork producers in California tiff
In a recent congressional hearing, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke rollins expressed support for North carolina’s pork producers amid a conflict with California’s Proposition 12. This law,aimed at regulating farm animal confinement,imposes specific space requirements for certain livestock,potentially affecting the operation of pork producers outside California. Rep. David Rouzer of North Carolina praised Rollins for her defense of local farmers,asserting that while California has rights too it’s regulations,they shouldn’t negatively impact other states. Rollins emphasized the need for federalism and the importance of states maintaining their rights without imposing overly burdensome mandates that harm producers in other regions.North Carolina ranks third nationally in pork production, highlighting the financial stakes involved in this legislative dispute.
Rollins backs North Carolina, nation’s pork producers in California tiff
(The Center Square) – California, says the leader of the USDA and a North Carolina congressman, has the right to enforce its Proposition 12.
The state line, however, is where that enforcement should end.
In the battle of pork production, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins affirmed that position in a congressional hearing this month. This week, U.S. Rep. David Rouzer, R-N.C., reminded Tarheel State farmers of her allegiances.
“North Carolina pork producers have a friend at USDA in Secretary Brooke Rollins,” Rouzer said, expressing gratitude for her push back against Prop 12. “Secretary Rollins is right, California has the right to do what California wants to do, but NC-07 farm families feed the nation, and they deserve fair, science-based regulations, not California mandates.”
Proposition 12 is the colloquial term for the Farm Animal Confinement Initiative. Egg-laying hens, breeding pigs and veal calves have space requirements, and sale of products from the animals is prohibited if not meeting the standard.
Rouzer comes from the 7th Congressional District, the southeastern portion of the state where trips on country roads often mean getting behind a hog truck hauling to the world’s largest pork production facility in the Bladen County crossroads community of Tar Heel. North Carolina’s $111.1 billion agriculture industry includes a No. 3 national ranking in pork production behind Iowa and Minnesota.
California’s market includes about 40 million people and 15% of domestic pork consumption. Compliance with the Golden State’s law can require new construction or retrofits with enormous fiscal impact.
In the Committee on Agriculture, Rollins told panelists, “No one is more of a believer in federalism, the 10th Amendment, and our Founders vision of the state’s rights to be able to be their own laboratories of innovation. When those ideas, those rules and laws begin to impact other states in such a negative way, that is not what our Founders intended.
“The extreme impact of Prop 12, especially on our pork producers – I believe this is a bipartisan question. We may not all agree in this room, but I think most agree even on the Democrat side of the House, that it cannot stand. I stand in full support of your effort.”
CALIFORNIA LEADERS SLAM NATIONWIDE INJUNCTION RULING, VOW TO KEEP FIGHTING
Rollins said her department may be able to inject something toward a solution.
“California has a right to do what California wants to do,” she said. “The minute that crosses the border and begins to compromise, in such a significant way, our pork producers we need to act.”
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