Statewide Iowa — Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion and Congressman Randy Feenstra, a Republican from Hull, support legislation to override California rules requiring larger pens for pigs destined to be processed and sold in California as bacon, sausage and other pork products.
Hinson addressed the topic shortly after flipping pork chops on the grills at the Pork Tent at the Iowa State Fair.
Iowa is the nation’s largest pork producer, but few operations have been retrofitted to meet the larger size requirements for pig and sow pens that California voters approved in 2018 — and that are scheduled to go into effect in January.
Feenstra flipped pork chops at the Pork Tent earlier in the day. Feenstra says he believes California’s rules will have a ripple effect.
Feenstra escorted Pennsylvania Congressman Glenn Thompson around the Iowa State Fair Wednesday. Thompson, the ranking Republican on the U.S. House Ag Committee, says California’s rules violate the commerce clause in the U.S. Constitution.
Republican Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst are co-sponsoring a bill that would bar states and local governments from having ag-related regulations that are stricter than federal standards. Animal welfare groups say it’s more humane to require larger living spaces for pigs — as well as chickens laying eggs and young calves being raised for veal. Sixty-three percent of California voters approved what was called the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act in 2018. Veal and egg producers say they’re confident their industries will largely be able to meet California’s guidelines that go into effect in 2022.
