The Senate agriculture committee released a draft farm bill this week that leaves out the Save Our Bacon Act. The House version included the measure, which would override state laws on animal confinement such as California's Proposition 12. The disagreement adds to ongoing delays in passing a full farm bill.
The Senate committee's draft does not include the Save Our Bacon Act, also known as SOB. The House agriculture committee had placed the provision in its earlier draft with support from Representative G.T. Thompson.
The act would block state rules like Proposition 12 that set minimum space requirements for pigs, chickens, and veal calves. Fourteen states currently have similar laws.
Advocacy groups and some producers oppose the measure. Molly Armus of Friends of the Earth said it should not be used to overturn voter-approved standards. Holly Bice, president of the American Meat Producers Association, noted that most hog farmers do not support the act.
Hog farmer Brent Hershey said the proposal would harm producers who have already invested in crate-free systems. The Senate's decision leaves the outcome of the farm bill uncertain.
