Items Tagged with 'Proposition 12'

A federal judge has dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit challenging several California egg-laying welfare laws including Proposition 12, finding the agency did not have standing to bring the case.

The federal government is challenging Michigan’s cage-free egg law, claiming it is unconstitutional and has raised prices for consumers. But Michigan egg farmers who invested heavily to comply with the law would rather the administration focus on a vaccine for highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Flags are at half-staff at USDA and across the federal government following the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who called Kirk a “dear friend and brother,” quickly posted a long statement shortly after his death.

The European Commission says the EU and the U.S. will reduce duties for certain ag products in a tariff deal announced Sunday.

Opponents of California’s Proposition 12 used a House Agriculture Committee hearing Wednesday to voice their concerns about the impacts on the nation’s pork producers of the animal welfare law, which was narrowly upheld by the Supreme Court last year.

Senate Republicans are planning to put the first fiscal 2026 appropriations bills on the floor this week, testing Democrats over the GOP's successful rescission of $9 billion worth of FY25 spending. A key Agriculture Committee nominee also will get a confirmation hearing this week.

The Justice Department is suing the state of California over egg price increases it claims are partially fueled by the state’s animal welfare standards.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson wants to move legislation this fall to address farm and nutrition programs left out of the budget reconciliation bill.

Some farm bill programs, including increased commodity program spending, may be rolled into the massive budget reconciliation Republicans are crafting, but a legislative fix for California’s Proposition 12 remains on hold until Congress can consider a standalone farm bill. 

In this opinion piece, Anja Raudabaugh, CEO of Western United Dairies, lays out how she says dairy producers in California were able to soundly defeat a proposed ban on concentrated animal feeding operations in Sonoma County.