Attorney General Cameron Defends Kentucky Farmers and Pork Producers

Protect Kentucky farmers from lawless out-of-state regulations

FRANKFORT, Ky. (August 11, 2023) – Ky Attorney General Daniel Cameron calls on Congress to prevent liberal states like California from running Kentucky farmers and pork producers out of business. General Cameron partnered with 15 attorneys general urging federal leaders to support the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act. This legislation helps protect Kentucky farmers from lawless out-of-state regulations.

In 2018, Californians voted to impose their radical agenda on out-of-state farmers and ranchers by passing Proposition 12, a law banning the sale of pork produced outside of California unless the animals are raised in a manner approved by California. General Cameron and 19 attorneys general filed a brief in support of a legal challenge to Proposition 12. But the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in May that Proposition 12 could go into effect. 

"Kentucky's agriculture community shouldn't have to close their barn doors for not complying with California's out-of-touch agenda,” said General Cameron. “We must support our farmers, pork producers, and agricultural businesses, which are essential to feeding Kentuckians and all of America.”

In the letter, the coalition argues that California’s burdensome regulations will make it impossible for pork producers to differentiate California-approved pork from pork sold elsewhere. Costs will increase as a result, and small, medium, and possibly even large producers could go out of business. In short, American consumers won't be able to afford bacon for breakfast.

Allowing woke lawmakers in California to dictate how farmers in Kentucky and elsewhere raise hogs will cause irreparable harm to the production of delicious and high-quality pork. There are approximately 435,000 hogs in the Commonwealth, and the nearly $700 million industry employs almost 9,000 Kentuckians.

View the letter here.