One of the myriad reasons we are seeing the prices of everything increase is the omnipresent finger of regulation unnecessarily shoved into every market.

As Congress begins the process of passing a new version of the farm bill this week — a twice a decade process — House Republicans are hoping to include a provision that prevents states such as California from determining how others raise their livestock.

In effect, the provision would allow California to apply its law to California pig farmers, but not to farmers in states such as Kansas and Missouri.

 

“My farmers and ranchers love their animals, they want to treat them as humanely as possible,” said Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican. “We don’t need California to tell Kansas ranchers how to raise Kansas beef. It’s that simple.”

 

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is in favor of legislation the curb the impact of the California law, saying that the Supreme Court decision could result in all 50 states setting their own rules and regulations.

 

“If we don’t take this issue seriously, we’re going to have chaos in the market,” Vilsack said. “Because there’s nothing preventing any state from doing what California did.”

 

He acknowledged, though, that there may not be interest in dealing with this during the current Congress.

 

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Californians, who make up 13% of the pork market but less than 1% of U.S. production, voted to set standards for in-state sales to ensure consumers knew they were buying animal products that weren’t raised in cramped spaces.

 

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Early studies have found that the provision has already increased prices for pork products covered by the regulation by 20%, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

 

That means products like pork chops, pork loin and bacon have risen for California customers compared to the national average, in a moment when many customers are already dealing with high inflation.