Pennsylvania Pork Producer Argues Prop 12 Compliance Has Benefited Farmers

Brent Hershey says a farm bill provision preempting the California law would unfairly upend their investments

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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In an opinion piece, Pennsylvania pork producer Brent Hershey argues that many farmers have benefitted from complying with Proposition 12 and that a farm bill provision preempting the California law would unfairly upend their investments.

Why it matters

Proposition 12 has been a contentious issue in the agriculture industry, with some farmers arguing that the law has imposed costly requirements while others say it has led to improvements in animal welfare. This debate highlights the ongoing tensions between state-level regulations and federal farm policy.

The details

Hershey contends that many farmers have made significant investments to comply with Proposition 12's requirements for housing pigs and other livestock. He argues that a provision in the upcoming farm bill that would preempt Proposition 12 would unfairly penalize those farmers who have already adapted their operations.

  • Proposition 12 was passed by California voters in 2018 and is set to be fully implemented by 2022.

The players

Brent Hershey

A pork producer from Pennsylvania who has written an opinion piece arguing that many farmers have benefited from complying with Proposition 12.

Proposition 12

A California law passed in 2018 that sets minimum space requirements for certain livestock, including pigs.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The upcoming farm bill negotiations will determine whether a provision preempting Proposition 12 is included, which could have significant implications for farmers who have already invested in compliance.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between state-level agricultural regulations and federal farm policy, with some farmers arguing that compliance with laws like Proposition 12 has provided benefits while others say such requirements are overly burdensome.