Written by Bernie Carr
Just a quick post today, as I share news items that catch my interest and figure out how it might affect all of us. A new California law that is scheduled to take effect beginning January 1, 2022 might make bacon and other pork products more expensive for everyone.
What is the new law?
The the Farm Animal Confinement Proposition (Prop 12) requires more space for breeding pigs, egg-laying chickens and veal calves, according to the Associated Press.
At the beginning of next year, California will begin enforcing an animal welfare proposition approved overwhelmingly by voters in 2018 that requires more space for breeding pigs, egg-laying chickens and veal calves. National veal and egg producers are optimistic they can meet the new standards, but only 4% of hog operations now comply with the new rules.
SOURCE: Associated Press
Right now, much of California’s pork supply comes from Iowa. Normally, sows are kept in 14 square foot crates when they join a herd. Once they go through the insemination process, they get moved to and then larger, approximately 20-square foot pens along with other pigs. These spaces are less than the 24 square feet required by the new California law. The pork industry may be unable to comply in time before the law takes effect.
What does this mean to us?
Unless the courts intervene to keep the law from taking effect, pork producers may be unable to supply pork to California if producers are unable to meet the requirements of the law.
You might say, “Okay fine then Californians will feel the loss of bacon and other delicious pork products, but what if you are in another state?” Well, the California market comprises 15% of pork products consumed in the country. That is a very large market to lose. If pork producers lose this market, bacon prices will jump up.
If half the pork supply was suddenly lost in California, bacon prices would jump 60%, meaning a $6 package would rise to about $9.60, according to a study by the Hatamiya Group, a consulting firm hired by opponents of the state proposition.
SOURCE: KTLA.com
The pork industry cannot ignore the issue. If they try to comply, and build new pens according to the law’s specifications, that will raise pork prices for everyone as well.
Once this new law takes effect, prices may not rise for consumers right away, but you they eventually will. Best enjoy your bacon and pork ribs now while they are readily available, and stock up if you can.
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Bernie Carr is the founder of Apartment Prepper. She has written several books including the best-selling Prepper’s Pocket Guide, Jake and Miller’s Big Adventure, The Penny-Pinching Prepper and How to Prepare for Most Emergencies on a $50 a Month Budget. Bernie’s latest e-book, FRUGAL DIY has just been released on Amazon. Her work appears in sites such as the Allstate Blog and Clark.com, as well as print magazines such as Backwoods Survival Guide and Prepper Survival Guide. She has been featured in national publications such as Fox Business and Popular Mechanics. Learn more about Bernie here.
Something to keep an eye on for sure.