Center for the Environment & Welfare: Review of Letter Claiming ‘Farmer Support’ for Prop 12 Misleads Public

Jack Hubbard, with the Center for the Environment and Welfare, shares context and perspective on the controversial letter about Prop 12 circulating in Washington and how a review shows it misled the public.

ARLINGTON, Va. (RFD NEWS) — A letter circulating on Capitol Hill is raising questions about how California’s Proposition 12, which regulates poultry products sold within the state, is being presented to lawmakers and the public. The letter presents what it describes as farmer support for Proposition 12. However, a new review indicates that many of the signatures are not from pork or egg producers, and some signers have no direct connection to animal agriculture.

Jack Hubbard with the Center for the Environment and Welfare joined us on Thursday’s Market Day Report to discuss how the letter originated and what was found during the review process. Hubbard explained the analysis’s findings and addressed concerns about how such information can influence policy discussions.

In his interview with RFD NEWS, Hubbard discussed Prop 12’s impact on the poultry sector, based on what producers have shared with the organization, and outlined how misinformation can create broader ripple effects. He also spoke about the path forward for addressing the controversial regulation at both the state and federal levels.

Hubbard concluded by offering guidance for farmers and ranchers on how to address misinformation, noting increased activity and evolving strategies from animal rights groups.

Related Stories
FarmHER Katharine Girone is a fifth-generation Illinois farmer and the 2018 #RootedInAg contest winner.
Meet FarmHERs Cathy and Bailey Payne, a grandmother-granddaughter duo carrying on their family’s farming legacy at Block Island Farm in Rhode Island. They raise egg-layers and have expanded to grow fruit and herbs and cut flowers to fill community needs.
Gas is where it’s at on FarmHER Amanda Freund’s family dairy in Connecticut! Learn more about a family of innovators who care about sustainability.
FarmHER Annie Dee is a pioneer in sustainable practices, and her efforts led her to teach women farmers overseas.

Marion is a digital content manager for RFD News and FarmHER + RanchHER. She started working for Rural Media Group in May 2022, bringing a decade of digital experience in broadcast media and some cooking experience to the team.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

For rural communities, this shift could mean new housing options for farmworkers and young families priced out of metro markets.
The modest cut should slightly reduce borrowing costs on operating loans, land notes, and equipment financing for agriculture, giving some relief to producers under heavy debt loads.
Sen. Roger Marshall, a founding member and chairman of the Make America Healthy Again caucus, joined us with his thoughts on the commission’s latest report and the key ag-related issues.
Produce markets are in transition as fall approaches, with leafy greens and berries under pressure, while vegetables like celery, broccoli, and cauliflower are finding firmer ground.
Grain shippers face lower freight values thanks to weak soybean exports and strong rail service, but barge traffic and forward Gulf loadings suggest continued uncertainty as harvest ramps up.
It’s been a decade since Hurricane Rita ripped through southwest Louisiana, and recovery has been a long, difficult process for many who have lived in the coastal area. Today, oyster farming offers a pearl of hope.