In the News | Humane World Action Fund

A variety of news outlets across the country have reported on the emergence of the EATS Act (now renamed the Food Security and Farm Protection Act). These stories chronicle the deep divide it has brought to the farming industry and share the opinions of experts and concerned citizens alike.

Videos

"Farmers"—Humane World Action Fund television ad
Pennsylvania farmers split on bill that would override state's animal cruelty laws—FOX43
"The EATS Act is wrong for Pennsylvania"—Humane World Action Fund television ad
"A relic of the past"—Humane World Action Fund television ad
"Pennsylvania farmers know better"—Humane World Action Fund video
"Red Flag: Concerns About China and the Farm Bill"—Swine Web

News Clips

In the news

March 28, 2025—Food Tank—"Fifth-Generation Farmer Revives a Family Tradition"
December 4, 2024—Farm Journal's Pork—"Converting to Prop 12: What Have We Learned a Year Later?"
December 4, 2024—Brownfield Ag News—"A Pork Producer's Take on Prop 12"
December 3, 2024—Swine Web—"Red Flag: Concerns About China and the Farm Bill"
October 17, 2024—Farm Progress—"Co-op helps family hog farm gain independence and security"
October 1, 2024—Lancaster Farming—"Producer Sees Success With 'Sow Condos,' Moves Away From Gestation Crates"
September 26, 2024—The Oklahoman—"Pork is one of Oklahoma's biggest industries. But are companies doing enough for animal welfare?"
September 16, 2024—New York News Connection—"Proposed 'EATS' Act could devour NY agriculture laws"
August 18, 2024—KHQA—"Some pork producers say Prop 12 benefits them despite criticism from Iowa politicians"
August 2, 2024—CBS News—"U.S. farm bill on track to invalidate the will of California voters"
July 25, 2024—Forbes—"The Iowans Stopping Factory Farms, One At a Time"
July 24, 2024—Meat+Poultry—"Judge rejects Triumph Foods' latest claims against Question 3"
July 23, 2024—National Hog Farmer—"Judge rejects producers' FMIA challenge to Q3"
July 22, 2024—General Flynn's Substack—"Farm Bill's Gift to China and National Security Threat to Us"
July 19, 2024—Food Tank—"A Young Farmer Makes the Business Case for Humane Hog Farming"
July 15, 2024—The Gazette—"What they're thinking: Iowa pork industry copes with California's Prop 12, faces headwinds"
July 15, 2024—InForum—"North Dakota livestock industry poised for desired growth"
July 8, 2024—Bloomberg Government—"Farm Bill Provision Targets Key California Animal Welfare Law"
July 2, 2024—Farm Journal's Pork—"Never Underestimate What You Can Accomplish"
June 26, 2024—Swine Web—"Supreme Court Upholds California's Proposition 12: Implications for Pork Producers"
June 6, 2024—The Sacramento Bee—"Californians wanted animal protections for pigs. Midwest farmers want Congress to fry it"
June 4, 2024—Vox—"Republicans want to put pigs back in tiny cages. Again."
May 31, 2024—Chicago Daily Herald—"Crate-free pork is on the rise in some Illinois grocery chains, but not everywhere."
May 28, 2024—The New Republic—"How Pig Welfare Became a States' Rights Issue"
May 24, 2024—Perishable News—"Pork Company Niman Ranch Criticizes EATS Act Inclusion in House Farm Bill Framework"
May 23, 2024—Salon—"'Confirms my worst fears': Republican farm bill would slash SNAP benefits, gut animal welfare laws."
May 9, 2024—Sentient Food—"How California's Prop 12 Could Kickstart a Lagging Global Pork Market."
May 3, 2024—Swine Web—"Hershey Ag’s Prop 12 Success: Unveiling the Sow Condos Advantage with Brent Hershey of Hershey Ag"
April 25, 2024—Agri-Pulse—"Opinion: State laws don’t need a federal fix – keep government by the people closest to the people"
April 16, 2024—Greenfield Recorder—"My Turn: The pecking order revolution: Massachusetts' fight for animal rights"
March 21, 2024—Sentient Food—"Inside the Pork Industry’s Attempts to Charm and Influence Academia"
March 19, 2024—Farm Journal’s Pork—"Proposition 12 and the Future of the U.S. Pork Industry"
March 6, 2024—Investigate Midwest—"With California’s Prop 12 now law, pork producers adapt while lobbying groups continue to fight"
February 20, 2024—Meat+Poultry—"Opposition arises to the EATS Act"
February 14, 2024—Brownfield Ag News—"Group of food companies led by Butcher Box opposes EATS Act"
February 9, 2024—Wall Street Journal—"We’re Not Eating Enough Bacon, and That’s a Problem for the Economy"
February 9, 2024—Chicago Sun-Times—"Crate-free pork’s now the law at grocery stores in two states, not Illinois. Here’s what that means when you’re buying bacon."
January 2, 2024—Food Safety News—"California’s Prop 12 is now law of the land"
November 29, 2023—Harvest Public Media—"Despite Supreme Court ruling, state regulation of food production remains a big question"
November 20, 2023—Farm Progress—"Will Prop 12 fix be in new farm bill?"
October 17, 2023—Michigan Advance—"Congress takes aim at state animal welfare laws."
October 6, 2023—Farm Progress—"More lawmakers push to kill EATS Act"
September 29, 2023—Forbes—"The EATS Act Jeopardizes Animal Welfare And Human Health"
September 28, 2023—Stateline—"Congress takes aim at state animal welfare laws"
September 27, 2023—Agri-Pulse—"EATS Act faces an uphill battle"
September 13, 2023—Agri-Pulse—"Governors, state agriculture officials divided on EATS Act"
September 12, 2023—Farm Progress—"Pennsylvania producers concerned over EATS Act"
September 1, 2023—Lancaster Farming—"Prop 12 Prompts Industry Soul-Searching on Sow Housing"
August 21, 2023—New England Public Media—"Farm group says new animal welfare law to have minimal impact on Massachusetts pork producers."
August 2, 2023—Reuters—"U.S. pork firms split over Congress bill to overturn California animal welfare law"
July 27, 2023—Food Safety News—"A new study says EATS Act could do a lot of damage, including to food safety"
July 6, 2023—CBS News Bay Area—"North Bay pig farmer hopes state humane requirements boost business."

Opinion

April 16, 2025—The San Diego Union-Tribune (San Diego, CA)—Don't blame high egg prices on state law protecting chickens
March 11, 2025—The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, OK)—Influential factory farm industry presents safety challenge to Oklahomans, animals
March 8, 2025—The Modesto Bee (Modesto, CA)—California voters passed an animal welfare proposition. Now, Congress looks to undo it
December 20, 2024—The Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA)—Current Farm Bill proposal would hurt small local farmers like me. Here's why.
December 18, 2024—The Detroit News (Detroit, MI)—House version of Farm Bill is undemocratic
December 18, 2024—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, PA)—The Farm Bill could kill off humane family farms
December 17, 2024—MassLive/The Republican (Springfield, MA)—Why the proposed Farm Bill threatens farms like mine in Mass.
December 17, 2024—The San Diego Union-Tribune (San Diego, CA)—Californians voted to protect animals. Now corporations want the law killed.
December 15, 2024—Telegram and Gazette (Worcester, MA)—Proposed Farm Bill poses threat to Mass. farmers
December 9, 2024—The Land (Mankato, MN)—People meet pigs at Zachman's learning farm
December 5, 2024—The 'Gander (MI)—We need a Farm Bill that prioritizes small family farms and animal welfare
November 29, 2024—Chicago Daily Herald (Chicago, IL)—The 'fix' would harm humane farming
November 24, 2024—Record-Eagle (Traverse City, MI)—U.S. House Farm Bill would negatively impact Michigan farmers, rural communities
November 16, 2024—Post Bulletin (Rochester, MN)—Act to defend opportunities for small farmers
November 1, 2024—The Pantagraph (Bloomington-Normal, IL)—Farm Bill must allow states to set ag policy, honor animal welfare standards
October 29, 2024—River Reporter (Narrowsburg, NY)—Farm Bill undermines state and local agricultural standards
October 22, 2024—KSJD (Cortez, CO)—Farm News and Views for the week of October 21st, 2024
October 8, 2024—The Detroit News (Detroit, MI)—House proposed Farm Bill would hurt small farms
September 25, 2024—Swine Web—Balancing Innovation and Tradition: The Future of Gestation Crates in Pork Production
September 24, 2024—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, PA)—Help farmers farm humanely
September 9, 2024—The Washington Times (Washington, DC)—Will states' rights lose out to the meat industry?
August 29, 2024—Republic Monitor (Perryville, MO)—Farm Bill addition concerns local agriculture business owner
August 29, 2024—The Independent (Livermore, CA)—Don't Overturn Proposition 12 Via the Farm Bill
August 21, 2024—The Land (Mankato, MN)—Land Minds: Forums featured candidates and candi-duds
July 27, 2024—Boulder Daily Camera (Boulder, CO)—A call to stop the EATS Act for agricultural integrity
July 24, 2024—Lancaster Farming (Ephrata, PA)—Bolster American Farmers, Stop EATS Act
July 18, 2024—National Hog Farmer (St. Charles, IL)—Sow gestation crates belong in the past
June 24, 2024—Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA)—EATS Act a testy treat for corporate ag
June 9, 2024—Indianola Independent Advocate (Indianola, IA)—The EATS Act is a gift for corporate ag
May 30, 2024—Boston Globe (Boston, MA)—Mass voters emphatically stood up for cage-free eggs. Now factory farms are pushing back
May 9, 2024—Lancaster Farming (Ephrata, PA)—Hands Off Our Bacon and Eggs
May 9, 2024—Lancaster Farming (Ephrata, PA)—Stop the EATS Act, or Anything Similar
March 3, 2024—AL.com (Birmingham, AL)—EATS Act a hidden menace to Alabama farmers
February 24, 2024—Iowa Capital Dispatch (Des Moines, IA)—It's time for Vilsack to stop appeasing Big Ag and start fighting for Iowa
February 21, 2024—Food Tank (Baltimore, MD)—California Crate-Free Law Offers Hog Farmers Economic Opportunity
February 16, 2024—The Hill (Washington, D.C.)—Washington, don't tread on states' Ag rights
February 5, 2024—MinnPost (Minneapolis, MN)—New animal welfare legislation offers Minnesota a path toward more humane farming
December 5, 2023—Earthbeat (Kansas City, MO)—William Wilberforce would be scandalized by the pro-factory farming EATS Act
December 1, 2023—Religion News (Columbia, MO)—William Wilberforce would be scandalized by the pro-factory farming EATS Act
November 18, 2023—The Mercury News (San Jose, CA)—Don't let Congress overturn California's animal welfare law
November 13, 2023—The American Conservative (Washington, D.C.)—Subsidiarity, Free Markets, and Creature Care
November 9, 2023—Southeast Texas Record (Beaumont, TX)—Let Texans Run Texas
November 8, 2023—The Hill (Washington, D.C.)—EATS Act 'a radical assault on federalism principles'
October 11, 2023—Agweek (Fargo, ND)—This farm bill is an opportunity to empower family farmers, not corporations
October 11, 2023—Honolulu Star-Advertiser (Honolulu, Hawaii)—Don't deny states the right to regulate ag
September 19, 2023—Modern Farmer (Hudson, NY)—The EATS Act Threatens Animal Welfare and Public Health While Protecting Corporate Profits
September 17, 2023—Pittsburgh-Post Gazette (Pittsburgh, PA)—Animals have friends in Pennsylvania - and the federal government should let it stay that way
September, 2023—One Green Planet (New York, NY)—The EATS Act Threatens Animal Welfare and Food Safety in the US
August 29, 2023—The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, NC)—If you eat local - or even just eat - this year's Farm Bill is trouble
August 17, 2023—The Dominion Post (Morgantown, WV)—Morrisey all about 'states' rights' - unless it's Calif.
August 7, 2023—The Monitor News (Rio Grand Valley, TX)—Farmer makes plea to keep EATS Act out of Farm Bill
August 5, 2023—New York Times (New York, NY)—The Truth About Your Bacon
July 26, 2023—The Riverton Ranger (Riverton, WY)—EATS Act threatens our nation
July 16, 2023—The Daily Caller (Washington, D.C.)—Latest Deregulation Bill Risks Gifting China Our Meat Production
May 21, 2023—Des Moines Register (Des Moines, IA)—Maybe it is time for change in how pigs are raised here
May 17, 2023—Storm Lake Times Pilot (Storm Lake, IA)—Those Californians are your customers

Letters to the Editor

January 30, 2025—San Francisco Chronicle (CA)—Defend Prop 12
December 28, 2024—The Bakersfield Californian (CA)—Seek your pork elsewhere
December 14, 2024—The Oklahoman (OK)—Remove EATS language from Farm Bill
November 30, 2024—The Detroit News (MI)—Pigs deserve humane treatment
November 19, 2024—Hollister Free Lance (CA)—Proposed farm bill endangers small farms
September 19, 2024—San Francisco Chronicle (CA)—Uphold cruelty law
September 18, 2024—Lancaster Farming (PA)—Defend States' Right to Set Ag Standards
September 13, 2024—The Mercury News (CA)—Help preserve benefits of Prop. 12
September 10, 2024—Prince William Times (VA)—Updated farm bill shouldn't nix state protections for farm animals
September 2, 2024—The Oregonian (OR)—Farm Bill shouldn't threaten animal protection
September 1, 2024—Naples Daily News (FL)—How animals are treated
August 25, 2024—The Mercury News (CA)—Urge Congress not to take out Prop. 12
August 24, 2024—Santa Barbara Independent (CA)—Don't Gut Prop. 12's Humane Standards for Animals
August 22, 2024—The Herald-Times (IN)—Hopes Sen. Braun considers state rights, laws in Farm Bill
August 21, 2024—PennLive (PA)—Pennsylvanians care where their food comes from
August 20, 2024—Columbus Dispatch (OH)—Cruelty has no place on the farm
August 16, 2024—Mercury News (CA)—Don't let Congress weaken Prop 12
August 15, 2024—Daily Camera (CO)—Keep animal-friendly state laws intact
August 12, 2024—Star Tribune (MN)—Readers Write: FarmFest
August 10, 2024—Times Standard (CA)—Thoughts on the 'Farm Bill'
July 24, 2024—Greeley Tribune (CO)—Farm Bill and animal protection
July 17, 2024—Times-Call (CO)—Farm Bill and animal protection
July 1, 2024—Mountain Xpress (NC)—Protecting our farming values
June 21, 2024—Lancaster Farming (PA)—Gestation Crates Belong to the Past
June 11, 2024—Daily Camera (CO)—Congress must reject EATS Act
June 10, 2024—The Winchester Star (VA)—A Farm Bill that will hurt animals
June 7, 2024—The Seattle Times (WA)—Farm Bill: A step back on animal welfare
May 30, 2024—The Gazette (IA)—California hog space requirements are reasonable
May 16, 2024—Indianapolis Star (IN)—The EATS Act threatens Indiana farmers. Mike Braun should oppose it.
February 6, 2024—The Winchester Star (VA)—Urge Congress to Reject the EATS Act
December 6, 2023—Mid Hudson News (NY)—Farmer and Veteran opposes the EATS Act
November 17 2023—Fairfax County Times (VA)—Virginia’s consumer protection laws at risk
November 11, 2023—The San Diego Union-Tribune (CA)—State law protecting animals targeted in D.C.
November 10, 2023—The Oregonian (OR)—Fight EATS Act in Congress
September 25, 2023—Arizona Daily Star (AZ)—Letter: Opposition to EATS Act
September 19, 2023—Southeast Iowa Union (IA)—Stop the EATS Act
September 18, 2023—Great Bend Tribune (KS)—EATS Act would hurt Kansas farmers
September 18, 2023—Daily Camera (CO)—Keep EATS act out of Farm Bill
September 16, 2023—Delaware Gazette (DE)—EATS Act is bad for America
September 16, 2023—The Dallas Morning News (TX)—Oppose EATS Act
September 16, 2023—The Virginian-Pilot (VA) —EATS Act
September 15, 2023—Portland Press Herald (ME)—EATS Act would endanger animal welfare laws, regulations
September 14, 2023—Lincoln Journal Star (NE)—Act would remove rights from states
September 12, 2023—Bangor Daily News (ME)—EATS Act is a step backward
September 8, 2023—Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (PA)—Oppose EATS Act, protect animals
August 31, 2023—Centre Daily Times (PA)—EATS Act could have disastrous consequences
August 30, 2023—The Sun Chronicle (MA)—EATS Act will strip animals of protection
August 27, 2023—Centre Daily Times (PA)—EATS Act Takes Away Opportunities
August 22, 2023—PA, Observer-Reporter—Animals deserve better than the EATS Act
August 20, 2023—Billings Gazette (MT)—Keeping fighting against confining animals
August 6, 2023—The Times of Northwest Indiana (IN)—Don’t let China set US agriculture law
July 31, 2023—The Eagle-Tribune (MA)—Proposed EATS Act should be opposed
July 26, 2023—Newburyport Daily News (MA)—Proposed EATS Act should be opposed

Press Releases

May 23, 2024—"New Senate bill resurrects disastrous threat to animal protections and state laws"
May 23, 2024—"Pork producers, elected officials and animal advocates work together to save state ag laws and free markets"
May 17, 2024—"House Farm Bill’s race to the bottom of the (pork) barrel"
April 10, 2024—"Nix the Prop 12 “Fix”"
February 28, 2024—"Prop 12 lies aired at Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing"
December 28, 2023—"Proposition 12 fully implemented"
November 9, 2023—"Pennsylvania pork producer challenges controversial agriculture legislation in Congress"
September 13, 2023—"More than 150 organizations voice opposition to the EATS Act"
August 29, 2023—"More than 200 Congressional lawmakers oppose EATS Act in Farm Bill"
August 18, 2023—"New TV Advertising Campaign Highlights American Farmer Opposition to the EATS Act"
June 15, 2023—"Exposing Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act threatens animals, consumers, environment and state rights"