Meat+Poultry - December 2021 - 25

That is because on Sept. 27, the National
Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and the
American Farm Bureau Federation petitioned
the US Supreme Court to take their case
against Prop 12.
" We're asking the Supreme Court to
consider the constitutionality of one state
imposing regulations that reach far outside its
borders and stifle interstate and international
commerce, " explained Michael Formica,
NPPC's general counsel.
Beginning next month, sows would need
a minimum of 24 square feet of space to rest,
walk in or turn around per animal.
" Farmers would each have to make a
$15 million investment in a new barn, which
for pork producers would total billions of
dollars, " Formica predicted. " They would have
to reduce their production of pork. " Jan. 7 is
the deadline for the Supreme Court to decide
whether to take the case.
" There is no pork industry in California, "
Formica added. " The court will want to see
the harm brought upon farmers who raise
pork outside California. Our pork producers
are in limbo right now. We're trying to get a
year delay. "
Five to 6 million pigs a year come into
the United States from Canada, which is also
expected to act against the law.
To help fight animal disease, USDA
committed $500 million this year to help
prevent African swine fever (ASF), according
to Jen Sorensen, NPPC president. America is
free of ASF right now.
HEADWINDS STRENGTHENED
Labor issues continue to make things difficult
for the meat and poultry industry.
" Chicken processors are grappling with
a tight labor market, " said Tom Super, senior
vice president, communications with the
National Chicken Council (NCC). He said the
American chicken industry is heavily affected
by America's immigration policy.
NCC's wishes for immigration reform
include border security, a very simple
improvement to the E-verify system, clarity in
antidiscrimination laws, and an occupational
visa category the industry could use that could
be tied to local or regional employment.
" North American Meat Institute members
tell us sometimes the workforce is down by
about 20%. In some states, the combination
of federal and state unemployment benefits
provided a higher wage than working in a
meat or poultry plant, " said Sarah Little, vice
president of communications for NAMI.
" To be clear, COVID-19 exacerbated the
labor issue. Meat and poultry processors
must have access to an expanded year-round
agricultural guestworker program. The current
program is seasonal and does not include the
meat and poultry industry, " she said.
" A labor shortage has certainly affected
small and very small plants, " said Chris Young,
executive director of the American Association
of Meat Processors, representing those plants.
" There has been a fear of losing employees,
even as much as 25%. Then there was the extra
federal unemployment, which went up to Labor
Day. That made it harder for people to go back
to work, " he said. " Our small plants have been
so busy this year and last year. They needed
more workers, and it was just difficult. If you
lose employees, it affects small businesses
more than larger ones. "
" Most members of the Meat Institute
have encouraged their employees to receive
the (COVID-19) vaccine, " Little said, as the
Biden Administration and courts fight over an
OSHA rule requiring vaccinations of workers
in larger companies. She said a year ago,
NAMI, livestock organizations and the United
Food and Commercial Workers Union urged
the Administration to prioritize meat and
poultry workers for vaccination, after health
care workers.
" Masks and other PPE are one of the many
protections used by companies to prevent
infection among employees, " Little said.
At the beginning of the pandemic, changes
were made to poultry processor workplaces,
and then more changes were made as the
industry learned more about the virus, Super
said. " Plants' already rigorous cleaning was
enhanced even further, " he said. Handwashing
was increased, physical distance when feasible,
temperature checks were done, employees
were asked to stay home if they didn't feel well
without pay penalties, and other safeguards.
Masking mandates in meat and poultry
plants have created issues for plant workers,
Young said. " We certainly take COVID-19
seriously. When masking mandates came out,
we opposed it because there was no wiggle
www.meatpoultry.com | 12.21 | MEAT+POULTRY 25
" There is no
pork industry
in California.
The court will
want to see the
harm brought
upon farmers
who raise
pork outside
California. "
- MICHAEL FORMICA
http://www.meatpoultry.com
Meat+Poultry - December 2021

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