Posted on 06/19/2013 5:57:27 PM PDT by lowbridge
Should California tell farmers throughout the country how to run their farms? Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, says no.
"It's exactly what our founding fathers wanted to avoid," King said.
But the rural-state lawmaker is concerned over California's strict laws on egg producers and other farmers as a result of Proposition 2, a ballot initiative passed by voters in 2008. The law requires egg producers to increase their cage size to more than 200 square inches, more than triple the industry recommendation. As a result, farmers from other states must comply with California hen cage standards if they wish to sell their product in the Golden State.
If they don't comply, they can't do business there.
But not if King has his way. He's proposed an amendment to the pending farm bill in Congress which would allow farmers in other states to sell eggs in California without having to comply with the state's law.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
if they were truly free range you’d increase your chance of catching West Nile fever thousands of times ~ so they’re not really free range ~ no one would buy the eggs or the chickens.
You cannot get west nile virus from eating chicken eggs.
Lots of people buy the eggs.
“I am just a bit torn on this issue. I believe that keeping chickens couped up in cages 24/7 and kept in the dark to increase egg production is cruel. If we are going to kill or use animals for the benefit of mankind, we should ensure that those animals are treated humanely.”
I have to agree with you on this one. If 200 sq.in. is TRIPLE the industry standard, then what’s the industry standard? 6x8 inch cages? That’s not right.
200 sq. in. is around 12x16. That seems a little more reasonable for a full-grown hen.
Farmers might find that production increases with more humane treatment.
I want to kill animals and eat them. I don’t want them to suffer.
I understand that business owners and farmers do what’s right for the bottom line and they know their business better than anyone.
But we regulate these industries because people don’t always do the right thing.
It’s worse than that. Surely the cage is measured in cubic inches.
Eggs come from chickens ~ people work around those chickens. They get bitten by mosquitos in the area.
You let those chickens run wild outside and they'll be full of West Nile and a whole lot of other bird born diseases.
The french used to drive out in the country for authentic free range chickens (and their eggs) ~ and then somebody discovered that was a good way to get west nile. They made the farmers put roofs over the chicken runs.
Generally I dislike Federal interference but this is definitely interstate commerce, and screw CA.
Libs love Federal control so let them eat this crap sandwich.
Generally I dislike Federal interference but this is definitely interstate commerce, and screw CA.
Libs love Federal control so let them eat this crap sandwich.
“How about if your food eats them but you dont?”
Fine with me!
If you used up all the 200 square inch cages putting them on the heads of politicians, where would you put all the homeless and hungary rats?
I think that was Raisch, back on 2004. GWB claimed to support an "original intent" interpretation of the Constitution during his campaign, then sent his DOJ lawyers before the USSC to argue upholding Wickard v. Filburn. I was disgusted. A lot of people gave him a pass because "it was about pot". Suicide by myopia.
Here is one result of About 23,500,000 results (0.32 seconds) http://www.incredibleegg.org/egg-facts/egg-industry-evolution
Meaning it's best to patronize companies that you can have confidence in.
It was my privilege to work at Procter & Gamble and to work with Jack Daniel's Distillery and Braum's Dairy & Ice Cream. I know their management, I know their business philosophy and, thus, I know I can trust their product quality.
Nothing personal but P&G killed Bryers.
Then no other state sells to California.
It really is that easy.
Am I against killing chickens or animals for food? Nope. Am I a tree hugging druid who is a vegan peace activist? Uh, read my posts.
The whole point is that if you drive economics to the point where you disregard nature, youll always end up with substandard food and everything else for that matter. Frankly, cheap food that entails that kind of mass production ethic isnt really food and sure as hell isnt what the Lord intended.
My layers have sunshine, bugs, greens and all the freedom to roam they care for. By the way, you couldnt buy the quality of eggs these critters produce.
Bon appetite!
I'm all for treating our food with as much kindness as possible .
But it's none of California's business what any other state chooses to do. In fact, no state has the right to tell another state squat!
I know a good number of working poor in our area. They refuse to take government handouts but they get by with 2-4 minimum wage jobs and lots of hours per week.
There are people out there who need eggs to cost a dollar a dozen and milk to cost 2.50 a gallon. (They also need gas prices to stay low.)
There are also small farmers out there on limited acreage who can do the fence row to fence row thing with huge acreage, huge machines, and huge debt. Many of them turn to organic or free range products because they can charge a much higher price. But, it's affluent people who are generally the ones who buy higher priced items.
Others of them turn toward mass production of something like chickens that can turn out large quantities in a limited number of buildings.
PETA hasn't taken out after the catfish farmers yet, but imagine how many fish must be crowded into their ponds and fed those pellets. As soon as someone can get a catfish on Letterman that will do tricks in a fish bowl, then PETA will be all over catfish fillets.
If Iowa farmers can’t sell their caged chicken eggs in California, then I suspect that the eggs in other states states like Ohio will be cheaper.
California passed this cage free egg law and we have to live with it. We are already exporting our rich people to other states. Maybe this law will result in poor people leaving.
And it is none of Iowa's business to tell California what to do. California has chosen to outlaw eggs that are the product of chickens who are not being treated humanely. King wants the Federal Government to come in and force California to accept these eggs.
Now who is supporting States Rights here?
Both you and King are advocating federal intervention in a States Rights issue.
You are right. I was raised on a small farm and I owned all the chickens. None of them were in cages.
Eggs taste like eggs. I can’t tell any difference then or now.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.