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U.S. Supreme Court’s Decline of Iowa Case Bolsters Local Control

SCOTUS Action a Good Indicator That These Kinds of Laws Work

By Matthew Sheets
July 2, 2025

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On July 1, the United States Supreme Court delivered a win for local control and a blow to Big Ag when it declined to hear the Iowa Pork Producers Association’s case against a California law that mandates the amount of space livestock animals, in particular hogs, have while being raised.

The Iowa Capitol Dispatch explains the case:

“The U.S. Supreme Court declined Monday to hear Iowa Pork Producers Association’s case against a California law that mandates the amount of space livestock animals, in particular hogs, have while being raised.

The Supreme Court has ruled on a previous case in favor of upholding the California law, which opponents argue puts an unfair burden on pork producers by impacting their ability to sell to the state.

The IPPA lawsuit argued Proposition 12, which voters approved in 2018, imposed excessive burdens on interstate commerce and discriminated against out-of-state farmers.

The case was heard in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, which ruled in June 2024, in favor of California. IPPA filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to review the decision, which is the petition the court denied Monday.

The California law (Proposition 12), which went into effect in 2024, stipulates that regardless of where an animal was raised, it must comply with the state regulation on animal confinement in order to be sold in California. The law stipulates sow enclosures must have at least 24 square feet of room….

The west-coast state is a major pork consumer, meaning its laws have a big impact on pork production across the country and in states like Iowa, which produces the most pork in the nation.“

The rejection of this case is a decided win for local control and the ability for states to take action against the consolidation of the agriculture industry.  If the livestock industry in one state could sue over a local law in another state, that would have posed a significant threat to any kind of local level cap or rules that citizens in other jurisdictions vote into place.

While this case represents a major milestone, there is still work to be done. The EATS Act is currently making its way through Congress and would directly threaten the ability of any local government to regulate agriculture.  Under the misleading name of “Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression,” the EATS Act would limit the ability of states and local governments to impose standards or conditions on agricultural products produced in other states.  This law, if passed, would override state and local laws related to food safety, animal welfare, and other agricultural practices, potentially impacting regulations like California’s Proposition 12. For information on making your voice heard on the EATS Act, contact me at the e-mail below.

For decades, Land Stewardship Project members have used the power of local democracy to stop factory farms and build more vibrant rural communities. Through local control, townships and counties can block unwanted development, planning instead for projects that put the land and the people first.  You can learn more about our work in this area and join us in that work here.

LSP policy organizer Matthew Sheets can be reached via e-mail.

Category: Blog
Tags: CAFO • factory farm • local democracy

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July 2025

Tuesday July 22

9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Ray Archuleta Soil Health Series: Sartell
Tuesday July 22
9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Ray Archuleta Soil Health Series: Sartell
2611 17th St N, Sartell, MN 56377, USA

Details are here.

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Unlocking Conservation Resources for Communities & Farms
Tuesday July 22
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Unlocking Conservation Resources for Communities & Farms
Far North Spirits, 2045 220th Avenue, Hallock, MN 56728, USA

Join Renewing the Countryside and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) this summer at one of their eight conservation events in a town near you, where you will:

  • Learn how conservation benefits Minnesota’s rural communities.
  • Hear from a panel of local speakers.
  • Discover available NRCS Farm Bill programs and the economics of on-farm practices.
  • Enjoy a complimentary lunch, plus a chance to win door prizes.
  • Network with local farmers, neighbors, and conservation professionals.
  • Receive helpful materials and personalized support on next steps after the event.  

For more information, click here. 

Locations & Dates:
Each event is free, open to all, and runs from noon to 2 p.m. at the venues listed. Space is limited, please register in advance.

  • Hallock (Kittson County) – Tues, July 22 @ Far North Spirits
  • Elbow Lake (Grant County) – Wed, July 23 @ Elbow Lake Community Building
  • Sleepy Eye (Brown County) – Thur, July 24 @ Sleepy Eye Brewing Company
  • Milaca (Mille Lacs County) – Tues, July 29 @ Gorecki Community Center
  • Mora (Kanabec County) – Thur, July 31 @ Sapsucker Farms Yellow Belly Cidery
  • Owatonna (Steele County) – Tues, August 5 @ Owatonna Public Utilities Building
  • Jordan (Scott County) – Wed, August 6 @ Ridges at Sand Creek
  • Fairmont (Martin County) – Thur, August 7 @ Red Rock Center for the Arts
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Agrivoltaics: Growing Forages & grain Crops
Tuesday July 22
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Agrivoltaics: Growing Forages & grain Crops
Online Webinar

This free webinar series is about cattle and sheep solar grazing and growing forages or grain crops under solar panels.

The practice of grazing livestock under solar panels has become increasingly popular. It is often referred to as agrivoltaics or solar grazing. This system involves the use of land for both solar energy production and livestock grazing or crop production. In this session, Sabrina Florentino will talk about forage production research and the Rauenhorst Farm Agrivoltaics Project on growing row crops under solar panels.

To register, click here. 

Wednesday July 23

9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Ray Archuleta Soil Health Series: Villard
Wednesday July 23
9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Ray Archuleta Soil Health Series: Villard
15290 127th St, Villard, MN 56385, USA

Details are here.

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Unlocking Conservation Resources for Communities & Farms
Wednesday July 23
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Unlocking Conservation Resources for Communities & Farms
ELBOW LAKE COMMUNITY BUILDING, 117 Central Ave, Elbow Lake, MN 56531, USA

Join Renewing the Countryside and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) this summer at one of their eight conservation events in a town near you, where you will:

  • Learn how conservation benefits Minnesota’s rural communities.
  • Hear from a panel of local speakers.
  • Discover available NRCS Farm Bill programs and the economics of on-farm practices.
  • Enjoy a complimentary lunch, plus a chance to win door prizes.
  • Network with local farmers, neighbors, and conservation professionals.
  • Receive helpful materials and personalized support on next steps after the event.  

For more information, click here. 

Locations & Dates:
Each event is free, open to all, and runs from noon to 2 p.m. at the venues listed. Space is limited, please register in advance.

  • Hallock (Kittson County) – Tues, July 22 @ Far North Spirits
  • Elbow Lake (Grant County) – Wed, July 23 @ Elbow Lake Community Building
  • Sleepy Eye (Brown County) – Thur, July 24 @ Sleepy Eye Brewing Company
  • Milaca (Mille Lacs County) – Tues, July 29 @ Gorecki Community Center
  • Mora (Kanabec County) – Thur, July 31 @ Sapsucker Farms Yellow Belly Cidery
  • Owatonna (Steele County) – Tues, August 5 @ Owatonna Public Utilities Building
  • Jordan (Scott County) – Wed, August 6 @ Ridges at Sand Creek
  • Fairmont (Martin County) – Thur, August 7 @ Red Rock Center for the Arts

View Full Calendar

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  • Get Your Farm Photographed & Receive Free Images! July 10, 2025

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