Farm Bill Amendment Could Impact Egg Production

"The King Amendment" to the Farm Bill would forbid a state from enforcing stricter farm production regulations than other states...basically putting the bar at the lowest standard.

That would put California egg farmers at a disadvantage because state law requires more space for hens and vaccination against salmonella.

Neither is required in every state.

Jill Benson of J.S. West, one of the largest egg producers in the Central Valley, says egg production in California would drop dramatically.

"We're going to have eggs of lower standard flowing into California that don't adhere to our food safety and our high animal welfare standard," says Benson.

Rayne Pegg of the California Farm Bureau says 150 farm products could be affected by lowering standards.

"It could potentially impact food safety standards, restrictions on the movements of plants and animals," Pegg says.

Besides affecting egg quality the proposed amendment to the Farm Bill could also undermine safety and animal welfare standards for farm-raised catfish and veal in California.