Conservatives should be deeply sceptical of any effort to include “Save Our Bacon” language in the Farm Bill.
The proposed “Save Our Bacon” provision seeks to override state laws that regulate how farm animals are raised, specifically laws that prohibit the use of gestation crates for pigs.
States such as California and Massachusetts have enacted restrictions on extreme confinement systems through democratic processes. Citizens voted for these standards and legislators enacted them.
Across the world, consumers are increasingly demanding higher animal welfare standards. Conservatives who believe in free markets should recognize that producers are capable of responding to consumer preferences. Government intervention designed to shield one production system from market pressure and to preserve outdated production systems undermines the very market principles conservatives traditionally defend.
The pork industry itself has acknowledged changing expectations. Some farmers have invested in alternatives to gestation crate confinement. These investments were made because producers recognized evolving consumer expectations and sought to remain competitive.
Passing federal legislation to protect a controversial production practice risks stifling innovation, rewarding producers who resist change, and disadvantaging those who have already invested in modernizing their operations.
Conservatives have long understood that stewardship carries responsibilities and opposition to gestation crates is not simply a partisan issue. Many farmers, veterinarians, faith leaders, and rural conservatives have raised concerns about systems that confine pigs in spaces so restrictive that they cannot turn around for most of their lives. Some family farmers already operate successfully without relying on permanent gestation crate confinement.
The debate over gestation crates is not simply about legislative threats to animal welfare. The “Save Our Bacon” proposal would override state decisions, weaken consumer choice, and expand federal authority in ways conservatives have historically opposed.
Conservatives should reject any Farm Bill language that pre-empts state laws restricting gestation crates. Preserving states’ authority to enact animal welfare protections reinforces constitutional principles, honours the humane treatment of farm animals, and ensures that American agriculture remains responsive to both consumers and evolving societal expectations.