Farm Action Fund Calls out Ashley Hinson for Promoting Big Pork over Iowans
Elkhart, Iowa – Farm Action Fund yesterday hosted Iowa farmers and rural advocates on a century farm to condemn the Save Our Bacon Act as a threat to independent producers and states’ rights. The bill would pre-empt hundreds of state’s laws governing animal welfare and food production in a blatant giveaway to Big Pork corporations, including China-owned Smithfield. The U.S. Senate is expected to convene next week to try and pass an urgently needed Farm Bill. Currently, the Save Our Bacon Act is not in the Senate version, but is in the House version thanks to Rep. Ashley Hinson pushing for its inclusion.
Local Iowa media widely covered the event featuring an inflatable pig with a China flag draped over it:
Iowa Capitol Dispatch: Iowa Farmers Argue Hinson’s Save Our Bacon Act Would Hurt Small Producers
KTIV-TV: Iowa Pork Farmers Divided Over ‘Save Our Bacon Act’ Ahead of November Election
WHO-TV: Rep. Hinson’s Save Our Bacon Act Divides Iowa farmers
KTTC-TV: Iowa Pork Farmers Speak Out Against Save Our Bacon Act
WOI-TV: Group of Iowa Farmers Push Back on Save Our Bacon Act, Saying it Would Speed Up Consolidation
Opposition to the Save Our Bacon Act is widespread and bipartisan. Just this week, Trump influencer Laura Loomer noted, “GOP lawmakers funded by China’s U.S. pork lobby are trying to hijack the 2026 Farm Bill.” China Weekly, a mouthpiece for the CCP, openly admitted Hinson’s bill was important to China because “many U.S. states have different laws regarding pork production, posing multiple challenges to Chinese investors and making it difficult for them to compete with domestic companies. Furthermore, these state laws often favor smaller U.S. farms, disadvantaging multinational corporations and weakening the operational efficiency of Chinese pork companies.”
Iowa has lost close to 90 percent of its farms raising hogs since 1982. Independent hog producers said the Save our Bacon Act would eliminate markets for farmers who have met Proposition 12 standards in California and found viability outside of the current industrial livestock system where four corporations control 70% of the market. “The Save Our Bacon Act does NOT save independent family pig farmers — it runs them out of business,” said Chris Petersen, a fourth generation Iowa hog farmer.
A Farm Action Fund poll showed Iowa voters rejecting by 2-1 the Save Our Bacon Act. Opposition spanned every congressional district, age group, party affiliation and gender. Sixty-four percent said that learning Hinson supports the bill and has accepted contributions tied to Smithfield made them view her less favorably. “Most insultingly, Save Our Bacon Act tells American consumers — folks like you and me — we are not entitled to any say in how our food is raised or produced, that we don’t have the right to vote at the ballot box or the cash register,” said John Gilbert, a Hardin County Iowa hog producer.
Representative Ashley Hinson, the lead sponsor of the Save Our Bacon Act, has received $65,350 from pork-related groups over the past five years, according to an analysis by the Daily Beast — including $20,000 from the National Pork Producers PAC, more than $7,500 from a PAC affiliated with Tyson Foods and $5,250 from groups tied to Smithfield. “This is all about accountability, and corporate agriculture doesn’t want to be accountable for anything to anyone, which is why they donate so much to politicians,” said John Norris, former USDA Chief of Staff and former Polk County Administrator.
“Many Iowa farmers have already innovated and invested real money in response to California’s Proposition 12, and passing the Save Our Bacon Act would pull the rug out from under them in favor of the large packers.” said Aaron Lehman, President of Iowa Farmer’s Union.”
Speakers said the alternative is not less production but a different standard for competition.
“I want Iowa competing in a race to the top — where good farming, good stewardship, good animal husbandry, efficiency, and good food all are valued,” said Tony Thompson, an Iowa farmer.
The Senate Agriculture Committee is expected to take up the Farm Bill again this month. The Save Our Bacon Act was not included in the bill that failed in committee in August, but Ashley Hinson and Big Pork continue to lobby for the poison pill bill.
