Not all politics are local. Despite the common phrase to the contrary, often good citizens cast votes in local elections without realizing how their decisions can impact the national or global food supply. Additionally, organizations and individuals who oppose modern agricultural practices use local elections to target well-intentioned voters with misinformation to shape national policy.

With most voters focusing their attention on elections for national and state offices, the food and agriculture community must not lose sight of the importance of local elections. We at the U.S. Agriculture Partnership Fund (USAPF) partner with local and state organizations to speak directly to voters about the importance of their decisions on the affordability and availability of the U.S. food supply.  

We only need to go back to 2018 and look at California’s ballot question, known as Proposition 12, to see how a decision by voters in one state impacts not only the price of food but also production methods across the country. “Prop. 12,” which, among other things, prohibited sales of certain pork products from hogs not raised in a manner acceptable to some animal liberation activists, has resulted in consumers paying up to 41 percent more for pork, according to National Pork Producers Council President Lori Stevermer.

The precedent set by Prop. 12 is so dangerous even the Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, testified in front of the Senate Agriculture Committee that “Farmers, they don’t need the chaos. They need clarity and certainty.” Congress has an opportunity to provide this clarity and certainty not only to farmers and ranchers but also to consumers. 

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Ballot Initiative 309 in Denver, is a great example of a current local election with nationwide implications. Denver voters will determine whether the city and county should prohibit slaughterhouses within its jurisdiction. Superior Farms operates a lamb facility in the city, employing more than 160 people and processing nearly 20 percent of the country’s lamb supply. Those employees don’t just work at the facility; they own it. Their livelihoods are connected to the success of the company. According to Colorado State University, passing the ballot initiative to shut down the plant could cost the state’s economy up to $861 million and impact more than 2,700 jobs. Check out www.stopthebanprotectjobs.com to learn more. 

Measure J in Sonoma County, California, too, seeks to outlaw safe, humane, and common agricultural practices. This ballot initiative would prohibit Confined Animal Feeding Operations in the county, which has a healthy dairy and livestock sector. Nearly 50% of California’s organic milk is produced in Sonoma County. According to an independent study, Measure J would cause more than $500 million in economic damages. Passing Measure J will reduce the availability of locally produced food and increase costs to both producers and consumers. Visit www.NoOnMeasureJ.com to read all about it. 

A recent Gallup poll about U.S. business sectors shows respondents continue to hold farming/agriculture in high regard, with 64 percent rating the sector as very or somewhat positive. This is an increase from 59% last year. The public continues to trust farmers, ranchers, and others in the agricultural community. USAPF partners with state and local voices of agriculture to communicate directly with voters using this trusted voice. The entire food supply chain, from grower to consumer, shares the values of wanting safe, affordable, and available food. USAPF works to ensure voters understand the impacts of their decisions this November on those values we have in common. Learn more about our organization and how you can help sustain the greatest food system in the world at www.usapf.org.

Kip Tom is a producer, former ambassador to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, and serves as Chairman of the U.S. Agriculture Partnership Fund. Nicole Montna Van Vleck is the president and CEO of Montna Farms and serves as Vice Chair of the organization. USAPF is a bipartisan 501(c)4 shared value between agricultural producers and the public to ensure our nation’s food supply remains affordable and safe.