An outside group that bills itself as an advocate for meat producers and farmers has reversed course with ads criticizing Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall for cosponsoring legislation that would prevent California from banning the in-state sale of whole pork meat from pigs confined in a cruel manner even if they’re caged in another state.
The American Meat Producers Association, led by an established animal welfare lobbyist, has pulled negative ads and replaced them with a new ad praising Marshall after he withdrew his support for the so-called Save Our Bacon Act from being included in the 2026 Farm Bill.
The original ad suggested that the legislation was a “scam” that would benefit Chinese corporations. The ad made the Chinese connection because of Smithfield Foods, which is based in Virginia but was purchased by a Chinese meat producer in 2013 for $4.7 billion.
A company executive told Reuters three years ago that Smithfield was expanding its supply of pork to comply with California’s Proposition 12 but said the company would support Congress halting the law.
The new ad, which started running June 12, said Marshall didn’t fall for the “save our bacon scam,” adding that he’s looking out for Kansans and not Chinese corporations.
As of Thursday, the new ad had been seen 2.2 million times across the state, according to ad tracking service, AdImpact. The new ad had been seen 167,00 times and only in the Topeka and Wichita/Hutchinson markets.
New ad
Old ad
Holly Bice, president of the meat producers group, didn’t comment but referred to remarks she made to the National Hog Farmer.
“Sen. Marshall did American family farmers right by removing support for this dangerous bill. He’s choosing family farmers over Chinese pork conglomerates, and we’re looking forward to his leadership to ensure no variation of Save Our Bacon is in any final farm bill,” Bice told the publication.
She was joined by Mike Schultz, founder of the Kansas Cattlemen’s Association and vice president of the Organization for Competitive Markets.
“We farmers in western Kansas are really proud of Senator Marshall for heeding our message that farmers have upgraded their sow housing systems and for protecting their access to California’s humane pork market,” Schultz told the National Hog Farmer.
“And, let’s face it, we farmers don’t like China’s infiltration of American agriculture — the company already controls more than a quarter of U.S. pork production, and the Save Our Bacon Act is a maneuver to increase its share of our domestic market.”
Last year, Marshall sponsored legislation – along with Iowa U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst – in response to California’s Proposition 12 that prohibits any state or local government from interfering with commerce and agricultural practices in another state outside their jurisdiction.
“The United States is constantly faced with non-tariff trade barriers from protectionist countries, which hurts American agriculture’s access to new markets,” Marshall said in a press release last year.
“The last thing we need is for states like California imposing its will on ag-heavy states like Kansas with regulations that will also restrict our ability to trade among the states,”
“Midwest farmers and ranchers who produce our nation’s food supply should not be hamstrung by coastal activist agendas that dictate production standards from hundreds of miles away,” Marshall said in a statement in support of the legislation.
“I am proud to support this legislation that gives Kansas agriculture producers the freedom to produce safe, affordable food for all,” he said.
The bill has been referred to as the Save our Bacon bill, or the EATS Act, short for Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression. The bill is opposed by animal-welfare advocates.
The measure was opposed by Humane World for Animals, formerly known as the Humane Society of the United States.
A spokesperson said Marshall is now focused on getting Congress to approve year-round sales of ethanol.
“With all of the challenges facing farm country right now — Sen. Marshall is prioritizing year-round E15 and helping Chairman Boozman get a Farm Bill done,” said Marshall spokesperson Payton Fuller, alluding to U.S. Sen. John Boozman of Arkansas and chair of the Senate agriculture committee.
