(BLOOMINGTON) Illinois farmers are preparing for the January 1st, 2024 implementation of a California welfare law mandating larger space requirements for raising pigs, cows, and chickens. One part of the Farm Animal Confinement Initiative requires sows to have at least 24 square feet of space, which many producers say will no doubt affect hog production profits. According to the Illinois Pork Producers Association, the state’s pork industry contributes nearly $14 billion to the state’s economy and is the fourth largest in the nation.
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