Michigan egg, pork and poultry producers have reached a compromise agreement with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) that accomplishes three primary objectives:

--Egg producers will have to provide more space for laying hens.

--Pork producers will have to provide more space for gestating sows; stalls may be used for breeding and until sows are confirmed pregnant, and farrowing stalls may be used for farrowing and up to seven days prior to the animal’s due date.

--Egg and pork producers will have 10 years to make these changes in production practices.

The HSUS has agreed that it will not pursue a ballot initiative in Michigan provided legislation implementing the compromise agreement is passed into law.

“After carefully weighing all of the alternatives, the Michigan Pork Producers Association (MPPA) board of directors agreed that the compromise agreement was the best option for the pork industry,” says Dennis DeYoung, president of MPPA.

Read more of DeYoung’s letter.