ERS analyzes the impact of welfare policies for state sows on the production of pork. The USDA's Economic Research Service recently released an extensive report that outlines all state welfare laws for farm animals as well as the extent of their implementation and issues these policies have had to face.  Since 2002, fourteen U.S. states have passed and adopted legislation that directly affects U.S. livestock production practices. Ten states have prohibited the use of crates used for gestation sows. In 2002 Florida was the only state in the nation to adopt the farm welfare policy that dealt with how to…