Producers need to become "animal activists" (Rinker Law PLLC)‏

Sent: October 23, 2009 3:40:39 PM

NOTE: Visit the URL below to access the supportive links offered.

Rinker Law PLLC
http://rinckerlaw.com/blog/?p=61

Part III: Debrief from NYFB Farm Animal Welfare Conference
October 21st, 2009

At the recent New York Farm Bureau (”NYFB”) Farm Animal Welfare
Conference, Kay Johnson Smith from the Animal Agriculture Alliance was
one of the keynote speakers. I was extremely impressed by her poise
and presence. I love seeing such powerful, articulate women in the
forefront of agriculture issues in Washington.

The underlying theme of Ms. Smith’s talk was that those involved in
the agriculture industry should also be “animal activists.” I thought
this was a great point because animal groups like PETA and HSUS should
not be deciding the future of the agriculture industry nor are they
the only groups that care about these issues. The ag community should
also become “activists.”

So how can farmers and ranchers become “activists?”

- Start a farm blog;

- Get on Twitter;

-Participate in ‘agchat’ (on Twitter);

-Write your elected representatives;

-Join groups on LinkedIn;

-Get on Facebook;

-Post pictures of your livestock operation on Flickr;

-Post videos on YouTube;

-Pay your membership dues and become active in ag commodity groups
lobbying on the state and federal levels;

-Talk to your local radio station;

-Work with your local newspaper;

-Write letters to the editor or comments to online news articles;

-Become an active member in your community (e.g., join the school
board, sponsor a baseball team);

-Start a monthly book club in your farming community to discuss the
misrepresentations in mainstream books and how to talk to consumer
about those misconceptions (e.g., Omnivore’s Dilemma, Fast Food
Nation, In Defense of Food, Beyond Beef) (I just thought of this… I
might just start one!);

-Introduce yourself to travelers and explain what you do; or

-Anything where you can tell your side of the story to consumers. . . .

In addition, Ms. Smith summarized the four key areas where animal
groups criticize modern agriculture: confinement, production
practices, manure waste, and public health. She stated that these
animal groups argue that farmers only care about profit and don’t care
about the animals. For those of us involved in the industry, we know
that caring about the health and well-being of your livestock leads to
profits and job satisfaction. I don’t know a single livestock owner
that does not care about the health and well-being of their animals.
It is the job of the industry to help get this point across to the
public.

Smith offered the following recommendations for livestock producers to
combat the war against animal groups who wish to harm the livestock
industry:

1. Implement an animal welfare program in your livestock operation.
There are many voluntary programs an guidelines offered through
various trade organization programs. Groups like the National
Cattlemen’s Beef Association offer Beef Quality Assurance programs.
Livestock producers can also create their own internal animal welfare
policies and require that all employees abide by this program.
Livestock owners should train their employees with proper animal
handling techniques.

2. Improve the public image of your farm from an aesthetic
standpoint. Livestock owners should go to Google Earth and look at the
aerial photographs and fix anything that might put the farm or ranch
in negative light to the public. Drive on public roads around your
farm and improve anything that the public might view negatively.

3. Have a good working relationship with extension specialists. As
noted in my previous blog, I think it is important to document visits
with extension specialists. Smith agreed that it is paramount for
livestock producers to have a good working relationship with extension
specialists.

4. Have farm employees sign an agreement stating that they will not
bring video cameras on your property. This would give the livestock
owner legal recourse against an undercover animal activist who
secretly video records activities on the farm.

5. Implement a farm security plan. Farmers should have passwords on
their computers, protocols for farm tours, and a plan for disruptive
phone calls.

6. Get a farm website and keep it updated regularly. I used Ranch
House Designs, Inc. (”RHD”) to do this website and think they would do
a great job for your livestock operation. You can also follow RHD’s
blog here where they post blog specials. I also recommend EDJE
Technologies (You can follow them on Twitter here). Both of these
graphics design companies understand the unique needs of livestock
producers.

Finally, Smith’s closing point was that we need to work as a
coalition. We are Team Agriculture and we are in this fight together.

Great information!