Tag Archives: Humane Society of the United States

Tennessee Animal Cruelty Prevention Act Heating Up


Tennessee State Line

Tennessee State Line (Photo credit: J. Stephen Conn)

Updated: The bill was vetoed by Tenn. Governor Haslam on Monday, May 13. Story from the Tennessean here. Haslam’s statement can be seen in this piece from the Knoxville News Sentinel.

A follow-up to a previous post regarding the heated “Ag gag” bills/laws across the country.

The controversy over so-called ‘Ag gag’ bills has heated up in Tennessee during the past few weeks. Celebrities the likes of Carrie Underwood and Ellen Degeneres have been touting their status and rallying fans to urge TN Governor Haslam to veto HB1191/SB1248 that would protect Tennessee animals subject to cruelty. Carrie Underwood, I can understand, she actually lives in TN. But Ellen?

What does the Tennessee bill actually say?

Easy. It’s a one-page piece of legislation, passed by both Houses, with only one amendment, awaiting the Governor’s signature.

“SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-14-202, is amended by adding the following language as a new, appropriately designated subsection:

( ) Any person who records by photograph or video a violation of subsection (a)

as committed against livestock shall, within forty-eight (48) hours of the photograph’s or recording’s creation:

(1) Report such violation to law enforcement authorities; and

(2) Submit any unedited photographs or video recordings to law enforcement authorities.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2013, the public welfare requiring it.”

If only more legislation by governments across this country could be that short and to the point.

Bills and laws like this have been stirring up dust across the country. I shared my thoughts here on the blog last month in a post that was picked up by CNN Eatocracy. Since then, the same page has posted perspectives by Ohio farmer, Mike Haley, along with VP of Farm Animal Protection for the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Paul Shapiro.

Largely the perspectives from the agriculture side did not receive a lot of feedback. However, Shapiro’s post came with several comments very negative about the issue. Personally, many of them are 1 and 2 liners that look like someone rallied the troops and invited everyone to post a comment in opposition to the ‘ag gag’ bills.

To me, a bill like TN HB1191/SB1248 is important because it limits the undercover and investigative recording of groups like HSUS who splice together and narrate the footage, then use it in a release that happens to be very timely for their fundraising efforts. Nashville’s Fox affiliate featured a story this week that highlighted just how deceptive HSUS’ fundraising campaigns are in regards to contributions to actual animal shelters.

The bill is not a “gag” as many folks have labeled. It requires immediate reporting of cruelty and prevents out-of-context, deceptive undercover investigations released to the public. Does our food and farm system need to be more transparent in its practices? Yes. But these undercover videos only hamper that situation.

I’m not 100% behind this type of legislation and feel it important to highlight my previous statement – “Our country doesn’t need another law telling us how to act behind the gates. We need encouragement for better transparency without harassment from others seeking to place blame and mislead for personal gain.”

Everyone is allowed to have an opinion here, and I think both sides are passionate about stopping animal cruelty. How much clearer can we get than the Tennessee bill in question?

We need a better understand of how each side is defining cruelty in livestock and some open-mindedness long enough to sit down and come to an understanding of what is best for our livestock and those caring for them.

Conversations.


The AgChat Banditas have taken over!

The AgChat Banditas have taken over!

Val Wagner

Val Wagner is a North Dakota farmer, rancher and mother of four boys that talks about all things agriculture and crazy childhood antics over at Wag’n Tales (wagfarms.com). She’s made it her mission to make sure that her boys have a future in agriculture, and hopes at least one of them will grow up to be as involved and as passionate about agriculture as Ryan is…and she’s honored to be a Bandita.

Yesterday, I had the privilege of speaking to a group of people involved in agriculture about the importance of having conversations with those people that are buying our products, not only face-to-face, but through other avenues as well.

My friend, JP (www.janiceperson.com), flew all the way from St. Louis to the frozen tundra of North Dakota (and we had a blizzard, which just about threw off the whole idea), just to help share the message and give some pointers on how to get ahead of the issues.

As we wrapped up the presentation and went on to answer any questions, I was concerned that we had hit the proverbial wall. There was a deafening silence as we asked for questions, and I was certain that our information wasn’t well-received, let alone sparking interest. Yet, once again, I was proven wrong.

Hands started going up, people started asking in-depth questions, wondering how to get started, costs that might be involved and risks that they may be asked to take. It was fun to pass on our passion for talking about agriculture to a group of people that seemed to be pretty uncertain of the value of our message.

In fact, conversations like these occur all the time in agriculture. People question the value of a blog such as Ryan’s. They wonder if the conversations are worthwhile…if a difference is being made. And I believe the answer is a resounding, “YES!”

Recently, North Dakota placed two measures on the ballot that affected agriculture. One placed safeguards for agriculture in our state constitution, the other would have allowed the animal rights activist group, the Humane Society of the United States, a foot in the door. Both measures faced what seemed like an uphill battle. Yet, in both cases, agriculture won.

Was it advertising? Doubtful. In the case of Measure 5, HSUS out-spent us by a very, very large margin. Was it door-to-door visits? Again, doubtful. Most of the people involved in agriculture were knee-deep in harvest, not having as much time to campaign as they would have liked.

So what made the difference? Well, I’m not an expert by any stretch of the imagination, and I’m guessing someone, somewhere has some scientific reasoning, but I do believe we had the power of networks, trust and were able to have conversations with voters…even if it had to be online. I know from personal experience that several people asked me my opinion (as a farmer) on the measures. And I was confident that my research and thoughts were well-thought out enough to pass on.

Yesterday, when one gentleman raised his hand and said that too many lies are quickly spread throughout the internet, I simply said, “Conversations about food are taking place, all the time, everywhere. They will happen, whether or not you decide to participate. I have decided to participate.” And so has Ryan.

Will you?

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In response to HSUS’ “A Pig’s Tail” [Video]


Image from HSUS video

In case you missed it, today was Food Day – an opportunity to focus on our food system and the diversity within. The Humane Society of the United States (read my thoughts on the organization here) took advantage of this event to aim at modern pork production.

The HSUS, not affiliated with your local pet shelters, released a short animated film aimed to expose children to their view of modern pork production. A similar film from Chipotle sparked controversy last year. This current film focuses on pork housing and tail docking.

According to the video description, the film will “take viewers into a pig factory farm” where “young pig Ginger is surprised to find out how pigs are treated on factory-style farms and hatches a plan to find a better life for herself and her friends.”

I may not be a pork farmer, but I do know from my experiences that “factory farms” are not as portrayed in the public eye. I shared my thoughts recently using cattle feedlots as an example.

The video and it’s use of emotional appeal to draw young viewers to HSUS’ agenda concerns me, but I am glad to have many friends who can answer my questions.

U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) is a group encouraging discussions between farmers and ranchers of all sizes and their customers to discuss these things. They have shared a few thoughts on the topic and educational points about pork production that are worth passing along. I hope we can take them into consideration with this “A Pig’s Tail” video from HSUS.

Thoughts from USFRA’s View:

This video uses emotion and children’s entertainment unfairly to manipulate the American public.  Further, it is being targeted at educators to take into the classroom.

The truth is that farmers and ranchers of all sizes are committed to the humane treatment of their animals.

The vast majority of farmers and ranchers care deeply about their animals and take pride in them.  USFRA believes that farmers and ranchers and our partners strive to keep their farm animals safe, healthy and comfortable. Well cared for animals, under the guidance of veterinarians, is paramount to a safe and healthy food supply. Farmers and ranchers use a variety of animal husbandry practices, housing strategies and healthcare to decrease disease risk and promote animal health. Additionally, farmers recognize consumers concerns regarding animal care.

The bottom line is that today’s farm animals live healthier lives than ever before. For example, today’s farming and ranching have virtually eliminated some former common causes of human foodborne illnesses. Pigs raised indoors, a practice that sometimes elevates concerns, has made a great difference in the safety of pork. Pathogens, such as Trichinella spiralis, formerly one of the most prominent pathogens, have largely disappeared with the movement of pigs to indoor production.

Please help spread the word about how manipulative and unfair this video is.  Share your stories about animal care widely.  Send letters to your local newspaper and tell your friends and family.

A Few Facts about Pork Production:


Why do farmers remove the tail of a pig – the process known as “tail docking”? Tail docking is a practice that’s long been used on farms to protect pigs against the spread of infection. Farmers know it’s important to create social environments for pigs in the barn, but they are realistic about the threats that can arise.
When in a group, pigs will often nibble on each other’s tails as a way to explore their environment.  But pigs have sharp teeth, and this behavior can escalate quickly when blood is drawn.  Other pigs become attracted to the bitten tail and contribute to an open wound that is likely to get infected.

By docking the tails of piglets when they are just a few days old, our farmers can prevent potential infections that could spread throughout the herd and even result in death.  Keep in mind tail docking is done early in a pig’s life, quickly and according to veterinarian guidelines. The piglet is returned to his mother to nurse and is quickly playing with others soon after.

Why are pregnant sows housed in stalls? It is a farmer’s job to ensure the meat it sells is safe and comes from animals raised in a humane fashion. Peer-reviewed research shows overwhelmingly that both individual stalls and open pens are appropriate ways to provide good care to pregnant sows.

The housing used by most farmers was designed to protect sows while they are most vulnerable, during their pregnancies.  This is done to protect the pregnant sows from bullying by other pigs, who by nature develop and establish a hierarchical social order.

Pig farmers and veterinarians continue to look for ways to keep pregnant sows safe and comfortable.  Working with animal scientists, research is being done to understand the effects of various housing options and find better ways.

Does the pork industry have standards for how its farmers raise pigs? The National Pork Board created the Pork Quality Assurance® program more than 20 years ago and updates it frequently to include the latest knowledge on animal care and the use of animal-health products. Farmers also created the We Caresm initiative, which helps everyone involved in the care of pigs demonstrate how they conduct themselves to make sure they are doing the right thing every day.

Other Resources:

Read this New York Times article about one farmer who moved sows from housing pens to gestation crates to ensure their safety.

Hear directly from producers about their commitment to responsible pork production.

Watch an Indiana farmer showcase how he cares for pigs on his family’s farm. Hear him share how technology and innovation have positively changed the ways pigs are born and raised on farms today.

Hear Animal Chef, Jon Shook, talks about lessons learned during the L.A. Food Dialogues regarding a common misconception about how pigs are raised.

Check out “Veterinarians on Call,” a YouTube Chanel sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health that features stories of vets caring for animals in clinics, hospitals, shelters, farms and ranches, including pig farms.

Listen to pig farmers talk about the level of care that they provide their animals on their individuals farms via the Pork Checkoff’s YouTube channel.

To learn more about USFRA and the pork farmers involved in the conversations, visit  fooddialogues.com or look up the USFRA Facebook page.

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CNN Eatocracy: Can we find civil food conversations online?


I don’t know about you, but I get pretty frustrated hen trying to have a conversation, but can’t wade through all of the mud that is being slung in the process. This happens a lot when trying to talk food and farming online. These are emotional topics and each side of the table tries to throw it’s own scientific backing in the mix.

I ran into this situation a few weeks ago and used it as an opportunity to share a few points I feel are important when approaching food and farming conversations, especially online.

These thoughts went live on CNN Eatocracy late last week in my latest post, aiming to facilitate further discussion on food topics by offering a farming perspective. These points are something both side of the table need to take into consideration and inspired quite the conversation on the original post.

Farmers aren’t evil. Now can we have a civil conversation?

A few weeks ago, I received a Facebook message out of the blue asking to stop my support of animal abuse. The person behind the message said I may not realize it, but she believes what I do for a living is inherently cruel.

She described things she feels are wrong with animal agriculture - how baby calves are used for veal production, how cows are sucked dry of their milk until they can no longer function, and how pigs and chickens are crammed into crates to the point where they cannot move. She believes that livestock farming needs to end in favor of plant-based diets to feed the world’s population.

When I asked where she had witnessed these cruelties or learned of this information, I received a number of links to articles and videos from groups likePETA, Mercy for Animals, Farm Sanctuary, and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS); groups that have a focused agenda to stop animal agriculture with little to no consideration for the farmer.

This is not the animal agriculture I work in. The stories she had were moving and certainly lead people to take action, but they do not represent the agriculture community.

There is nothing more frustrating than being approached by someone who believes I am an evil person for what I do, without ever having a chance to voice an opinion about my experience. This happens time and again in conversations about food and agriculture topics and we are just digging ourselves a deeper hole, but we can find a better avenue to communication.

The discussion continued, and I asked, again, where she had witnessed these cruel circumstances. She pasted several statements filled with statistics and graphic descriptions of the animal housing conditions and treatment standards. A quick Google search found these statements easily copied from the above mentioned group websites.

I shared links to a few blog posts and videos I have created in the past to describe animal care on my family’s farm, guidelines farmers follow for better animal care, and a series of posts to detail work in CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations), or what some call “factory farms”. I view these as a snapshot of how I perceive modern cattle farming.

No matter the effort or the questions I asked, I continued to receive prepared statements and figures from these organizations. I felt like it was one large brick wall.

Then I had to step back and ask myself, is this how messages are received from farmers and ranchers as we try to use science when discussing modern food and farming? The clash of emotion and science and neither is making headway.

As a whole, our communities of farmers and customers need to approach these conversations and be more respectful of others’ opinions. Food will always be a difficult subject to discuss. Everyone has different expectations for their food; how it tastes, how it should be grown, and how much it should cost. We definitely have skewed perceptions of how our wants and needs should be accepted by the other side of the table, even though we share a common ground – eating food.

When we approach these conversations, I want to encourage us all to take a few steps for better communication and dialogues.

First, we have two ears and one mouth. We all need to listen first before we speak. Everyone possesses their own opinions and when we can hear the other viewpoints, we can better respond to the issues at hand.

Second, leave your first impressions at the door. Assumptions need to be laid aside. Ask questions. What is the other person really asking? The better you understand and are willing to listen to what the other side of issue has to say, the better you will understand your own beliefs.

Finally, understand the world is not out to burn you. Haters will abound, latch on to the most emotional, exciting aspect and blow it out of proportion. These folks will often stand on the most prominent soapbox, seeking the most attention. This by no means qualifies them as right or their stance any more substantial. Many more people mean well and stay much less vocal.

Conversations require cooperation from both sides to be productive. I am no communications professional, but I do know that both sides need to evaluate their approach and listen more.

So here is my challenge, what questions do you have about modern farming? And are you willing to consider asking them in a way that makes it easier to engage a conversation rather than an accusation?

Instead of “Why do you poison our food supply with chemicals and GMOs?” maybe someone not on the farm could ask a farmer, “How does your use of chemicals and technology affect the safety of food and our environment?” I know it takes a mind shift and I am trying to make one on my end too, but if both sides shift toward openness rather than assumption.

So think about it: if you could ask a farmer of any crop, almonds to zucchinis, where would you start? I’ll do my best to find farmers to help with the answers in a similar spirit.

Leave your questions in the comment section below or submit your question via the Ask A Farmer page above or send me a message on Facebookand Twitter.

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