Agricultural News
Agriculture Industry Finds a Friend in the Fight Against the Savvy Animal Rights Activists of Today
Mon, 16 Jan 2017 13:03:47 CST
It's a brand new year but the challenges remain very much the same, says Hannah Thompson-Weeman, when it comes to dealing with anti-agriculture organizations. Thompson-Weeman of the Animal Agriculture Alliance spoke with Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays recently about the kind of people the ag industry is up against these days in the fight to protect the rights of not only farmers and ranchers, but of consumers too.
"They always find new ways to push that goal, which is to putting farmers and ranchers out of business," Thompson-Weeman said about animal right activists. "They've gotten savvier and savvier over the years which makes it a challenge for us to get out ahead of their messaging."
One reality that makes it difficult to fight these organizations, which came to light late this past year in a pivotal vote in Massachusetts that has had ringing effects for agriculture, is that the average consumer is simply so far removed from the farm these days.
"Our general consumer is very disconnected from what we do," Thompson-Weeman asserted. "They haven't seen it; they haven't been exposed to it. So, unfortunately they are very susceptible to the myths and misinformation being spread by groups like HSUS.
However, she says the tides may be turning with the birth of a new partnership. She says a relationship between the agriculture and the anti-poverty communities has begun to form, as they both understand the importance of consumers' accessibility to safe, affordable food. She says, if the ag industry's opponents should make similar attempts to hinder production in other states, the lessons learned and the friends gained in Massachusetts will give the Alliance a leg up in the ensuing fight.
Listen to Hays and Thompson-Weeman discuss the modern activists agriculture is up against these days more in depth, on today's Beef Buzz.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI
Top Agricultural News
More Headlines...
