Monday, April 9, 2012

Who Controls Your Family's Future Food Choices?

To chime in on Trent Loos' April 3, 2012 Grandin article...Our family realized early on that though many of her ideas have proven to be beneficial for our industry, her stance on animal welfare could possibly destroy our animal ag industries.  We spoke with our own industry and voiced our concerns. As a grassroots producer here are some things I’d like to point out:
1.     Some fundamental animal activists facts must be understood.
a.      Animal activists don’t want to compromise; they want to eliminate animal protein from our diets.  They want to destroy our ability to produce any animal protein. If their efforts succeed we will not be able to afford to purchase animal protein.
b.     They have used and will continue to use all avenues to accomplish this.  HSUS’100 Point Change Agenda is clear about the means, and they’ve accomplished many on their list.  
c.      They have many deceptive faces as seen in our friend and supporter Animal Ag Alliance's Animal Activist’s Map. 
d.     The victories they’ve had are making it impossible for grassroots animal ag producers to stay in business.  Prop 2, Prop B, Horse Slaughter…yes the outcome of all of these affect the other.  The change in regulations within each industry is the vision they seek for all animal ag...destroy those industries and their ability to produce animal protein.  
2.     Decisions are creating unintended (or intended?) consequences.
a.      Decisions being made by industry affiliate leaders, ag universities, staff, animal scientists, third party auditors and others who have decided to collaborate with animal activists, are creating circumstances detrimental to grassroot’s ability to produce affordable animal protein for our world’s families to consume.
b.     These decisions have created a conduit for grassroot’s destruction, taking with it our world’s animal protein source.  These individuals either realize exactly who they’re dealing with and perhaps may ultimately be benefiting from the collaborations, or they’re out of touch and ignorant about the motives of extreme animal activist and their ultimate goal: to completely eliminate animal protein consumption.
c.       If animal ag industry leaders, decision makers and others have chosen to align themselves with these extreme animal right’s activist they need to be questioned about their motives. 
d.      Ask yourself...do these leader’s actions align with their industry’s goals and missions?  If not, ask questions.  What are the motives behind aligning themselves with these extreme animal activists/environmentalists...yes environmentalists because it's all connected?  The answer to those questions will either reveal another agenda that supports animal activists or insufficient knowledge about the enemy.  When decisions, by individuals who are out of touch with the actual process of raising protein animals for consumption, begin to debilitate and destroy the ability to provide the protein sources God intended for us to consume, grassroots must step up and say something.
3.     Education is the key to understanding animal activist’s motives.  
a.      The best resource available is Animal Ag Alliance who has been in the business of defending animal ag against animal activists for over 30 years. 
b.     Every industry affiliate leader and decision maker should be attending the Animal Ag Alliance Stakeholder Summit coming up the first of May. If our animal ag groups are refusing to join forces with Animal Ag Alliance, more questions need answers.  Why would any animal ag industry group refuse to hold in high regard this extremely knowledgeable resource?
c.       If our industry’s leaders, refuse to educate themselves and continue to form alliances with the enemy then new leadership should be put in place.  If animal ag scientists join forces with the enemy, their thoughts, attitudes and suggestions should be questioned.
d.     If ag publication’s articles and animal ag journalist’s thoughts and suggestions align with the enemy, grassroots producers must question those motives as well.

These articles are great examples of what is happening to grassroots producers and their ability to economically provide animal protein to a growing population.  
http://www.agweek.com/event/article/id/19713/

This article explains a program the beef industry must question the motives of
Is there anymore evidence needed to prove the point that the current path we’re on will take away any chance our children and grandchildren have, of not only being able to purchase and raise animals, but afford to purchase and consume animal protein? 

The saying, “If you don’t take an interest in politics, politics will take an interest in you” might go something like this for animal ag producers: “If grassroots producers don’t take an interest in the decisions being implemented on their behalf, animal activists and their collaborators will take a destructive interest in them.”
We have sustainable agriculture now and have had for centuries.  If these groups get their way animal agriculture will not be able to sustain itself; we’ll be regulated out of business.