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Egg Legislation Replaces Science with Politics
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- Created on Wednesday, 08 February 2012 09:24
The American Farm Bureau Federation has strongly criticized a bill pushed by the Humane Society of the United States and the United Egg Producers to implement an agreement they reached to replace decades of science-based animal care practices with strict government control. The legislation, H.R. 3798, introduced by Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.), would set a "dangerous" precedent by establishing federally mandated egg production practices and banning a number of other proven science-based egg production methods, according to AFBF President Bob Stallman
"This bill would result in mandated animal care standards based largely on the political goals of an animal rights group that seeks to eventually shut down animal agriculture by government mandate," Stallman said. "The bill ignores the science supporting the consensus among mainstream agricultural veterinarians, animal scientists and livestock producers. We see this legislation as an attempt by a radical animal rights group to legitimize a policy package that will undoubtedly be used to bully other livestock producers."
Montana Farm Bureau President Bob Hanson had strong words about the legislation. "Although you might think that since Montana isn't a big egg-producing state that this legislation has no affect on livestock producers, think twice," said Hanson. "This is the slippery slope to caving in to the animal rights lobby who want to see animal agriculture regulated out of existence. It's disturbing that, once again, emotion and bullying trump science. Farmers and ranchers work closely with veterinarians and animal science experts to provide their animals with the best possible care while providing consumers with safe food. The fact that legislation can come along and attempt to wipe our decades of science and education is preposterous."
Other organizations joining AFBF in raising serious concerns about the bill include the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the National Pork Producers Council, the National Chicken Council, the National Turkey Federation and the National Milk Producers Federation.
