The Coming Storm: Animal Welfare Grops and Ballot Initiatives in Nebraska

There is no question that Nebraska’s animal agriculture industry is under attack by vegan and animal rights/welfare groups like PETA and HSUS. There is likely a coming storm that producers and anyone interested in the sustainability of the animal agriculture industry must be aware and ready for. These groups have obtained footholds in several states using ballot initiatives to put in legislation that dictates how and even where a producer can raise their livestock. It has been very costly to producers in these states and has even put many producers out of business. There is nobody who knows how to best take care of their animals than the Nebraska farmer/producer. We do not want our producers in Nebraska to succumb to the same pressure and legislation without at least people knowing what could be coming down the pike, and being educated on what these initiatives are and what they could do to our animal agriculture industry. Nebraska and in particular, Nebraska agriculture, needs to be ahead of the game. Probably no segment of the animal agriculture industry has been hit harder with these initiatives than the poultry industry, but all other livestock industries face the same scrutiny and challenges. The Nebraska Poultry Industries convention is being held on February 23-24 at the new World Inn in Columbus, NE. They have invited a nationally known speaker, Dr. Wes Jamison, Associate Professor of Communications - Palm Beach Atlantic University, on this topic. He is well versed in all segments of animal agriculture, animal welfare and ballot initiatives. Because they feel this is so important of an issue to all Nebraskans engaged in livestock/poultry production, the Nebraska Poultry Industries have invited and encouraged interested parties to attend. They do know however, that it won’t be feasible or possible for many to come, so they have teamed up with the Nebraska Soybean Board to give the opportunity for interested producers and other people to view the presentation via Webinar at selected sites throughout Nebraska with no charge. One of the sites will be in Hastings at the Adams County Fairgrounds. Any interested party is welcome to come for the Webinar which is on Wednesday, February 23. The program starts at 2:00 pm and should end about 3:00. The meeting room will be in the northwest corner of the exhibit hall. If you cannot attend the Webinar but are interested in listening in, you can join the presentation, audio only, by calling a toll-free number (408) 600-3600 and use the access code: 803 525 401. As a further service to our livestock producers, the presentation will be recorded and archived for later viewing at the leisure of the interested person. Please contact Joline Gordon at the UNL Nebraska Poultry Industries at (402) 472-2051 or email her at jgordon3@unl.edu, or contact the individuals or extension offices below for more information on how to access that information. For more information, please contact Beth Maricle at the Adams County UNL Extension office. She can be reached at (402) 461-7209 or via email at emaricle2@unl.edu. You can also contact Dewey Lienemann at Webster County UNL Extension at (402) 746-3417 or email at dlienemann2@unl.edu . Dr. Jamison’s WEBEX presentation is brought to you by the support of the University of Nebraska Extension and the Nebraska Soybean Board promoting Nebraska’s livestock industries.