Farmers vs. Activists: Agriculture rallied against activism in 2024

The entire ag industry is feeling pressure from activists determined to attack animal agriculture. Bryan Humphreys with the National Pork Producers Council says that despite the pushback, they are proud of how the industry responds:

“In Sonoma County, California, it was all livestock; any medium CAFOs and larger that were going to be banned. In Denver, it was to stop any slaughter facilities inside Denver, and there is only one. It is a lamb processing facility, Superior Meats. The interesting part here, the heartwarming part, is that all of agriculture came together and helped fight these initiatives. The folks on the ground ran the campaigns, and the other organizations helped contribute money and resources as appropriate to help fend these off, and so, agriculture came together in a strong way.”
Bryan Humphreys, National Pork Producers Council

Lawmakers have argued anti-agriculture activism not only harms local economies, but also damages the global food system.

Related Stories
“This is one way that cattle producers can make sure they have a serious voice in promoting and defending their own product in the marketplace...”
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced her five-point comprehensive strategy to fight High-Path Avian Flu (HPAI) on Wednesday in an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

U.S. trade talks with China resume, but meat industry leaders say dealing with shifting demand and market uncertainty is nothing new in this side of the ag sector.
Tariffs are pushing up input costs, with fertilizer prices rising $100 per ton and machinery costs climbing due to steel and parts duties.
Year-round sales of E-15 are another major topic on Capitol Hill, which, according to Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE), is one issue up for debate this session with significant bipartisan support.
Lawmakers have until September 30 to shore up federal spending for next year, or risk a government shutdown. The Farm Bill is also set to expire the same day.
American Soybean Association President Caleb Ragland joins us to share his reaction to September’s WASDE and discuss the trade uncertainty between China and his industry.
Agriculture Shows
Special 3-part series tells the story of the Claas family’s legacy, which changed agriculture forever.
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Champions of Rural America is a half-hour dive into the legislative priorities for Rural America. Join us as we interview members of the Congressional Western Caucus to learn about efforts in Washington to preserve agriculture and tackles the most important topics in the ag industry on Champions of Rural America!
Featuring members of Congress, federal and state officials, ag and food leaders, farmers, and roundtable panelists for debates and discussions.