Farmer & Ranchers Fighting Back

Farmer & Ranchers Fighting Back

Farmer and Ranchers Fighting Back. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. Farmers and ranchers throughout the country were horrified by an undercover video showing dairy cows being abused. Mace Thornton of the American Farm Bureau Federation says there's just no excuse for that kind of behavior. Thornton: As the nation's largest farm organization, we really feel it's important to condemn the actions of cruelty against animals in that video and we know that at least one farm worker that was involved has been charged with 12 counts of animal cruelty. And Thornton says that's certainly the way it should be. Anyone doing such violent acts should be prosecuted. Thornton: America's farmers and ranchers will not stand for cruelty of any kind against farm animals. As a community we have to continue to be vigilant to stop those few people who are giving animal agriculture a bad name. We believe very strongly at the American Farm Bureau that as members of the agricultural community there comes a responsibility, a responsibility to put a halt to any kind of animal abuse as soon as you know about it. That might be contacting members of the local law enforcement community, expressing the concerns and asking them to step in appropriately. And he hopes the general public won't hold the actions of a few sick people against everyone in agriculture. Thornton: Any time there is a highly visible incidentit's very easy for critics of agriculture o paint the industry with a broad brush. Of course we know that that is far from the truth. We know that farmers and ranchers across this country care about the animals that they have on their farms and ranches. He talks about the reaction of farmers and ranchers to the release of an undercover video showing animal abuse. Thornton: Farmers and ranchers understand the ethical and moral responsibilities that they have to take care of the farm animals that are in their care. They take that job very seriously and when they see these kinds of violent behaviors against farm animals, it's really troubling to them. Thornton says the authorities should throw the book at anyone who abuses animals. Thornton: We believe law enforcement should really look hard at pursuing the maximum penalties for the people who were responsible for these heinous acts of animal cruelty. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.
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