Dangerous Precedence

It appears that Senate Ag Committee chair has backed off on incorporating “egg bill” language into the Senate Farm Bill markup, but as we all know appearances can be deceiving. It is very possible and highly probable that an amendment could be offered on the floor of the Senate that would shove that agreement right back in there. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Vice President of Government Affairs, Colin Woodall, says that the language of the “egg bill”, far from involving only the egg industry as the HSUS likes to argue, sets a dangerous precedence for all livestock producers. Indeed, allowing such language into the farm bill opens the door for the federal government to dictate farming practices based on biased information gleamed from special interest groups. Farmers and ranchers have been working with their local veterinarians, university researchers, and other animal health specialists for decades to develop the voluntary animal care practices and guidelines that are successfully used today. Other livestock producers aren’t against UEP’s setting standards for the egg industry; what they’re against is opening the door for future legislation that mandates animal care standards.