Election Wrap-Up n How Will Wisconsin’s Pork Industry Be Affected?

By Tammy Vaassen
Thursday, November 13, 2008 12:47 PM CST

Election Day 2008 will certainly go down in American history as one for the records. No matter what issue(s) you stand for when you cast your ballot, your ability to have the right to vote is one that we all need to be thankful for. While I’m certainly glad that the ads are over and the decision has been made, I enjoyed the process more this year than ever before. From local candidate or Presidential debates, the issues were many. It was also interesting for me to hear and watch my children make their decisions, show interest in the process, and learn more about our rights in the United States.

So, how will the many changes that will take place in our state and national leadership affect the Wisconsin pork industry? Only time will tell how it will all shake out. You can be certain, however, that the Wisconsin Pork Association (WPA) and National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) will be involved on your behalf in decisions being made that could potentially change the way you do business on your farm.

New leadership will require all of us to get more involved on a grassroots level with our elected officials. There are many opportunities to do just that, and many times takes very little investment of your time. Through e-mail, phone calls, or personal visits, it is important for you to take the time to educate your legislator about our industry and your business. Take advantage of Congressional representative visits to your area. If you’re not sure who your legislators are, or if you’re looking to get in touch with them, go to the WPA website at http://www.wppa.org. Click on Public Policy and select “Contact My Representative.” This will provide you access to webpages, e-mails, and phone numbers for State Senators, State Assembly, and Wisconsin Congressional members.

WPA has the good fortune of working with the very qualified staff of DeWitt, Ross, & Stevens in Madison. Ron Kuehn, Jordan Lamb, and Matt Moroney of the DeWitt staff provide excellent leadership, direction and oversight of the state legislative and rules processes. In addition, Mike Wehler of Plain continues to work on behalf of pork producers to ensure pork producer voices are being heard on the state and national levels. Pork producer support through membership in the Wisconsin Pork Association, as well as producer contributions to the NPPC Strategic Investment Program, make all of this work possible. As we move towards the end of the year, we ask for your continued investment into your industry to make these activities happen.

There was no doubt great attention being paid to the results of the California vote on Proposition 2, a ballot initiative that passed by a 63 to 36 vote in favor of requiring that all farm animals “for all or the majority of any day” not be confined in a way that prevents it from lying down, standing up, turning around or extending its limbs without touching another animal or an enclosure such as a cage or stall. Those requirements target battery caged layers, stalled sows in gestation, and stalled veal calves. The requirements become effective in 2015. The law carries criminal penalties including fines and jail terms for violators.

The American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians recognize both gestation stalls and group housing systems as appropriate for providing for the well being of sows during pregnancy. The groups also point out that the key factor that most affects animal well-being is husbandry skills n that is the care given to each animal by pork producers.

Proposition 2, like its predecessors in Florida and Arizona that also banned gestation stall use, was supported by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and Farm Sanctuary. It is likely that these groups will take their effort to other states that have ballot initiative provisions.

It is worthy to note that HSUS is not the organization that runs local animal shelters and helps with spaying and neutering of pets. That is the Society for the Preventions of Cruelty to Animals or SPCA in most communities. Many consumers are confused by the “Humane Society” title, and contribute funds to HSUS thinking their contribution will help with finding homes for pets at local animal shelters. HSUS’s mission and goals are far from that, and they will continue to target animal agriculture in the future.

While Wisconsin is not a state where a ballot initiative becomes law, WPA is concerned about what the next step and/or state will be the focus for HSUS. According to Bryan Black, president of the National Pork Producers Council, “California often is a bellwether, so it’s likely this ban will be pushed in other states. We certainly don’t expect the Humane Society to stop with California.”

With the opening of an HSUS office and hiring of HSUS staff in Wisconsin, we’ll all need to stay on our toes when it comes to reviewing proposals being brought forth to our legislators.

Our very best wishes to everyone for completion of a safe, and hopefully bin-filling, harvest.

Comments »

Comment on this story

Comments will be approved within 48 hours

Name:

Email: (optional)

Comments:

Image Verification: (Case sensitive)