Jamison explains that farmers must be out front; today the industry has little legitimacy.  “It has to be the farmers who deal with activist attacks because the industry has no credibility on the issue,” Jamison says.  He recommends using messages such as this example, with key words highlighted here for emphasis:

“Consumers trust us to bring animals from farm to family:  We farmers take that sacred trust very seriously.”

Jamison says we must ”re-consecrate the act of using animals” to disarm opponent arguments that animals are a mere commodity.  How should agriculture do that?  By re-framing the view of animal agriculture around respect and thankfulness, Jamison says.  Here’s an example of that sort of message:

“We acknowledge the sacrifice that animals make for us.  We treat them with respect and thankfulness.  Animal agriculture provides national food security and a way for our children to go to college.”

Jamison suggests that industry try new communications approaches.  For example, creating “I love meat”  T-shirts for fraternity members to wear on college campuses would beat activists at their own game.  Another example:  Propose “Vegetable Free Fridays” in response to Meatless Mondays.

Jamison says the key is to reframe the discussion to position meat eaters as “normal” and position opponents as “kooks.”

Jamison says one of the ways that HSUS is so successful in attacking animal agriculture is because it uses very effective communications techniques to get people to think differently about their food. Using religious themes to gain funding and political support is at their heart of their effort.

Here’s how the HSUS faith-based communications approach works:

Step 1 — Target pet owners and use their feelings about companion animals to undermine animal agriculture. People who love their cat or dog are made to feel bad about having one animal as a “family member” while eating other animals. In other words, people are encouraged to view production agriculture animals in the same way they view their pets.

Step 2 — Tell pet owners that eating animals is cruel and morally wrong.

Step 3 — Make people feel guilty for using animals as food.

Step 4 — Don’t ask people to change and actually stop eating meat. Instead ask them to “help stop/reduce the suffering” by contributing money or giving political support to HSUS.

You can read more about how the HSUS is using religion as a rallying point by clicking here to visit the HSUS “Faith Outreach” Web site.

Check back over the next few days for some YouTube videos showing how popular preachers who reach millions of consumers are talking about animal agriculture.

A recent article by the Dayton Daily news seems to indicate that not all livestock producers there are comfortable with the compromise. According to the article, some farmers are now considering egg and hog farm locations just over Ohio’s borders in Indiana and Pennsylvania. Those states and many others don’t allow citizens to place animal welfare and other issues on the ballot for voters to decide.

To read the entire article please click here.

Please Join Us!
Saturday, July 24 – 6:00 p.m.
Pillar in the Valley – Philadelphia Room
229 Chesterfield Business Parkway
Chesterfield, MO 63005-1241

Speakers:
Kerry Messer, President, Missouri Family Network
Chris Chinn, Missouri Farmer, owner of Chinn Hog Farm
Karen Strange, President, Missouri Federation of Animal Owners

Please R.S.V.P and let us know how many guests are in your party to:
Mindy Patterson
636/778-0777
Email: missourifac@yahoo.com

Child care is not available.

An Ohio grand jury decided not to press charges against the dairy owner after an investigation cleared him of wrongdoing. However, the employee who allegedly abused animals was fired by the dairy, and he faces a number of charges.

Undercover video is one of the ways that Missouri beef producers face challenges from animal rights extremists. For the vast majority of operators who care for their animals properly, there is nothing to hide. But even slapping a cow’s hind end to get it to move can look bad on tape, and producers don’t need fake employees sneaking around with a camera instead of doing actual work.

According to the Columbus Post Dispatch, Union County (Ohio) Prosecutor David Phillips said threats of violence and murder made by animal-rights activists against the dairy owner are still under review and information may be forwarded to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for possible charges under the federal Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act.

According to the Columbus Dispatch, “A deal to implement eight farm-animal care reform issues means Ohioans will not see a state constitutional proposal on the fall ballot.”

A press conference with the Ohio governor was attended by Ohio Farm Bureau Executive Vice President Jack Fisher, who said in a release. “It allows Ohio farmers to continue producing safe, local, affordable food for Ohio consumers.” Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States, also appeared with the governor at the press conference.

The deal means HSUS will not file a petition to get animal care reform on the November 2010 ballot.

To read the whole store please click here.

Learn how the animal rights movement affects your personal property rights, your right to own pets and livestock, and how it poses a threat to our U.S. economy and food supply.

Please Join Us!
Saturday, July 24 – 6:00 p.m.
Pillar in the Valley – Philadelphia Room
229 Chesterfield Business Parkway
Chesterfield, MO 63005-1241

Speakers:
Kerry Messer, President, Missouri Family Network
Chris Chinn, Missouri Farmer, owner of Chinn Hog Farm
Karen Strange, President, Missouri Federation of Animal Owners

Please R.S.V.P and let us know how many guests are in your party to:
Mindy Patterson
636/778-0777
Email: missourifac@yahoo.com

Child care is not available.

See for yourself and pass along the good news in this great video from the Animal Agriculture Alliance: