Latest News From Hogs Animal Welfare

One of the common ways farms are targeted is by unknowingly giving an animal rights extremist access via employment. Don’t wait for a crisis to arise before you act. Here’s what should be on your 2024 hiring checklist.

Animal Agriculture Alliance releases reports from 2023 animal rights conferences. Food chain urged to prepare for activism in 2024 including "open rescue," legislative campaigns and pressure to drop meat from menus.

Animal activist Wayne Hsiung was found guilty of one felony and two misdemeanor charges after nearly a week of deliberations before a Sonoma County jury for his role in "open rescues" on two farms.

“We most abolish animal ag to prevent the next pandemic.” While animal rights supporters make up a small percentage, they are loud and can mislead consumers with messages like this. Here's the 2023 activist roundup.

Everyone knows communication is key to animal agriculture's future success. That's why the Animal Agriculture Alliance and National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) are teaming up.

Do you know what the Top 5 targeted states are for animal rights activists? The answer may surprise you.

Undercover video campaigns, staging protests at grocery stores and posting graphic content on social media are common activist tactics, but here's a look at a recent trend of court cases – and unfortunately, “wins."

As I approached the site of my first animal activist rally, I kept my distance. I watched two people beside a small megaphone and a bag, checking their phones constantly. I leaned in anticipating what would happen next.

A small (but loud) group of animal rights extremists and vegan activists are working hard to eliminate choice. They are doing so by applying intense pressure to restaurant, retail and foodservice brands. Here's how.

Farmers typically focus on biosecurity protocols on the farm, but don't forget some threats come from outside the farm. Animal rights extremists continue to attempt to gain access to farms by any means necessary.

Here’s three key claims and takeaways from this year’s animal rights extremist conferences and how they plan to turn consumers away from meat, poultry and dairy products.

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker on Tuesday announced proposed legislation aimed at ending line-speed increases and “meatpacker self-inspection programs.”

From zebrafish to chickens to boars, students on the University of Illinois animal welfare judging team learn to evaluate living conditions for a wide range of animal species.

“If California were to win this Supreme Court case, there’s nothing stopping the state from saying, for example, you can only sell corn in California if it’s harvested with an electric combine,” says Dillard.

If you want to disrupt a government, disrupt the food supply. "Ag is critical infrastructure," says Andrew Rose, strategic advisor. “Three weeks without food and agriculture, and it’s over.”

Stable flies and other blood-feeding pests take a $2.2 billion bite out of agriculture. A team of researchers is finding a new way to fight back...with a coconut.

Grocery stores have become a battleground for extremists pressuring retailers to remove meat, milk, poultry and eggs from shelves. Recent trends have shown an uptick in store protests, demonstrations and food tampering.

If we, who believe animal-derived proteins are good for people, do not share animal agriculture’s story, those who wish to diminish or eliminate animal agriculture from the food system will lead the conversation.

Consumers are interested in how animal agriculture affects health and wellness, environmental stewardship, animal welfare and worker safety. Now is the time for a more robust and meaningful conversation.

The European Commission wants to tighten EU rules on pollution from industry, taking aim at intensive livestock farming and the extraction of minerals including lithium, according to a draft document seen by Reuters.

The Animal Agriculture Alliance board of directors announced the organization’s new president and CEO.

Although activism and activist activity certainly pose a reputational concern, biosecurity is one of the key drivers behind the importance of implementing farm security measures. 

Activist investors including Carl Icahn say a U.S. proposal that would require them to disclose 5% stakes in companies days sooner than current rules could make it unprofitable for them to build successful campaigns.

A Transylvania County jury found animal activist Wayne Hsiung, who was arrested in 2018 for allegedly stealing a goat, guilty on Dec. 6 of felony larceny after a breaking and entering and felony breaking and entering. 

While some animal rights activist organizations rely on tactics like undercover video campaigns where individuals misrepresent themselves to get hired on farms or plants, others are much more brazen in their approach.

The Animal Agriculture Alliance's 2022 Stakeholders Summit is set for May 11 -12 in Kansas City, Mo. The theme is "Come Together for Animal Ag: Be Informed, Be Ready, Be Here."

Animal rights extremist organizations are known for attempting to take advantage of unfortunate situations. That means farmers need to think about potential activism while coming up with crisis plans. 

“Every morsel of meat we eat is slapping the tear-stained face of a hungry child.” Hannah Thompson-Weeman shares remarkable quotes from 2021 activist conferences to demonstrate what animal ag is up against.

The U.S. agriculture community tends to be proud of our role in providing families around the world with safe, affordable and nutritious food. And we have reason to be. However, not everyone shares that same sentiment.

Is Petition 13 out of Oregon as ridiculous as it sounds? Hannah Thompson-Weeman, vice president for strategic engagement at the Animal Agriculture Alliance, weighs in on Petition 13, the PAUSE Act and Prop 12.

The Supreme Court has denied a petition to review California’s Proposition 12, which requires the sale of meat products in California to conform with the state’s animal housing standards.

With so much conversation around sustainable nutrition and some voices calling for everyone to ditch meat to save the planet, we all need to get more comfortable communicating about nutrition. 

Being the victim of a crime can be a traumatic experience. Whether it’s a break-in at your farm or an animal activist trespassing on your property, John Sancenito says how you respond can make all the difference. 

As a former police detective and terrorism expert, John Sancenito understands that it’s hard for people, especially farmers who have the tendency to be self-reliant, to involve the police when a break-in occurs.

While in-person events have a long list of benefits, there is one downside – they allow animal rights activist organizations to attempt to gain attention for their cause by holding “disruptions” and protests.

The governments of nearly half the U.S. states are in agreement of the North American Meat Institute’s petition challenging the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 12.

Attempting to use the legislative process to make things more difficult for animal agriculture is far from a new tactic for animal rights activist organizations, but things seem to be heating up in this area. 

The author of bestselling book ‘Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?’ Timothy Caulfield is set to provide keynote at the Animal Agriculture Alliance's 2021 Virtual Stakeholders Summit.

If you notice something is not right on the farm or you see evidence of a break-in, it’s time to activate your plan to protect your farm. 

Preparation is the best defense, especially when it comes to an animal activist attack. Although no one wants to imagine an animal activist infiltrating their farm, having a plan in place is a wise practice. 

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rejected the Meat Institute’s challenge to California’s 2018 ballot initiative that imposes new standards for animal housing.

As much as 2020 has shown us being flexible is just as valuable as having plans, I still believe there is merit to taking a moment to reflect on some of the trends we’ve seen and how they may impact us moving forward.

Animal agriculture was once again a major focus for animal rights activists at the 2020 Taking Action for Animals Conference. Hannah Thompson-Weeman reports on key thoughts shared at the virtual event.

“A movement like ours is the beginning of the end of animal agriculture,” said Miyoko Schinner of Miyokos Vegan Creamery at a conference this summer. Hannah Thompson-Weeman shares what animal ag is up against.

Many animal activists have taken the current circumstances and lack of public events as an opportunity to ramp up their online efforts, including ones targeting 4-H and FFA. Here's how to help mitigate their influence.

While not surprising, it is infuriating to see various animal rights activist organizations attempt to take advantage of public fears surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic for their own gain, says Hannah Thompson-Weeman.

Every time a celebrity or brand comes out with an announcement we don’t agree with, it can send us running for our keyboards to type out a rant. Is this helping build bridges or making the walls even taller?

The crossroads of stewardship and welfare

It’s important for all of us in animal agriculture and meat production to make sure we are not adding to the hype of these plant-based products by disparaging them as a food choice, says Hannah Thompson-Weeman.

Sometimes you need to hear it direct from the source, says Hannah Thompson-Weeman of the Animal Agriculture Alliance. Here's a list of outlandish and startling statements from the 2019 Animal Rights National Conference.