Industry Update Nebraska Livestock Coalition Responds to Launch of HSUS National Agriculture Advisory Council

By: We Support Agriculture (WSA)

On Friday, May 6th, 2016, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) announced the formation of a National Agriculture Advisory Council which would “advise the organization on national agriculture issues.”

Members of We Support Agriculture, a livestock coalition comprised of Nebraska animal agriculture organizations, encouraged everyone to take a closer look at the history of HSUS and understand the consequences of the organization’s actual agenda.

“HSUS is not interested in enhancing animal welfare. It’s a Washington D.C.-based interest group led by a vegan animal rights activist,” according to Ansley Mick, Executive Director. “The group raises money under the auspices of helping local animal shelters, while the true objective is much more extreme.”

“I would encourage livestock growers – and meat-eaters for that matter – to take a closer look at HSUS, an organization which encourages “eating with a conscience” by replacing meat and other animal-based foods with plantbased foods,” said Pete McClymont, President of the Nebraska Cattlemen and WSA Board President. “The activists pushing these extreme agendas aren’t interested in working with our farmers and ranchers; they’re trying to put them out of business.”

“We work with experts and veterinarians to ensure modern animal agriculture practices are humane and sustainable,” said Al Juhnke, President of the Nebraska Pork Producers Association. “Family farmers and ranchers are tired of HSUS and other fringe animal rights organizations being touted as animal welfare experts.”

We Support Agriculture (WSA), a coalition comprised of the Nebraska Cattlemen Association, Nebraska State Dairy Association, Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation, Nebraska Pork Producers Association, and Nebraska Poultry Industries, Inc., represents livestock producers who recognize their obligation to provide for the well-being of their animals and to raise them in a humane and compassionate manner.

The coalition continues to work to bring transparency to entities with agendas which ignore science and threaten farm families, global consumers, our way of life, and Nebraska’s economy.