Statement on Egg Industry Agreement

July 7, 2011 - The Alliance is concerned about the implications that today's agreement between the American egg industry and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) will have on other segments of agriculture, but further analysis is needed to fully understand and predict its potential impact.

Legislation at any level is unnecessary as a means to ensure farm animal treatment, as animal care is already a top priority for the majority of all farmers and ranchers. The national organizations representing farmers and ranchers of all major farm animal species have developed animal care guidelines based on years of research, science and experience to ensure the best care of their animals.

Burdensome legislation will add costs - not only to farmers and ranchers - but to consumers. This agreement does not outline the federal agency responsible for enforcement of the proposed new standards, but undoubtedly it would be impacted by USDA's ever-shrinking budget and our national budgetary problems.

Today, Americans enjoy a very plentiful, affordable domestic food supply- spending on average just 6.9 percent of our disposable incomes on food- but we must not take this security for granted. The Alliance will monitor the progress of the agreement and any resulting legislation and will speak out in the best interests of America's farmers, ranchers, and consumers.

Additional Viewpoints:

From Poultry Times editorial by Alliance Executive VP Kay Johnson Smith:

"Above all, always remember that the challenges today are not faced by a single state alone, nor a single industry. We must not forget -- or ignore -- that every sector of animal agriculture is intertwined. Actions made today may have far-reaching implications. Our industry's leaders must work in a unified fashion with other stakeholders to make the right collective decisions that will ensure the long-term goals of increasing food production, protecting the environment and improving animal well-being. We must remain united if we are to maintain our nation's ability to feed itself and the world."

Response from the National Pork Producers Council:

"Legislation pre-empting state laws on egg production systems would set a dangerous precedent for allowing the federal government to dictate how livestock and poultry producers raise and care for their animals. It would inject the federal government into the marketplace with no measureable benefit to public or animal health and welfare."

Response from the National Cattlemen's Beef Association:

"Cattlemen are rightfully concerned with the recent UEP-HSUS agreement to seek unprecedented federal legislation to mandate on-farm production standards. Cattlemen take very seriously the responsibility to care for their animals. Cattlemen support and actively participate in multiple voluntary, industry led initiatives aimed at ensuring the production of healthy cattle and, ultimately, the safest, highest quality and most nutritious beef. The U.S. beef industry is recognized as a worldwide leader for its proactive and responsible health and wellbeing programs.

More than two decades ago, long before agenda-driven, well-funded animal rights extremists started spreading fiction as fact, cattlemen adopted voluntary production practice guidelines. Unfortunately, these groups have repeatedly ignored the beef industry's many cattle care programs, including Beef Quality Assurance program and the Cattle Industry's Guidelines for the Care and Handling of Cattle. These programs set specific guidelines and provide hands-on training based on decades of practical experience, research and the most up-to-date science and education. They are updated regularly to ensure the use of the newest scientifically sound information and provide flexibility to meet the diversity of the industry."

About the Alliance:

The Animal Agriculture Alliance, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is a broad-based coalition of individual farmers and ranchers, producer organizations, veterinarians, scientists, suppliers, packer-processors, private industry and retailers. The Alliance's mission is to communicate the important role of animal agriculture to our nation's economy, productivity, vitality, security and that animal well-being is central to producing safe, high-quality, affordable food and other products essential to our daily lives.