By Maggie McCarty, communications intern, Animal Agriculture Alliance 

With animal rights activists creating new ways to satisfy their agenda, it can be hard to stay on top of the movement. The Animal Agriculture Alliance sends attendees to national conferences to help farmers get a leg up on protecting themselves against harmful actions by activists. Here are some takeaways to remember from this year’s National Animal Rights Conference. 

Breaking the law: Animal rights activists were told that “breaking the law can often be a good thing to do” in the pursuit of their agenda. With farm protection laws being challenged throughout the country, farmers have reason to be concerned over the bold actions of activists.  

However, having a thorough screening process for job applicants and farm visitors can help protect producers from the threat of an activist trespasser. Additionally, on-farm security measures, such as locks on doors and gates, good lighting and motion detectors in and around the plant, and high fences surrounding the area can be taken to help keep trespassers out. 

College students: Another key focus of activists this year is influencing young individuals at an impressionable age, such as college students. Activist groups like PETA and Mercy for Animals have instituted tactics to target college students, and even recruit them to become ambassadors for the movement. Therefore, education to customers about the benefits of animal products in a healthy diet is always important for those advocating in the agriculture industry. 

Rights over welfare: Activists have made it clear that animal rights, not welfare, is the goal, stating that “it’s the beginning of the end of animal welfare and the beginning of civil rights for animals.” With activist groups still pressuring restaurants and retailers into meeting animal welfare demands, more emphasis is being put on animal rights and veganism. This was made clear through the encouragement of attendees to halt use of the term “factory farming” in order to suggest that all farms should be included in animal rights targeting, regardless of size.   

Activist groups are seeking to end all forms of animal agriculture. The Animal Agriculture Alliance works to be a communication resource for agriculture and stay on top of these issues so farmers can continue providing for the world. We work closely to connect industry stakeholders, including Edge, and arm them with information on emerging issues.