Michigan claims compromise was a win

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Last fall, Better Farming reported that the state of Ohio had fought off an attempt by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to curtail intensive pork and egg production, while Michigan producers caved in. Now it looks like the shoe may be on the other foot.  

The animal rights group is publicly campaigning to change the composition of an Ohio animal care standards board that favours agriculture. Ohio producers are likely to spend millions to fight it off.

Meanwhile, Michigan pork and poultry producers say it is business as usual until nearly 2020 with almost no cost to producers.

Mary Kelpinski, executive director of Michigan Pork Producers, says the compromise agreement with the animal rights group gave producers some input into the terms of arrangements to change how food animals are raised. "We understood it was to our benefit to sit down with (HSUS officials) and work out a compromise."

"We bought ourselves 10 years to watch how this shakes out nationally," says George House, executive director of Michigan Allied Poultry Industries Inc. "We positioned ourselves to wait it out and get (welfare practices) right the first time."

House expects poultry raising practices will change, but not as drastically as in California, where the HSUS influenced public opinion and strict animal welfare laws were adopted.

At the same time, the HSUS is being investigated under a lawsuit brought under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act  by Ringling Brothers Circus. HSUS "is getting too impressed with its own power," House says. BF