Animal Activists Are Targeting Iowa Right Now: 5 Things Pig Farmers Should Do
I’ll never forget listening to Andy Curliss at the Iowa Pork Congress in 2020, not long before the COVID-19 pandemic began. I had just been called a POS publicly by an animal activist (look that up in the Urban Dictionary if you aren’t sure what I’m talking about!). It’s not the first time and it won’t be the last time that I’ll be attacked for supporting modern animal agriculture, but I won’t deny the ludicrous comments got my blood boiling a bit.
That’s why Curliss’ message made such an impact. He reminded me that it’s understandable to get angry, to get upset and to want to lash back out. But that’s what activists want us to do. We can’t give them that satisfaction.
“Remember, we’re the good guys. We have to behave like the good guys and ladies,” Curliss said. “And it's important that we deal with those types of attacks dispassionately, factually.”
If you do encounter an activist on your farm or at an event, the best thing to do is keep your cool and avoid confrontation.
“Do not interact with them besides notifying them if they are trespassing. There is nothing to gain by talking with them or attempting to answer questions – they are not coming from a place of good faith and are not actually interested in information. They are most likely livestreaming or recording you and want to see you get frustrated. Stay calm and notify law enforcement – do not give them any material to work with,” urges Hannah Thompson-Weeman, vice president of strategic engagement with the Animal Agriculture Alliance.
Animal rights extremists have declared they will be active in Iowa through the end of the month. It’s no surprise they are ramping up their activity. Some blame it on the Nolan DeWall case. Others blame it on the court decisions in Iowa this week. But it’s also hard to deny the timing surrounding one of the country’s largest pork trade shows, the Iowa Pork Congress, set for Jan. 26-27 in Des Moines, Iowa.
We may not understand the “why,” but the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) urges pig farmers to be prepared and on the lookout.
I don’t know about you, but sometimes it feels like there are so many things we shouldn’t do when it comes to dealing with animal activists. Don’t get provoked. Don’t be easily angered. Don’t engage. Don’t confront. But what can we do?
1. We can be alert and vigilant about protecting who we allow farm access to.
Animal activists have proven time and again that they will misrepresent themselves in order to gain barn access. There are proven incidents when they say they work for packers, nutrition groups, animal health groups and sustainability researchers.
“I know that’s not the way Midwesterners typically treat strangers, but certainly this is a time to be vigilant as these extremists want to destroy all animal agriculture,” said Dal Grooms, IPPA director of communications. “In that vigilance, it means they will likely need to put their ‘Iowa nice’ in their back pockets as we’ve asked them to tell people they do not know who come onto their property to leave.”
2. We can report suspicious activity to local law enforcement.
If you notice something is not right on the farm or you see evidence of a break-in, report it immediately. Stay calm and contact your supervisor. Then, check for cameras. However, don’t remove them or touch them. Keep in mind that today’s cameras are very small. Activists are getting better at mounting cameras along with hotspots so they can stream footage to a cloud storage system.
“It is natural for a farmer to feel violated that someone illegally entered his buildings or tampered with his property. If you are the victim of a break-in, avoid the temptation to immediately start picking things up or rummaging through items to determine what was damaged or stolen,” says John Sancenito, president of INA, a risk management and security consulting business.
3. We can put even more thought into hiring decisions.
Employees are one of the biggest vulnerabilities in animal agriculture, Thompson-Weeman says. It’s important to ask the right questions, contact references and do the research needed to make sure we know who we are hiring.
“Look for red flags,” Thompson-Weeman says. “Is your candidate overeducated or inappropriately educated for the job they are applying for? Does their license and other information contrast with the background they’ve shared with you or their past work history? If something doesn’t feel right, explore it further. Going the extra mile during the hiring process could make all the difference.”
4. We can protect our farms online, too.
Make sure you claim your farm’s name on every web and social media channel available, even if you do not plan on using them, encourages Thompson-Weeman. If you don’t own these properties, someone can easily come along and pretend to be you, either to mock you or mislead any followers trying to connect with your farm.
“Have a comment policy,” she adds. “If you have a blog or social media platform that allows comments, make sure you have a published policy for what types of comments are encouraged and which will be deleted (threats, harassment, inappropriate language). If you start to receive unacceptable comments, don’t hesitate to delete, block or ban and move on. Your online space is yours and you should feel empowered to keep it positive.”
5. We can continue to focus on animal care and people care.
Your top priority is to care for your animals and the wellbeing of employees, even in times of crisis.
“Being beyond reproach in terms of animal welfare and caring for the environment is not only the right thing to do, but it is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself from activist issues,” Thompson-Weeman said. “Employee morale is also critical, especially during a crisis situation.”
Read More on Farm Security and Animal Activists:
Crime on the Farm: How to Stay Calm When You Aren’t
What Should You Do If Someone Breaks Into Your Farm?
