The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) weighed in on a proposed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rule that would establish a process for what the FAA calls fixed-site facilities to petition for restrictions on the use of unmanned aircraft – drones – in airspace around such critical infrastructure.
NPPC points out that the regulation is a “necessary and overdue step toward protecting critical infrastructure, safeguarding the nation’s food supply, defending farm biosecurity,” and ensuring the responsible use of drones.
The comments submitted by NPPC focus on farm biosecurity, worker safety, operational and physical security threats that low-altitude drone activity poses to pork operations and on the demonstrated record of activist organizations that target hog farms.
“Strengthening protections around eligible agricultural facilities will enhance farm and food security, protect the swine herd from biosecurity threats, safeguard the men and women who work on America’s hog farms, and reinforce the resilience of the nation’s food supply – all while preserving responsible access to the benefits of unmanned aircraft technology,” NPPC writes.
NPPC strongly supports the FAA’s proposed rule to expressly allow livestock and poultry farms, feed operations, and meat and poultry processing facilities to restrict unauthorized drone use around their operations and to establish penalties for intrusions.
“Animal rights activists have targeted swine and other livestock farms for decades,” NPPC says. “Given the documented pattern of activist organizations physically intruding on, surveilling, and damaging animal agriculture facilities, producers are concerned that unauthorized drones will be used against their farms, jeopardizing animals, workers, and the safety of the food supply.”
