Six farmers have left a national advisory council the Humane
Society of the United States set up in May.
The chairman, Kevin Fulton, an organic rancher from
Nebraska, lasted only three months, but the organization waited another two
months before it told fellow council members that he had left.
The farmers who have left have told Meatingplace Magazine
that they learned the HSUS is not interested in humane treatment of livestock,
but is really determined to end livestock farming and wants Americans to adopt vegan diets.
The farmers apparently hoped they could persuade HSUS to be
reasonable in its demands for farming reforms.
HSUS led campaigns to ban sow gestation crates and caging
hens.
It combined pressure on major retailers with announcements
to news media when the retailers, such as restaurant chain McDonald’s, would
announce deadlines beyond which they would no longer buy pork or eggs from
suppliers if their farmers use gestation crates or hen cages.
Meatingplace Magazine recalled a warning when HSUS formed
the national advisory council and 11 more state-level councils:
“While today HSUS may be acting like
the ally of the producers on this council, the tides will no doubt turn as the
organization moves on to target other production methods — a lesson some brands
have learned in trying to appease it,” warned Animal Agriculture Alliance
President and
CEO Kay Johnson Smith in May.
