In 2006, Arizona became a battleground as animal rights groups and livestock agriculture faced off. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Farm Sanctuary and several other national groups threw almost 1.8 million dollars into Arizona to win an initiative that Jim Klinker, Administrator of the Arizona Farm Bureau Federation says basically bans some of the scientifically tested methods used in animal raising as it relates to hogs and veal.

In an interview with Brownfield Ag News this week, Klinker explained that the state did have one large grower who used gestation stalls. "That was their target. We have a small agricultural community in Arizona, but we decided we would fight those national groups on animal rights and see what we could do. We mounted a campaign. National ag organizations for grains and livestock stepped up to help as did county and state Farm Bureau organizations and American Farm Bureau Federation."

Altogether, the pro-agriculture campaign raised about 1.3 million dollars which was used to educate the public.

The lines were drawn in 2006 when animal rights groups accused Arizonans involved in animal agriculture of treating animals inhumanely. Animal rights groups said the science does not measure up. The American Veterinary Medical Association said individual stalls for pigs are safe and in some cases safer than group pens. The water stays cleaner, the feed stays cleaner, the predator problems are less and the fighting is less.

"Science is on our side but the public is far removed from agriculture," said Klinker. "The public doesn't understand modern livestock production. They don't understand that we need technology to stay competitive. Farmers treat their animals well. They treat their animals humanely, using temperature control, waste control, feed and water cleanliness. They are given the best treatment you can give an animal. The technology is proven and scientifically sound."

Lesson learned. Listen up, Illinois! Jim Klinker's words should be heeded. He tells us that emotion is central to this issue. American consumers must be educated.

"The public must be informed as to where and how the food is produced. If it is not produced here, it will be produced in some other country and shipped in here, and I do not think the American consumer really wants that to happen."

With every dark cloud comes a silver lining. Klinker said that although animal agriculture and science lost in Arizona, the agriculture industry did wake up and pay attention to the danger posed by the animal extremist movement.

"There is a silver lining. We won because we woke up the agricultural industry in this country. Not just the livestock segment, but grain production as well, because we are all connected. We had better get motivated and mobilized to tell the public the story at every level of agriculture. At the local level, work with local humane societies and animal groups. Show them what is happening on your farm. Show them at the state and national level. Learn to talk about these issues. Work together."

"The agenda is not the gestation stall. The agenda is not veal crates. The agenda is not how we raise our chickens. The agenda is no meat. That is the agenda of HSUS. It supports a vegetarian diet. It will be a long battle."

We must address this issue at the grassroots level. Are you going to sit back and watch from the sidelines or will you get involved? If we each reach out and educate just one or two consumers, we will make a difference.