Meatless Monday Campaign Flops

Chuck Zimmerman

This is no surprise to me. The Meatless Monday campaign doesn’t have the participation the organizers would like you to think they have. I have thought for some time that reports and effects of animal activists and their trendy sounding ideas are way over estimated. Thanks to the Animal Agriculture Alliance for doing this research! After weeks of investigation, the …

Ag Groups, Animal Activists, Animal Agriculture, Food, Meat

Myths Busted About Beef

Jamie Johansen

The Cattle Industry Summer Conference was more than committee and board meetings. Education was a key element to help arm attendees with facts and figures they can take home and use in everyday conversations with familiy, friends and complete strangers about beef. Chuck spoke with Dr. Jude Capper, Livestock Sustainablity Consultant, after she presented a talk on common myths about …

Animal Agriculture, Audio, Beef, Education, Livestock, NCBA

LMA Provides Animal Handling Expertise

Chuck Zimmerman

Animal handling is THE big priority issue for the Livestock Marketing Association. Members have Laura Marks, LMA Director of Animal Handling, as a great resource when it comes to this issue. Here at the 2013 LMA Annual Convention Laura conducted a workshop on this issue. I visited with her in between sessions to learn what she wanted members to know. …

Ag Groups, Animal Agriculture, Animal Health, Audio, LMA

Taking on Activists in the Courtroom

Jamie Johansen

Unfortunately, when dealing with the threat of activist groups it is hard to avoid the courtroom. During the Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit we heard from those who have seen first hand the legal ramifications of activist tactics. John Simpson, partner at Fulbright and Jaworski LLP, shared how he fought back for his client for 13 years and tips for …

Animal Activists, Animal Agriculture, Audio

Uniting Partners With One Voice

Jamie Johansen

Partnerships are what the Animal Agriculture Alliance is based on. These partnerships unite the agriculture community, creating one voice. Instead of ‘preaching to the choir,’ attendees at the Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit, heard from outside voices and some challenges were presented that made us all think about how we can join together and address them. I spoke with Chase …

Animal Agriculture, Audio, Beef, Food, NCBA

A Personal Story of Lessons Learned

Jamie Johansen

The past can’t be changed, but we can learn from it. That’s what economist, public speaker, farm girl, wife and mom, Janet Hufnagel Thompson, stressed with her message to attendees at the Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit. The event focused on how we can protect our animals, our farms, the food we eat and the confidence of consumers. Janet shared …

Animal Agriculture, Audio, Beef, Food, NCBA, NPPC

The Glass Walls Project

Jamie Johansen

Speaker after speaker during the Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit reminded us that transparency is no longer an option for the livestock industry. To prove that the agriculture community has nothing to hide, groups have opened their doors to share how your food is made. Senior Vice President for Public Affairs & Professional Development at the American Meat Institute, Janet …

Animal Agriculture, Audio, Beef, Food, NCBA, NPPC, Pork

Protecting Farms & Promoting Animal Care

Jamie Johansen

Protecting animals, farms, food and consumer confidence was the theme during the Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit. More and more states are taking legislative matters when it comes to protecting farmers. And that was a hot topic addressed during the recent event held in Arlington, Virginia. Joe Miller, General Counsel for Rose Acre Farms, spoke to attendees on farm protection …

Animal Agriculture, Audio

Communicating Throughout the Food Chain

Jamie Johansen

The Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit brought together people from across the agriculture community to discuss issues our industry is facing. Communicating with our consumers seems to be one of the most important things we need to focus on. Dallas Hockman, Vice President of Industry Relations for the National Pork Producers Council, spoke to attendees about the value of communications …

Animal Agriculture, Audio, Food, NPPC, Pork

Recap From Animal Ag Alliance Stakeholders Summit

Jamie Johansen

The 12th Annual Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit is a wrap. Each year staff and board members try to bring topics that are hot to the table for experts to share their insights into what the agriculture industry is facing. This year the theme was focused on animal activists and ways we can protect our animals, farms and food but …

Animal Activists, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Food, Meat, NCBA, NPPC