We kick off National Farm – City Week with a live broadcast from Indianapolis focusing on challenges for the livestock industry. Watch live at 10:06 a.m. Central.

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This past week I had the pleasure of emceeing the joint annual meeting of the National Dairy Promotion Board, National Milk Producers Federation and the United Dairy Industry Association in Grapevine, Texas. Given the economic crisis the dairy industry is in, I wasn’t sure what the mood of the attendees would be. I guess I would describe it as concerned but guardedly optimistic. There was no denying the level of concern among the more than 900 in attendance and during question and answer sessions the pain and frustration was evident. However an improved price outlook, government assistance and growing demand both domestically and globally, offer hope to those able to withstand the current slump. I came away from the meeting impressed with the industry’s efforts to help itself through these hard times. The CWT herd buyout program and successful partnerships with heavyweights like McDonalds, Domino Pizza and the NFL, seem to be helping to both reduce production and increase demand. One of the highlights of the convention was the address given by Dave Brandon, Chairman and CEO of Domino’s Pizza Partnering with today’s dairy producers through their checkoff investment, Domino’s launched the successful American Legends pizza and Brandon announced there would be new pizza lines coming in 2010 using even more American made cheese. At a time when some in the pizza industry have been cutting back on the amount of cheese used in their products, this was welcome news indeed for a struggling dairy industry. To emphasize his point, Brandon even provided Domino’s pizzas for those in attendance! The industry has a long ways to go and some won’t be able to hang on, but it seems better days are not too far off for dairy producers.

We hear a lot these days about agriculture’s environmental impact from those trying to force changes in our food production system. Jude Capper, assistant professor of dairy sciences at Washington State University, says today’s modern production practices are actually more environmentally friendly than those of the past. For example, in 2007 the U.S. dairy industry produced 8.3 billion more gallons of milk than in 1944 but due to improved productivity, the carbon footprint of the entire dairy farm industry was reduced by 41% She also points out greenhouse gas emissions per pound of beef are INCREASED THREE FOLD in grass fed cattle. Also, “locally” grown food may have a greater carbon footprint than food produced and transported miles away from their final destination. This flies in the face of what we usually hear in the media, the environmental community and those advocating climate change legislation in Washington D.C.! Unfortunately, her voice seems to be drowned out by those determined to make it more difficult for producers to provide a growing world population with the food it needs.

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Last week’s vote in Ohio on Issue 2 to create a Livestock Care Standards Board sends a strong signal to other states facing threats of a HSUS led ballot initiative. After the passage of Proposition 2 in California other states such as Colorado and Michigan chose to compromise rather than risk a similar defeat. Ohio’s strong show of support (64% approval) for Issue 2 gives other states a blueprint to follow. It also shows it is better to be proactive and try to pass an initiative rather than play defense and try to defeat one. Some have tried to make this a big versus small farmer issue and feel Issue 2 only protects large producers. I disagree. Groups like HSUS have an agenda that would eliminate all livestock production, not just those on a bigger scale. The larger operations are easier targets and are more easily portrayed as the “bad guys” but people should not be fooled into thinking HSUS would stop with them. It’s much better to protect the entire industry than allow these groups to divide and conquer. Congratulations to everyone who worked on passage of Issue 2 in Ohio but this is only one battle in an ongoing war. HSUS has made it clear they will not give up. Agriculture must tell its story and educate consumers about who they are and why they do things the way they do. Consumers are asking questions about their food and this is a great opportunity for agriculture to provide them with the facts.

Meanwhile stories like the one recently in Vermont sure don’t help. A Vermont slaughterhouse has been ordered closed after the release of video showing inexcusable treatment of animals. Especially troubling is the history of violations at this plant. USDA will need to answer some tough questions about their oversight of this and other plants. Release of these videos does help catch and stop those who are breaking the law but I still question the real motives of HSUS. If their concern is truly about the welfare of animals then why do they take so long to release these videos. In this Vermont case, they took a month to record the video and waited almost another month to turn it in to officials. If your concern is for the animals then why not make the abuse known as soon as it is discovered. How many animals suffered in the meantime while HSUS sat on the information? While I give HSUS credit for uncovering wrongs that need righted and for not going overboard in their own self promotion on this particular incident, I still question their motives. Their release of the video so close to the vote on Issue 2 in Ohio also raises some questions. Again, let’s not indict an entire industry because of the wrongful actions of a few.

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