Around lunchtime on February 5 in Vale, South Dakota, a 33-year-old cattle rancher finished a morning of blogging, then stepped outside with a bottle of wine and a video camera.
"Hello, my name is Troy Hadrick. I'm a fifth-generation United States rancher in South Dakota," he ad-libbed. "I recently found out that Yellow Tail wines is going to be donating $100,000 to the wealthiest animal-rights organization in the world, the Humane Society of the United States — a group who is actively trying to put farmers and ranchers out of business in this country." Hadrick said he couldn't support such a company. "This is the only thing I know to do now with this last bottle of Yellow Tail wine that was in our house."
In his cowboy hat and Carhartt jacket, Hadrick cocked the bottle, flicked his wrist and sent the contents pouring to the snow-covered earth like a stream of piss.
"I hope you will do the same. Thank you for supporting American agriculture and the family farmers and ranchers in this country."
Five minutes later, with his 54-second “Yellow Tail Fail” clip posted to YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, Hadrick finished his chores and headed with his family to the Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo. Back online that night, he was shocked by the viewing stats for his first Internet video.
First it was 500. Then several thousand. The tally kept climbing. Within two weeks, the Australia-based wine giant announced that it was rescinding the remainder of its $300,000 pledge to the Washington, D.C.-based Humane Society.
A week later, Tennessee-based Pilot Travel Centers announced that it would stop collecting Humane Society donations at its rest stops. Then Dallas-based Mary Kay cosmetics publicly clarified that a personal donation by an employee's wife to the Humane Society had been misconstrued by the group as a corporate sponsorship.
Hadrick's social-media sensation represented a tipping point in a battle that has seen food producers playing defense for nearly a decade — farmers vs. activists, agriculture vs. animal rights.
On one side are corporation- and family-owned farms that raise 10 billion animals a year, producing an affordable food supply for hundreds of millions of people around the world.
On the opposite side: the Humane Society, founded in 1954 as a protector of all animals, from dogs and cats to seals and whales to hens and cattle.
The nonprofit had a mild-mannered reputation until about a decade ago, when its president and chief executive officer, Wayne Pacelle, launched an "End Factory Farming" campaign to wipe out the practice of lifelong livestock confinement in densely packed or restrictive crates and cages.
Rather than protesting or pulling stunts like those of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the Humane Society has favored a political route. One strategy has been "shareholder activism": purchasing minority stakes in publicly traded businesses such as Steak 'n Shake, then pressuring management to alter its buying practices.
But the group's primary strategy is more direct: Ask American voters if, in Pacelle's words, "animals built to move should be allowed to move."
Pacelle got the first so-called factory-farm law passed in Florida eight years ago via a ballot initiative. He has since chalked up wins in six additional states, and last year lawmakers introduced copycat legislation in four more states.
For a long time, the ag industry didn't seem to see a way to fight back. But within the past year, through social media, influence peddling and, most recently, pre-emptive political maneuvering, farmers big and small have begun to circle the wagons to protect their livelihoods.
The continuing battle raises questions: Who should decide what we put on our plates? Politicians? The 2 million farmers and ranchers who produce the food? Or the 307 million Americans who buy it?
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@BJB - "Farmers and ranchers will do any thing for their animals..." Uhh - Except giving them freedom to move- right? Except allowing them to keep the parts of their bodies they were born with- right? Except allowing them the ability to mate when and if they choose- right? Except allowing them to nurture their young- right? Except letting them live- right? Sooo... I'm confused here - Exactly what was the "anything" you made reference to? And to Val - Animals are not "giving their lives" for you to have steak... You are killing them for such a pleasure - Enjoy.
It's not the killing of the animals for food that is so objectionable to us vegans - it's the holocaust-like conditions that these animals are being raised in right now and the inhumane slaughter house practices.
I am a vegan that believes eating animal products from an animal that was raised and slaughtered humanely is perfectly acceptable. Raising an animal humanely involves providing for its basic needs - providing food it can digest (cattle can't digest corn - it makes them sick), clean water, room to stretch its wings and legs, turn around and stand on the ground. Raising an animal inhumanely involves feeding broiler chickens so many steroids to increase the size of its breast that it can not walk for its entire adult life, debeaking days old chicks without anesthesia, grinding up live male chicks (they don't lay eggs and are considered a waste product of egg farms)or disposing of them in trash bags to die from crushing or suffocation, forcing egg laying hens to live in a cage with other hens in a per hen space of an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper without daylight, breathable air or veterinary care and when their exhausted bodies can no longer lay eggs, they are subjected to a forced molt by confinement in darkness and without food for weeks to force their bodies to produce more eggs.
No - this is not propaganda. This is what is happening right now to deliver eggs to your table next week. If you want to know more - check out the film "Fowl Play". The most incredible part of all of this is it continues because Big Ag and the consumer are so well suited for one another - Big Ag doesn't want us to know and we don't want to know. We just want to eat this poison laden, tortured food - how do you think it is possible to sell a $1 "hamburger"?
It's not the killing of the animals for food that is so objectionable to us vegans - it's the holocaust-like conditions that these animals are being raised in right now and the inhumane slaughter house practices. I am a vegan that believes eating animal products from an animal that was raised and slaughtered humanely is perfectly acceptable. Raising an animal humanely involves providing for its basic needs - providing food it can digest (cattle can't digest corn - it makes them sick), clean water, room to stretch its wings and legs, turn around and stand on the ground. Raising an animal inhumanely involves feeding broiler chickens so many steroids to increase the size of its breast that it can not walk for its entire adult life, debeaking days old chicks without anesthesia, grinding up live male chicks (they don't lay eggs and are considered a waste product of egg farms)or disposing of them in trash bags to die from crushing or suffocation, forcing egg laying hens to live in a cage with other hens in a per hen space of an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper without daylight, breathable air or veterinary care and when their exhausted bodies can no longer lay eggs, they are subjected to a forced molt by confinement in darkness and without food for weeks to force their bodies to produce more eggs. No - this is not propaganda. This is what is happening right now to deliver eggs to your table next week. If you want to know more - check out the film "Fowl Play". The most incredible part of all of this is it continues because Big Ag and the consumer are so well suited for one another - Big Ag doesn't want us to know and we don't want to know. We just want to eat this poison laden, tortured food - how do you think it is possible to sell a $1 "hamburger"?
beating animals, cats, dogs, horses, etc. humane society pick up the banner, RUN LIKE HELL. but when it comes to taking food off the tables, money out of pockets, SIT YOUR ASS DOWN. this is ridiculous anyone you think might listen, you try to rally, michelle obama, oprah and the likes of others. yes, I WEAR FUR and have no problem with it, heck germany even the homeless wear fur. homeless around here would get beat for such. if those with LIFELONG MEMBERSHIPS to the humane society desire not to eat meat, GLORY TO GOD, but those of us who love a NICE STEAK, or some of the OTHER WHITE MEAT, leave us the HELL ALONE. it is rather sicken for the MINORITY to continue to place their views of humane or not on the MAJORITY. love some of your EFFORTS but, leave pocketbooks and paychecks ALONE.
beating animals, cats, dogs, horses, etc. humane society pick up the banner, RUN LIKE HELL. but when it comes to taking food off the tables, money out of pockets, SIT YOUR ASS DOWN. this is ridiculous anyone you think might listen, you try to rally, michelle obama, oprah and the likes of others. yes, I WEAR FUR and have no problem with it, heck germany even the homeless wear fur. homeless around here would get beat for such. if those with LIFELONG MEMBERSHIPS to the humane society desire not to eat meat, GLORY TO GOD, but those of us who love a NICE STEAK, or some of the OTHER WHITE MEAT, leave us the HELL ALONE. it is rather sicken for the MINORITY to continue to place their views of humane or not on the MAJORITY. love some of your EFFORTS but, leave pocketbooks and paychecks ALONE.
No more Yellow Tail for me. I'll consider buying it when they donate $1,000,000 to the Humane Society.
No more Yellow Tail for me. I'll consider buying it when they donate $1,000,000 to the Humane Society.
Why don't we find out where are all the $$ are going that HSUS gets? How corrupt are they? We, "the people", need to know.
I come from a small, farming community where you ate your calf that you named "Sam".....yes, I cried when Sam went to cow heaven, but it was food on the table and reality sat in.
You want to eat veggies all your life, go for it....but my question to MANY OF YOU, do you even know how to grow a veggie?
I do, been there, done that, picked the veggie/fruit, canned the veggie, milked the cow, fed the calf, named it, ate it.
I'll never forget when moving to the big city for a "job"....I was picking peas in my garden. The little girl up the street came down to play with our daughter and asked "what are you doing"? I said I'm picking peas, she looked at me sooooooooo serious, "NO, PEAS COME IN A CAN"....
Farmers/ranchers - keep up the good work. But, there is one thing I DO ASK FROM YOU - get off the usage of hormones in the livestock. Don't make them so fat - better for all.
Why don't we find out where are all the $$ are going that HSUS gets? How corrupt are they? We, "the people", need to know. I come from a small, farming community where you ate your calf that you named "Sam".....yes, I cried when Sam went to cow heaven, but it was food on the table and reality sat in. You want to eat veggies all your life, go for it....but my question to MANY OF YOU, do you even know how to grow a veggie? I do, been there, done that, picked the veggie/fruit, canned the veggie, milked the cow, fed the calf, named it, ate it. I'll never forget when moving to the big city for a "job"....I was picking peas in my garden. The little girl up the street came down to play with our daughter and asked "what are you doing"? I said I'm picking peas, she looked at me sooooooooo serious, "NO, PEAS COME IN A CAN".... Farmers/ranchers - keep up the good work. But, there is one thing I DO ASK FROM YOU - get off the usage of hormones in the livestock. Don't make them so fat - better for all.
HSUS is just one of the controversy business's, truth be known they probably spend more on their pensions then local animal shelters-be leary of these folks as they are educated fear mongers looking to make money for themselves using causes--if they were doing such a good job among the rank and file why are there hundreds of different organizations all doing same stuff running TV ads wanting your money-its all about the money--other folks money becomes their money-the world is full of slime bags, get used to it as it a profession for them.
HSUS is just one of the controversy business's, truth be known they probably spend more on their pensions then local animal shelters-be leary of these folks as they are educated fear mongers looking to make money for themselves using causes--if they were doing such a good job among the rank and file why are there hundreds of different organizations all doing same stuff running TV ads wanting your money-its all about the money--other folks money becomes their money-the world is full of slime bags, get used to it as it a profession for them.
I'm surprised the makers of yellow tail retract so easily it, like the american auto maker the senseless inhuman slaughter of 10 billion animals doesn't do anything for me. Which one of us believes we actually need to eat animals like we can eat simpler just to live than "live to eat" at any (ones) expense. Like the pre ww2 american didnt know how to save his land from blowing away our society leans with its heart without giving careful though as to why. Some cowboy doesn't know what else to do can't take a hint pretty soon were back to the stone ages. We will never be able to compete with India either education diet, moralality we don't even know what questions to ask. To think some people actually leave the news to the press to connect the dots, who is buying your editorial time, the beef industry or humane society?
Smithfield Foods is the world's leading pork producer. Almost 6 Billion pounds of pork in 2006. To become this successful they've made safety and ethical shortcuts everywhere possible. They don't act responsibly for pigs, dogs, cats, or the citizens of this great country. HSUS wants to pressure companies like Smithfield. If, in the process, food prices go up and small ranchers also operate more responsibly, then everyone wins.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S...
http://www.rollingstone.com/po...
I'm surprised the makers of yellow tail retract so easily it, like the american auto maker the senseless inhuman slaughter of 10 billion animals doesn't do anything for me. Which one of us believes we actually need to eat animals like we can eat simpler just to live than "live to eat" at any (ones) expense. Like the pre ww2 american didnt know how to save his land from blowing away our society leans with its heart without giving careful though as to why. Some cowboy doesn't know what else to do can't take a hint pretty soon were back to the stone ages. We will never be able to compete with India either education diet, moralality we don't even know what questions to ask. To think some people actually leave the news to the press to connect the dots, who is buying your editorial time, the beef industry or humane society?
I found this article interesting, so I submitted it to NewsTrust.net here: http://newstrust.net/stories/1...
Smithfield Foods is the world's leading pork producer. Almost 6 Billion pounds of pork in 2006. To become this successful they've made safety and ethical shortcuts everywhere possible. They don't act responsibly for pigs, dogs, cats, or the citizens of this great country. HSUS wants to pressure companies like Smithfield. If, in the process, food prices go up and small ranchers also operate more responsibly, then everyone wins. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smithfield_Foods http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/12840743/porks_dirty_secret_the_nations_top_hog_producer_is_also_one_of_americas_worst_polluters
I found this article interesting, so I submitted it to NewsTrust.net here: http://newstrust.net/stories/1370175
I have been part of the effort to collect signature to put an initiative on the ballot in November regulating Missouri dog breeding operations (a.k.a. puppy mills). Can someone from BigAg please tell me why requiring breeders to provide adequate food, water, and shelter is a bad thing? Or why giving breeding females a rest between litters of puppies is going to affect your business? I keep hearing slippery-slope arguments but have yet to hear a solid reason to justify the cruelty that goes on in Missouri puppy mills. Please, enlighten me.
I have been part of the effort to collect signature to put an initiative on the ballot in November regulating Missouri dog breeding operations (a.k.a. puppy mills). Can someone from BigAg please tell me why requiring breeders to provide adequate food, water, and shelter is a bad thing? Or why giving breeding females a rest between litters of puppies is going to affect your business? I keep hearing slippery-slope arguments but have yet to hear a solid reason to justify the cruelty that goes on in Missouri puppy mills. Please, enlighten me.
If the citizens of this great country buy and eat meat,than
the Ranchers and farmers should have the freedom to produce
the food. Many domestic animals have been raised and used for
food since time began! Whats the big deal!These people should
get a life.
If you want to help the dogs & cats, support all the wonderful animal shelters we have here in the area, not HSUS. The money doesn't go to the animals, it goes for politcal lobbying and their salaries, did you not read what the man makes a year? The HSUS is now going after our children in 4-H & FFA with their information, this wrong. Farmers and ranchers will do any thing for their animals, they care about them because some are their livelihood and others are pets for their children, don't believe HSUS. And because employeers are not allowed to ask if you are a member of PETA or HSUS, people can obtain employment and film the "bad" things that happen. Those "bad" things that come up on HSUS website and other internet sites are few and far between and employers punish those involved. So, if you want to support groups that lie to the American public about how they obtain information and where they spend the hard earned money you contribute to them go ahead and remember this, if it keeps up you may never get to own multiple pets or even a single pet again. For me, I'm on the bandwagon to STOP groups like HSUS from ruining Missouri and other agricultural states.
HSUS isn't advocating veganism, they're advocating BALANCE. After years of Big Ag's focus on producing more meat and faster, we have 1)thousands of animals living under inhumane conditions. 2)tons of animal waste every year the surrounding environment can't absorb. 3)Americans eating too much meat and not enough produce = obesity and CV disease.
If the citizens of this great country buy and eat meat,than the Ranchers and farmers should have the freedom to produce the food. Many domestic animals have been raised and used for food since time began! Whats the big deal!These people should get a life.
If you want to help the dogs & cats, support all the wonderful animal shelters we have here in the area, not HSUS. The money doesn't go to the animals, it goes for politcal lobbying and their salaries, did you not read what the man makes a year? The HSUS is now going after our children in 4-H & FFA with their information, this wrong. Farmers and ranchers will do any thing for their animals, they care about them because some are their livelihood and others are pets for their children, don't believe HSUS. And because employeers are not allowed to ask if you are a member of PETA or HSUS, people can obtain employment and film the "bad" things that happen. Those "bad" things that come up on HSUS website and other internet sites are few and far between and employers punish those involved. So, if you want to support groups that lie to the American public about how they obtain information and where they spend the hard earned money you contribute to them go ahead and remember this, if it keeps up you may never get to own multiple pets or even a single pet again. For me, I'm on the bandwagon to STOP groups like HSUS from ruining Missouri and other agricultural states.
HSUS isn't advocating veganism, they're advocating BALANCE. After years of Big Ag's focus on producing more meat and faster, we have 1)thousands of animals living under inhumane conditions. 2)tons of animal waste every year the surrounding environment can't absorb. 3)Americans eating too much meat and not enough produce = obesity and CV disease.
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