CALGARY — It is being called the “nervous nineties,” a decade full of people worried about their environment, their health and the safety of their food.
Livestock and poultry producers who tell how animals are handled on their farms may be acting just in time to assure the public that they are addressing those worries.
The year-old Alberta Foundation for Animal Care (AFAC) has support from poultry, cattle, pork, sheep producers, agricultural societies, a rodeo association, Olds College and private producers.
Farm life is open to public scrutiny, said vice-chair Ken Rempel. Farmers find themselves answering criticism from groups like the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, media, celebrities and the public.
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“It is their misguided concern and emphasis that we believe will have a long-term negative effect on our businesses,” said Rempel, who is a pork producer.
“Now is the time for a unified approach on cross commodity issues. Now is the time to put facts first.”
AFAC and its sister organizations in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan realize they have a tough job ahead of them with limited money and a small farm population.
Large budget, membership
Last year’s budget for PETA was $10 million and it has a well-trained staff of activists who are moving into Canada through organizations like humane societies. PETA membership is estimated at 350,000.
But by working with the humane societies, AFAC hopes to show producers how to properly look after animals as well as tell the story of how and why certain things happen on a farm.
That effort costs money. The Horned Cattle Trust Fund has provided $100,000 to help pay for projects like the Animal Care Action Line and Response Team (ALRT).
In Alberta, the provincial arm of the SPCA responds to complaints about neglect or abuse of animals. Six constables investigate about 1,600 rural and urban complaints each year, said cattleman Jim Feist.
Using a team of volunteer producers, AFAC wants to be a middleman to address problems using a friendly approach of producers helping producers, said Feist. Plans include an action line to report any concerns in confidence.
AFAC will work with the SPCA to resolve any problems so a producer can save face and get help to improve conditions for animals on his farm. If the producer won’t co-operate, the case will be turned over to the SPCA which can lay charges, said Feist.
