NDFB statement on animal agriculture

NDFB supports all segments of agricultural. It doesn’t matter if the producer has a traditional small grains operation or an organic specialty crop farmers market. Our Farm Bureau umbrella includes the smallest specialty livestock producer as well as the largest feeding operations. All are part of American agricultural — feeding the world, in addition to filling our domestic needs for food and fiber.

Are North Dakotans truly supportive of all segments of agriculture, both big and small from west to east, across our great state? Even knowing that agriculture remains the base of our state’s economy, sometimes it’s not so clear whether all segments of agriculture support livestock in North Dakota. What is clear, is the real and troubling assault on generally accepted modern agriculture production. When we look at livestock production across the country, our land-grant universities have done an excellent job over the last 50 years, to determine how we can safely, ethically, and efficiently raise livestock to fill consumer demand while protecting our environment. We now have a good understanding of the appropriate structures and locations needed to produce livestock, while looking out for the best interests of every stakeholder.

In North Dakota, a debate seems ongoing regarding feeding operations. The opposition claims these farms are a threat to our waters, air and general domestic tranquility. The push-back becomes so shrill as to make one think unregulated nuclear dumps are being placed in the local neighborhood park or next door to the nursing home.

What we must do, is look at the facts. Our neighbors in Minnesota, the land of 10,000 Lakes, ranks fourth in the nation for pork production. Nay-sayers should take a drive to Detroit Lakes. It’s clear modern livestock production can coexist with all the activities of that lake region. This example repeats itself in communities across the country.

When we hear the public debate over feeding operations raging on, NDFB hopes other farmers, ranchers and producers will be an active voice supporting modern livestock production. Increasing livestock production is a primary goal of our organization; it improves our local grain markets, diversifies our local economies, enriches and organically improves our soils, and provides young farmers an avenue for coming back to the family farm. We support all farmers at NDFB; the retirees and the new entrepreneur, the largest and the smallest, the traditional and the modern age, the grain growers and livestock producers. They’re a part of what makes America great and a part of what makes Farm Bureau great.

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