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Animal Ag Alliance offers hiring tips

The Animal Ag Alliance is reminding livestock producers to properly vet new employees to protect themselves from animal rights activists.

Hannah Thompson-Weeman with the nonprofit tells Brownfield farms should have strong animal care and welfare policies written out for employees and visitors.

“You have animal welfare agreements, you have standards in place, you’re continuously offering training, and that you have ways for people to report concerns anonymously and that you investigate immediately.”  

She recommends farmers have written applications, check references and social media profiles, and trust their instincts.

“Thinking about these things, about our image to the public and the potential to be targeted by animal activist groups absolutely has to be part of our business plans.”

Thompson-Weeman says many ag organizations have sample animal care agreements and policies farmers can utilize which she expects to be more commonplace following the Fair Oaks investigation.