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Anti-livestock threats continue

Attacks on the livestock industry aren’t going away.                

Josh St. Peters, executive vice president of the Illinois Beef Association, says the recently concluded Illinois legislative session saw several anti-livestock proposals come forward but ultimately be defeated.

“You know, there’s a handful of activist groups, really, not just in Illinois, but nationwide, that for a variety of political reasons, are very opposed to animal agriculture.”  He says, “They’re individuals who tend to be radicals. You know, fringe in their views and beliefs, but they like to make a lot of noise.”

He tells Brownfield it’s a story that plays out in legislatures across the country each year.

“Folks are very quick to forge opinions that are uninformed and uneducated that want to drive an agenda without understanding all the work that goes into all the care and consideration that goes into livestock production and beef production,” he says.

St. Peters says the attacks make continually educating lawmakers about the realities of livestock production more important than ever.

Brownfield spoke with St. Peters at the Illinois Beef Association annual meeting in Springfield.

AUDIO: Josh St. Peters – Illinois Beef Association