Labels gone looney!
Today is another one of those days where I am reading all of the misconceptions about ag - today's hot spot is the beef industry, primarily in the processing arena - and I have decided I need a venting place...so here I "blog".
Today's "label" is a blast from the past with the horrible videos HSUS shot at a meat processing plant back in 08. The Supreme Court overturned a ruling yesterday on what would have been a duplicate law to prevent abuses, as depicted in the video, from happening. It was really a no-brainer. But the comments and articles I keep reading make it clear that the ag industry hasn't come very far in getting the message out that that wasn't the "norm" for the industry. That was a bad apple!
It's amazing how many newspapers have jumped on that story - ok, maybe not so amazing. But even more amazing is the comments on the articles.

• "Of course it was overturned. This Supreme Court cares nothing for humans. why should they give a rat's behind about animal cruelty? Not one bit surprised, and tha's why I'm a vegan. My health has improved greatly since I no longer eat contaminated meat. These poor animals are so full of steroids, hormones, and antibiotics its no wonder we are in a health care crisis! I'm so sick of this Supreme Court, and their lousy decisions that favor only the wealthy!"
• "No problem for me. Red meat is bad for you anyway (except for the prime cuts) so I don't eat it. And if you saw the pictures and videos you won't either."
• “The beef industry in California is responsible for as much greenhouse gas production as all the cars being driven in California.  Beef is bad for humans, it gives us heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.  Beef uses hundreds of times more water and land than other types of meat (such as poultry and pigs and sheep).”

Sheesh! We ag people are just short of terrorists, one would think!
While I'll save the whole HSUS rant for another blog to come soon, I will add that the Pacelle quotes in these articles just take the false "label" a little deeper. I'm floored at how the media continues to use him as a reliable source or support for any argument.
The video that comes with today's ag label was shot in 08, and HSUS did not present that video to authorities for over 4 months. The "undercover" HSUS/meat plant employee took the videos in October of 08. In late January 09, the videos came out. The plant was temporarily shut down, the legitimate/"bad apple" employees were fired, the meat was recalled, fines were enforced, and absolutely nothing happened to the HSUS employee, who was there, and didn't report the abuse for 4 months. Hmmmm.... I don't think that story got covered by CNN!
On a good note...I got some beef rub from the Colorado Beef Council booth at the National Western Stock Show. It has coffee in it. We are trying it tonight, and I'll post the recipe if it's good. :)