Source:Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 11/2/16


When the Humane Society of the United States announced in May it was forming a National Agriculture Advisory Council, after having formed 11 at the state level, the Animal Agriculture Alliance sounded a warning: beware.

“While today HSUS may be acting like the ally of the producers on this council, the tides will no doubt turn as the organization moves on to target other production methods — a lesson some brands have learned in trying to appease it,” warned Animal Agriculture Alliance President and CEO Kay Johnson Smith in May.

An article this week in The Weekly Standard said that now as many as six farmers have fled the HSUS councils over the past year and that HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle removed high-profile rancher Kevin Fulton from HSUS' National Agricultural Advisory Council.

In 2012, HSUS Nebraska State Director Jocelyn Nickerson called Fulton, "by far the biggest humane agricultural advocate in the state.” In May, Fulton was named the first chairman of the new HSUS National Agricultural Advisory Council. 

According to The Weekly Standard, Fulton, who runs an organic grazing operation, was pushing back on what he saw as a radical vegan agenda out of sync with HSUS’ own mission statement. Other farmers interviewed by the newspaper made similar charges. 

"They were using us as their poster child,” one farmer and former council member told The Weekly Standard. Another said they were used as “window dressing” and that HSUS did not make good on its promise to support farmers and ranchers who give proper care to their animals.

Smith was not surprised.

“The fact is, HSUS does not support the consumption of animal products, regardless of how the animal was raised. We are glad to see members of the 'ag council’ beginning to see this for themselves,” she told Meatingplace. “This farmer’s experience should serve as a warning to anyone else in agriculture considering getting involved with this activist group.”

HSUS, however, disputed the newspaper's portrayal of the situation with their ag councils. 

"We asked Kevin to step down from the agriculture [council] because of a threat he made to one of our staff members," HSUS Senior Director of Public Relations Anna West told Meatingplace. "We still have around 50 farmers and ranchers who are actively involved on our agriculture councils, and HSUS has a raft of programs that drive good farm animal welfare outcomes that are aligned with the interests of family farmers." 

Fulton could not be immediately reached for comment.

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