| Information
Source:
Kay Johnson,
Vice-President Animal Agriculture Alliance,
article in National Cattlemen, Winter 2004.
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Presenting
a Positive View of Animal Agriculture
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The
recent BSE incident in Washington state has again
raised questions and concerns about the safety of
our food products and animal husbandry practices.
With
less than two percent of the U.S. population directly
involved in production agriculture, it is a challenge
for the agriculture industry to help the public understand
where food comes from and how it is produced. In addition
there are many campaigns being launched to attach animal
agriculture and food companies. Countering these threats
will take a partnership: producers; suppliers; veterinarians;
scientists; processors; food retailers; and everyone
else involved in food production and distribution, working
together to provide a unified public voice delivering
the message that we are striving to raise healthy, well-cared
for animals, as well as to produce wholesome food at
affordable prices.
This
list from the Animal Agriculture Alliance provides some
good first steps to counter anti-agriculture campaigns:
1.
Ensure your house is in order.
-
Implement industry-developed animal care guidelines
- Implement
training programs for all employees/managers responsible
for animal care
- Establish
or utilize a third party certification system to
provide
customer assurance.
2.
Develop company policies and a statement on animal care,
health and nutrition.
3.
Drive home the benefits of your product or practices
that are relevant to consumers.
4.
Educate employees about company services and policies:
Remember employees are company representatives and spokespeople
in their communities.
-
Conduct in-service meetings on what the company
does.
- Provide
information on concerns that may surface.
5. Create a positive public image in your community
- Strengthen
community involvement and contributions
- Sponsor
or support local events, teams, schools, etc.
- Promote
your positive actions
6.
Become involved in public policy development
-
Talk to your legislators (local, state and national)
they know you and
understand your business.
7.
Create opportunities to talk about what you do
-
Discuss issues in terms of what's important to consumers.
- Talk
about science in consumer friendly terms.
- Get
media trained
8.
Strengthen communications with customers
- Ensure
they know you and know your standards.
9.
Build alliances at the local, state and national level.
10.
Develop a communications polan for crisis management:
- Evaluate
requests for information--check references, note
request types.
- Appoint
one company spokesperson
- Establish
a plan on how to handle disruptive/illegal situations.
11.
Establish a security plan
- Maintain
basic security-lock doors and file cainets
- backup
computers
- post
"No trespassing" signs, etc.
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