I feel as though I can’t start to write anything these days without acknowledging the current situation and offering my sincere appreciation to the animal agriculture community (including the meat industry) for the way you’ve stepped up, not only to continue to meet consumer demand but to also help people get through this challenging time. There are too many examples to list: animal nutrition company Alltech using its brewery to make and distribute hand sanitizer in Lexington for free and Tyson Foods is donating $11 million of products and investing in the communities in which it operates. Dairy Management Inc. has launched the “For Schools’ Sake: Help Us Feed Our Nation’s Kids” campaign to promote the GENYOUth COVID-19 Emergency School Nutrition Fund, which is providing grants to schools to purchase supplies for meal distribution and delivery.

While it is heartwarming to share this type of good news, I know that good news is not necessarily what you expect from this blog. True to form, I am here to give you a warning.

As I mentioned in my last blog, activists are hard at work trying to figure out how they can exploit this urgent public health emergency; they’re never going to let a tragedy go to waste if they think they might gain from it. Groups like Direct Action Everywhere are continuing to defy stay-at-home orders to hold protests and enter barns without permission as part of their “Cancel Animal Ag” campaign which tries to tie animal agriculture to the current pandemic. Other groups are relying on online channels to carry their message, with everyone from Mercy for Animals to PETA posting op-eds and online pieces about how animal agriculture is to blame for what’s currently happening.

In addition to staying mindful of security measures both online and within our operations, we also can’t forget the need to be cautious when it comes to hiring. The Alliance has received reports of activists posting on social media about exploiting potential labor shortages due to current circumstances and increasing their attempts to get hired on farms and in plants. Even in times of crisis, we cannot afford to cut corners and must be diligent about who we trust to care for livestock and poultry. Make sure to look out for red flags and always, always check references (and make sure those references are who they say they are!). You can always contact the Alliance for farm security and hiring recommendations.

Please stay safe and stay sane as we all work to weather this ongoing challenge together. Rest assured the Alliance will continue to keep our eye on activism and inform you of emerging issues so you can keep your attention on the most important part of your business: ensuring a safe, affordable ant dependable food supply.

Activist groups look to exploit potential labor shortages

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