Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (March 15, 2016)
THE DAILY ASTORIAN TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 NATIONAL AG DAY Scrutiny: Growing trend is leading to new burdens for food producers Continued from Page 10A ,QVRPHFDVHVWKHFHUWL¿FD WLRQVPHUHO\DGGWRWKHEXUHDX cracy of food production. But in others — as with the recent ÀRRGRIQHZFRUSRUDWHSROLFLHV GHPDQGLQJHJJVIURPFDJHIUHH hens, banning gestation crates IRU VRZV DQG DQWLELRWLFIUHH PHDW²IDUPHUVDUJXHFHUWL¿FD tions often duplicate each other or government regulations or they aren’t economical, realistic RUVFLHQFHEDVHG Those who track the trend say the common thread is a lack of understanding on the part of WKH SXEOLF DQG FRUSRUDWH FXV tomers about the realities of modern agriculture. 5RQ&HJQDUZKRUXQV.HQ WXFN\EDVHG &(2 3DUWQHUV DQG has helped build supply chains for clients such as McDonald’s DQG%XUJHU.LQJDGYLVHVDJUL FXOWXUDO SURGXFHUV DQG FRPSD nies to take positions now on VRFLDOUHVSRQVLELOLW\ LVVXHV %\ XVLQJ WKLUGSDUW\ VFLHQFH WKH\ can get ahead of the issue rather than waiting for uninformed FXVWRPHUVWRLPSRVHXQUHDVRQ able demands on them. He also believes it’s more critical than ever for producers WR FRPPXQLFDWH ZLWK FRQVXP HUV DQG UHNLQGOH WUXVW VR DQL mal rights groups don’t step in to speak on their behalf. “The consumer today does not understand how our food DQG DQLPDOV DUH UDLVHG´ &HJ nar said. “We haven’t set our own standards, so consequently activists go after a chain or retailer, and they get that chain or retailer to react, and that puts everyone else on the defensive.” Cegnar, who also owns a farm in Homedale, Idaho, argues some of the corporate social responsibility policies facing animal agriculture don’t EHQH¿WWKHDQLPDOV Rather, Cegnar contends policies invented by animal activists aim to raise the cost of production to the point that meat DQGHJJVFDQQRORQJHUEHHFR QRPLFDOO\SURGXFHG,Q(XURSH where Cegnar attended the UHFHQW:RUOG)RRG6KRZUHWDLO HUVKDYHVXFKXQUHDOLVWLFH[SHF tations of producers that imports are replacing entire agricultural sectors. 11A Animal treatment survey results * Participants were asked to rank in order of importance each of the following labels pertaining to animal treatment. Based on a rating scale of 0-100, where 0 = Not important, 100 = Absolute necessity: Humanely raised 69% Antibiotic free 52 Natural 33 Organic 26 *Sample size of more than 5,900 survey participants, conducted by American Humane Association. Source: American Humane Association Alan Kenaga/Capital Press John O’Connell/Capital Press Carol Ryan Dumas/Capital Press Steve Theobald, an owner of R & G Potatoes in American Falls, Idaho, said his company has to comply with a new audit at the request of customers this year. Theobald worries buyers may eventually set input benchmarks for their food producers. A worker at Snake River Farms, one of Clear Springs Foods’ smaller fish facilities in Buhl, Idaho, gently moves waste down a trout raceway for removal to a settling pond . DQLPDOV PDLQWDLQ PRUH DFFX UDWHUHFRUGVDQGSUHYHQWDJJUHV sion, a common problem among hogs. Despite the trend, Cegnar VDLG MXVW SHUFHQW RI SURGXF ers have made the conversion, due to the overwhelming cost of overhauling their facilities. 7KHXVHRIDQWLELRWLFVLQDQL PDOV LV DQRWKHU WRSRIPLQG LVVXHIRUVRPHFRQVXPHUV(YHQ though Smith says antibiotics DUH DQ LPSRUWDQW WRRO IRU DQL mal health, a growing list of restaurants has targeted their use in meat and poultry. National chains such as McDonald’s, &KLFN¿O$ 'XQNLQ 'RQXWV 3DQHUD 3DSD -RKQ¶V 3L]]D DQG Subway have said they will no longer serve chicken that has been given antibiotics, or will phase it out. Lately, most of the announcements have involved EX\HUV GHPDQGLQJ HJJV SUR GXFHG E\ FDJHIUHH FKLFNHQV 7KLUW\WKUHH UHVWDXUDQW FKDLQV VD\WKH\SODQWRVHUYHRQO\FDJH free eggs within the next decade. 7HQUHWDLOFKDLQVIRRGPDQX facturers and seven hotel and cruise line companies also plan WRVZLWFKWRFDJHIUHHHJJV ³:H DUH KHDULQJ DQQRXQFH PHQWVDOPRVWGDLO\QRZSDUWLF XODUO\RQWKHLVVXHRIFDJHIUHH eggs,” said Smith. ‘Tsunami’ ahead 6PLWK QRWHG WKH PRVW FRP “That’s all headed this way, prehensive study of raising and it’s going to get much chickens found the “enriched ZRUVH´&HJQDUVDLG³,W¶VDWVX colony” system is the most nami, in my opinion.” humane form of housing, even $Q H[DPSOH 7ZHQW\HLJKW FRPSDUHGWRDFDJHIUHHVHWWLQJ national restaurant chains now (QULFKHGFRORQ\FDJHVDUHPRUH don’t buy pork from farmers spacious, with additions such who use gestation crates, which as perches that allow birds to are stalls for pregnant sows. exhibit natural behavior. In addition, three major retail “The trend of all these FKDLQV QLQH IRRG PDQXIDFWXU announcements creates a real ers, four hospitality brands and struggle for the agricultural four foodservice companies community to keep up,” Smith plan to phase out pork produced said. “The producer may sell to using gestation crates. ¿YH GLIIHUHQW VWRUHV DQG KDYH .D\ -RKQVRQ 6PLWK SUHV ¿YH GLIIHUHQW UHTXLUHPHQWV DQG LGHQW DQG &(2 RI WKH $QLPDO expectations.” $JULFXOWXUH $OOLDQFH VDLG JHV +umane FeUWi¿ eU WDWLRQFUDWHVKHOSSURGXFHUVSUR 7KHQDWLRQ¶V¿UVWDQLPDOZHO vide better individual care to IDUHFHUWL¿FDWLRQSURJUDPLVDQ DOOLDQFHPHPEHU,WHPSKDVL]HV humane treatment standards PXVW DOVR GRYHWDLO ZLWK HFR nomical production to keep the nation’s food supply affordable. More than half a billion U.S. animals are raised each year by IDUPVFHUWL¿HGE\WKH$PHULFDQ Humane Association, founded 138 years ago. AHA senior adviser Kathi %URFN DJUHHV PDQ\ FRP PRQ DQLPDO DJULFXOWXUH SUDF tices warrant reform, but some of the recent corporate policy announcements demonstrate that the pendulum has swung far past the mark to correct the problems. According to a 2014 AHA survey of 5,900 consumers, 75.7 percent of respondents were willing to pay more for meat, dairy products and eggs from more humanely treated animals — up from 74 percent in 2013. But Brock sees no need for consumers to pay up to $3 per GR]HQ PRUH IRU FDJHIUHH HJJV ZKHQ HQULFKHG FRORQ\ SURGXF tion is far cheaper and just as humane. $+$KRZHYHUGRHVQ¶WFHU tify “conventional” cages that offer birds no room to maneuver. %URFN¶V RUJDQL]DWLRQ DOVR disapproves of keeping a sow in a stall during its entire 160 days of gestation, but supports the use of the tool from a week to 10 days. Brock sees no reason to eliminate any option that is “affordable, and (produces) safe food and ethically raised.” But she predicts in the future, “If you’re going to do business in the U.S. with major retailer DQGIRRGVHUYLFH\RX¶OOSURED EO\QHHGWREHYHUL¿HGE\DWKLUG party and do business at a high standard.” Beyond livestock Crop producers aren’t immune from the move toward corporate social responsibility. Declo, Idaho, potato farmer 0DUN 'DUULQJWRQ LV RFFDVLRQ ally subjected to a special audit by the processor that handles his crop. “They’ll ask questions DERXW KLULQJ SUDFWLFHV GLV SRVDORIFKHPLFDOVZDVWHPDQ agement and diversity within your group,” Darrington said, adding that requirements have increased during the past decade, to the point that he’s DVVLJQHGDQHPSOR\HHIXOOWLPH to handle compliance. Thresher Artisan Wheat RSHUDWHV D VXVWDLQDELOLW\ SUR JUDP IRU (DVWHUQ ,GDKR JURZ ers, who must track their inputs, yields and farming practices and compare them with others LQWKHSURJUDPZKLOHDOVRJHQ erating data on practices that work. ³7KLV JLYHV XV WKH KRUVH power to tell regulators, ‘Hey, ZH¶UHGRLQJ¿QHDQGZH¶YHJRW WKHGDWDWREDFNLWXS¶´%UDG ford Warner, vice president of PDUNHWLQJZLWK7KUHVKHU¶VSDU ent company, Agspring, said during a recent grower meeting. Steve Theobald, an owner ZLWK 5* 3RWDWRHV LQ $PHU LFDQ)DOOV,GDKRVDLGKLVFXV tomers are requiring his fresh chipping potato company to XQGHUJR D *OREDO *RRG $JUL FXOWXUDO 3UDFWLFHV ² FDOOHG *OREDO *$3 ² DXGLW VWDUW ing this year. Customers used to ask only about the products his growers use, but he said they now want to know what, how much and when. Theobald fears the day will come when customers offer product restrictions and set input benchmarks for growers. Proactive approach :KHQ UHWDLOHUV EHJDQ PXOO LQJ WKLUGSDUW\ FHUWL¿FDWLRQ programs for the treatment of dairy cows, the National Milk 3URGXFHUV )HGHUDWLRQ SURDF WLYHO\VWDUWHGLWV)DUPHUV$VVXU ing Responsible Management program. The FARM program offers a training manual and videos on DOODVSHFWVRIDQLPDOFDUHDGDSW LQJ WKH ODWHVW VFLHQFH 2SHUD tions are evaluated every three \HDUVDQGUHVXOWVDUHYHUL¿HGE\ WKLUGSDUW\ H[SHUWV 5HVXOWV DUH published in a Year in Review report. 7DLO GRFNLQJ ² UHPRY ing a portion of an animal’s tail to keep it cleaner — is being phased out under FARM, said %RE 1DHUHERXW ,GDKR 'DLU\ men’s Association executive director. “There’s a new level of accountability for all of ag, not just dairy,” Naerebout said. ³7KDW¶V EHLQJ GULYHQ E\ FRQ sumers wanting to know more about food production.” Naerebout believes social responsibility — a term often XVHGLQWHUFKDQJHDEO\ZLWK³VXV tainability” — encompasses labor practices, animal care, environmental stewardship and economics. ,Q 2FWREHU ,'$ KLUHG D VWDII PHPEHU ZLWK D GRFWRU ate in environmental science to help producers implement their nutrient management plans. Naerebout said IDA has helped push for immigration reform, YRZLQJRQLWVZHEVLWHWRDGYR cate legislation that addresses ³VHFXUHERUGHUVDOORZVRXUFXU rent labor force to remain in the U.S., legally provides for earned FLWL]HQVKLS DQG LV ÀH[LEOH LQ DGGUHVVLQJ IXWXUH IRUHLJQERUQ labor needs.” National Cattleman’s Beef Association spokesman Chase $GDPV VDLG KLV RUJDQL]DWLRQ has worked with the Food and Drug Administration to draft its voluntary guidelines “aimed at eliminating the use of medically important antibiotics in feed and ZDWHU IRU JURZWKSURPRWLRQ SXUSRVHV DQG LQFUHDVHG YHWHUL nary oversight.” ³7KHUH¶V D ORW RI PLVXQGHU standing now about the use of antibiotics in livestock,” Adams said. 6PLWK RI WKH$QLPDO$JUL culture Alliance, said her group DGYLVHVPHPEHUVWRIDPLOLDUL]H SHRSOHDWHYHU\VWHSLQWKHVXS ply chain of their own social responsibility programs to help them respond to pressure from advocacy groups. 8QLYHUVLW\ RI ,GDKR HFRQR PLVW&DWK\5RKHLPHPSKDVL]HG corporate responsibility can also EHQH¿W SURGXFHUV ,Q D UHSRUW 5RKHLP HVWLPDWHG FRQ VXPHUV LQ (QJODQG ZHUH ZLOO ing to pay a 10 to 15 percent premium for seafood labeled as sustainable. ³,WKLQNWKLVLVJRLQJWRFRQ WLQXH´ 5RKHLP VDLG ³3HRSOH ZKREX\ZKDWZHSURGXFHLQGL FDWHPRUHDQGPRUHZKDWDWWUL butes they want to buy.” WE HAVE BABY CHICKS! • Livestock, Nutrena feeds & much more • CARLSON FARMS Nursery & Gift Shop 90461 Hwy 202, Astoria • 503-325-9737 Open Wednesday through Monday • 10am-6pm 4 miles past the fairgrounds on Hwy 202 W E D E L IV E R! C AL L F O R A Q UO TE ! 3W ƌŽƵĚ3^ƵƉƉŽƌƚĞƌ3ŽĨ3 4 3 ŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĂů3ƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ All our fresh seafood is local, wild and caught by fishermen from our community. S ERVI NG THE NO RTH O REG O N CO AS T, TE E VI N F I S CH E R QUARRY I S M O RE THAN CRUS HED RO CK! W E A L S O O F F ER : • S a n d • Ba rk • M u lch & S oil A m en d m en ts • Decora tive Rock (in clu d in g River Ro ck & F la gs to n e) 8 W e 5 a 029 W Y g 1 cen 01 , S fo r E a AS D co E n crete, • 5 03 re a ls o a H recyclin ter s pha I lt, s o il & -73 clea n 8 w - o 73 o d d 28 eb ris 3Ͳ WĂĐŝĨŝĐ3KLJƐƚĞƌƐ Ͳ 3 >ŝǀĞ3ƌĂď Ͳ 3 ZĂnjŽƌ3ůĂŵƐ Ͳ 3 ^ƚĞĂŵĞƌ3ůĂŵƐ 3 Ͳ ĂŶĚ3ŵŽƌĞ͊ N ORTHWEST W ILD P RODUCTS Fresh Seafood Market 3KŶ3ƚŚĞ3ĚŽĐŬƐ3ŽĨ3ƚŚĞ3tĞƐƚ3DŽŽƌŝŶŐ3ĂƐŝŶ ϯ 3 ϱϰ3/ŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ3^ƚ͕34ƐƚŽƌŝĂ 3 3ϱϬϯͲϳϵϭͲϭϵϬϳ 3ĂŝůLJ͗3ϵ3Ăŵ3Ͳ3ϳ3Ɖŵ3 Ŷ 3 ŽƌƚŚǁĞƐƚǁŝůĚƉƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ͘ĐŽŵ
