Seth Victor
Although the Farm Bill is a comprehensive and nuanced piece of legislature that keeps food on our tables, perhaps the most notable part about this year’s version is something that is not in it: the “King Amendment”, a criticized hypocritical measure, did not make the final cut, due in part to a large outcry against stripping states of their ability to regulate their own agriculture. As The Huffington Post reports, industrial agriculture was checked on several other fronts as well, including measures that would have loosened corporations’ requirements for labeling animal products. It is also now a federal crime to attend or take a child under the age of sixteen to an animal fighting event. There are other very important aspects of the law, such as the reduction of Food Stamps and a drastic curtailing of farm subsidies. Still, when looking at what was at risk directly affecting animals, this one counts as a win.
Filed under: animal advocacy, animal welfare, factory farms | Tagged: animal advocacy, CAFOS, environmental advocacy, farm bill, industrial farming |
Animal Blawg 
Hi Seth…I agree–the demise of the King Amendment is a victory within the sick, twisted paradigm that is industrial animal agriculture. Another, more buried provision in the Farm Bill has wildlife advocates out here worried–excerpt:
“A $35 million provision in the proposed federal farm bill has some wildlife advocates worried that cattle ranchers want to treat Montana’s elk the same as bison – as a disease threat to be managed.”
http://missoulian.com/news/local/farm-bill-provision-worries-wildlife-advocates-brucellosis-threat-could-lead/article_83d745c8-8707-11e3-b755-001a4bcf887a.html
Which brings me to my point–the wild bison slaughter has commenced. Yellowstone Park (supposed protector of native wildlife) has entered into a deal with tribal people to haul away to slaughter America’s last wild, free-roaming, pure and most genetically-diverse wild bison. Folks who want to call the Yellowstone superintendent and lodge a complaint can do so here
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/media/update1314/021314.html